CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN MAKES BEST SHOWING ON BILLBOARD TOP 200 CHART SINCE 1989

'LA COSTA PERDIDA' (429 RECORDS) DEBUTS AT #3 ON HEATSEEKERS CHART, #1 ALTERNATIVE NEW ARTIST ALBUM

WEST COAST TOUR LEG SET FOR FEB.

Camper Van Beethoven's 'La Costa Perdida' (429 Records) debuted at #174 on the Billboard Top 200, #3 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, and #1 on the Alternative New Artist Album chart this week, the band's highest showing since 1989. MTV Hive did a Q&A with David Lowery.

Great reviews have come in since last week:

"'La Costa Perdida?' Maybe we are all lost here. But David Lowery and his Camper cohorts, after all these years, find it a very rich place in which to be lost, or be one of the lost."
– Steve Hochman, NPR California Report, January 25-27, 2013

"Lowery and company still know their way around a smart pop song or two."
– Mark Lore, Paste Magazine, January 22, 2013

"Focused and strikingly sincere California pop."
-- Annie Zaleski, eMusic, January 8, 2013

"'La Costa Perdida'… has all the complexity and amusing bafflement that the band has been known for… it skillfully puts together all the elements that make CVB so indescribably great."
– Ted Chase, QRO Mag, January 21, 2013

"When the Campers get cranking, they're a wonder to behold."
– Lee Zimmerman, Blurt, Jan. 22, 2013

Other journalists focused on the band's legacy, on the occasion of its thirtieth anniversary this year. Paste said, "Those first five studio albums—released in the four-year span prior to CVB’s decade-long hiatus—are damn-near spotless." Philadelphia Inquirer said, "Even if 1989's tune 'Sweethearts' sounds like something out of Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, remember that CVB made it in 1989, before Jeff Tweedy was even in Uncle Tupelo, much less Wilco."

CVB Tour dates:

Thu Feb 14 - Burnsville PAC - Minneapolis MN (w/ Cracker)
Sat Feb 16 - Rickshaw Stop - San Francisco CA
Sun Feb 17 - Hopmonk - Novato, Novato, CA
Mon Feb 18 - Odd Fellows Hall - Davis CA
Thurs Feb 21 – Hollywood, CA – House of Blues (w/ Leftover Salmon)
Fri Feb 22 - Tractor Tavern - Seattle WA
Sat Feb 23 - Mississippi Studios - Portland OR

"DELIGHTFUL" (PITCHFORK) NEW CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN 'LA COSTA PERDIDA' OUT THIS WEEK ON 429 RECORDS AS BAND TAPES NPR WORLD CAFÉ AND NPR MOUNTAIN STAGE THIS WEEK

429 Records released indie rock pioneers Camper Van Beethoven's new album 'La Costa Perdida' this week, which has earned raves from press and bloggers. In addition, the band is taping NPR's World Café today and NPR's Mountain Stage on Sunday and has added new tour dates (at bottom). Here's what we're reading:

"Delightful… It does illustrate how unique this band still is, 30 years after it formed. And it truly is a kick to hear CVB ply its craft with road-tested assurance and subtly virtuosic musicianship."

– Steve Hyden, Pitchfork Media, January 17, 2013

"For 30 years and counting, Camper Van Beethoven have existed in a parallel-universe borderland, coming across like a punk band perpetually on a Balkan bluegrass bender. But they finally bring it all back home to their native California on 10th album, La Costa Perdida, recalling '60s-vintage West Coast pop filtered through their timeless, idiosyncratic prism."

– David Menconi, SPIN, January 14, 2013

"I'm so happy the band is back."

– Whitney Matheson, USA Today.com, January 18, 2013

"The new album’s lead single, 'Someday Our Love Will Sell Us Out' [is] a swirling, Eastern-flavored psychedelic jam."

– Michael Nelson, Stereogum, January 10, 2013

"A uniquely skewed, bong-tastic surrealism… There's Americana, Mexican music, ska, fiddles both mournful and manic."

– Thomas Connor, Chicago Sun-Times, January 19, 2013

"Camper Van Beethoven still remain [sic] easy to love."

– Matt Melis, Consequence of Sound, January 21, 2013

"If the frigid air of winter is getting to you, rather than crank up the heat, throw on La Costa Perdida. It will wipe away all your seasonal depression."

– Steve Bonanno, Boston's Weekly Dig, January 7, 2013

"Engaging."

– Chuck Campbell, Scripps Howard Newswire/Knoxville News-Sentinel, January 15, 2013

"[The] writing glimmers in thick San Francisco Bay fog… Enter these redwoods at your own risk, and prepare to be bewitched."

– Tris McCall, Newark Star-Ledger, January 4, 2013

"Sure to satisfy… It’s an album unmoored in quiet, often fascinating ways."

– Matthew Fiander, PopMatters, January 21, 2013

"Northern California Girls" (radio edit) lyric video.

Postable, embeddable "Someday Our Love Will Sell Us Out" mp3.

CVB Tour dates:

Wed Jan 23 - Sky City – Augusta, GA

Thu Jan 24 - 40-Watt Club - Athens GA

Fri Jan 25 - The Grey Eagle – Asheville, NC

Sat Jan 26 - The Earl – Atlanta, GA

Sun Jan 27 - Mountain Stage - Charleston WV

Thu Feb 14 - Burnsville PAC - Minneapolis MN (w/ Cracker)

Sat Feb 16 - Rickshaw Stop - San Francisco CA

Sun Feb 17 - Hopmonk - Novato, Novato, CA

Mon Feb 18 - Odd Fellows Hall - Davis CA

Thurs Feb 21 – Hollywood, CA – House of Blues (w/ Leftover Salmon)

Fri Feb 22 - Tractor Tavern - Seattle WA

Sat Feb 23 - Mississippi Studios - Portland OR

CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN IN SURREPTITIOUS ROLE IN NEW JUDD APATOW FILM "THIS IS 40": ON PAUL RUDD'S CHEST

STAR WEARS HIS OWN VINTAGE CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN T-SHIRT

Amid news that Camper Van Beethoven is on the verge of the release of 'La Costa Perdida,' (January 22 / 429 Records) its first new album in nine years, comes attention from an A-list movie star. Paul Rudd recently told Rolling Stone that he wears a vintage Camper Van Beethoven shirt from his own collection in the new Judd Apatow film "This Is 40."

