The song was "Pictures of Matchstick Men," a 1989 cover of a song by Status Quo. I heard it on a great alternative rock station out of Providence, and in the days before Wikipedia, I recall it took me weeks to figure what I heard and who performed it. When I finally did, though, I ran out and bought "Key Lime Pie," an album probably more sophisticated than my 15-year-old ears ever appreciated.
Three years later, I heard my first Cracker song, "Teen Angst," and I realized that Lowery had moved on to a new band. I remained a passive fan until I bought the wonderfully sublime "Kerosene Hat" a year later, and when I had the chance to see them in Milwaukee in 1999 or so at The Rave, I jumped it.
So when I heard that Cracker was returning to Milwaukee for a 10 p.m. Summerfest show Saturday, I knew this was the one concert I wouldn't miss.
The band that has so skillfully blended rock, folk, punk and country into their unique sound did not disappoint.
Cracker played "Teen Angst," "Euro Trash Girl," "Happy Birthday To Me" and of course, "Low." Lowery even reached back into his Camper Van Beethoven days with "Take the Skinheads Bowling."
Consummate professionals, Lowery went about his business, sounding great but playing to a mellow and fairly sparse crowd for Summerfest. The set went more country than rock and even sounded a little CCR at times.
But the twangy dressed-in-denim Lowery put on a solid show that reminded his audience why Cracker -- and Camper Van Beethoven -- has found success for 25 years and counting.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