Here's a photo of Rudd wearing the shirt.

Rudd also wears vintage Bob Mould and Pavement shirts in the film.

CVB will celebrate its thirtieth anniversary in 2013.

MEMBERS OF R.E.M, PAVEMENT, BUILT TO SPILL, THE DECEMBERISTS, DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, AND OTHERS LAVISH PRAISE FOR CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN'S 30TH ANNIVERSARY

CVB COVERED BY DIVINE FITS

As Camper Van Beethoven plans to celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2013, many of the band's peers and members of R.E.M., Pavement, Built To Spill, Drive-By Truckers, Meat Puppets, Widespread Panic, Minus 5, The Nerves, and Elf Power spoke about CVB's influence, its pioneering role in creating the genre of indie rock, and their love for the band.

In addition, Britt Daniel's Divine Fits have recently covered CVB's "I Was Born In a Laundromat" both in concert and as a b-side to a recent single.

"The first time we heard CVB, we knew they were destined for greatness."
- R.E.M.

"Each member of Camper is a thoughtful songwriter, and a master of his instrument, with a totally unique vision, and together they have a balanced, egoless, and dynamic chemistry that's created many of my favorite songs."
- Doug Martsch (Built To Spill)

"Camper Van Beethoven, very much an essential '80s band traveling on their own arc, punctuated the beginning of my college career. They served it up with panache. 'Sometimes,' 'I Don't See You,' 'Ambiguity Song,' 'Circles,' 'Dustpan,' 'The History of Utah,' 'Still Wishing to Course'--all songs that ended up on assorted song cassette tapes in vain attempts to increase overall coolness. They made California cool to a Virginian. It was some good, reliable shit. As they wandered east, they backed it up with great live action. They were good musicians. That was weird. They were sarcastic. That was appealing."
- Bob Nastanovich (Pavement)

"I've kind of come back to a lot of the more American music that got me going in the first place – R.E.M. and Camper Van Beethoven and all these bands that borrowed from more American traditions like Neil Young and the Byrds."
- Colin Meloy (The Decemberists)

"I've been a Camper Van Beethoven fan since the mid 80's. 'Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart' is actually one of my very favorite albums of that era and one that I still pull out now. I'm thrilled to hear that they are finally making a new album (la costa perdida) and I can't wait to crank it up. I know this one will be a keeper"
- Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers)

"Camper Van Beethoven caught my ear. It was psychedelic on one hand, innovative folk-spirited on the other. 'I Saw Jerry's Daughter' is the sort of song that makes you smile a knowing smile. Their clever and innovative mix of instrumentation and style made them a breath of fresh air in the down and dirty punk scene that we were growing up in."
- Curt Kirkwood, Meat Puppets

"Part of the soundtrack of my life. A uniquely American band with wonderful songs. I'm always happy when they put out a new album."
- Dave Schools, Widespread Panic

"I was already a fan of CVB when they came to Seattle and played the Fabulous Rainbow Tavern. The show was amazing. I remember besides all the great songs from their first album, that they played the 'Theme From S.W.A.T.' too, with Jonathan playing the melody on a tiny Casio. Their songwriting and production skills started at great, and got even better with 'Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart' and 'Key Lime Pie.' When I saw them in Portland a few years ago the spark was still there -- a fantastic show."
- Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows, Minus 5, R.E.M., Baseball Project, etc.)

"The only band i know that can mix elements as diverse as folk, punk, gypsy music, ska, and psychedelic rock together into a wonderful stew, and make it sound completely natural."
- Andrew Rieger (Elf Power)

"Camper Van Beethoven are giants. I've been in love with the band since I first heard them. Like Tom Waits only different, they put an original spin on every kind of rebel music there is. All their records are great. Dig it."
- Peter David Case (The Plimsouls, The Nerves)

CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN MARKS THE BAND'S 30TH ANNIVERSARY WITH 10TH ALBUM 'LA COSTA PERDIDA' (429 RECORDS / JAN. 22)

BILLBOARD.COM TALKS BEACH BOYS & BIG SUR WITH THE BAND

CVB ENLISTS FUTUREBIRDS FOR HARMONIES ON NEW TRACK "NORTHERN CALIFORNIA GIRLS": (POSTABLE LYRICVIDEO)

Next year, Camper Van Beethoven will be celebrating both 30^th anniversary of their 1983 first concert and the release of their tenth album 'La Costa Perdida' (429 Records / January 22). The influential band and founders of the indie rock genre enlisted "spectacular" (HearYa) band Futurebirds to add harmony vocals on the first single "Northern California Girls." Here is a postable lyric video.

Meanwhile, Billboard.com ran a feature on CVB, for which David Lowery told the story of how the band began to write 'La Costa Perdida' together after it had to postpone a Big Sur show by a week due to weather. He also talks about the influence of the Beach Boys on 'La Costa Perdida.'

CVB's David Lowery says, "I love Futurebirds. They are from Athens, where we were mixing the record. Some of them were in studio next door working on an album."

Thomas Johnson of Futurebirds said, "We were honored to have a part on an album by a band as historic and influential as Camper. We'll never forget it. David is one of those special musicians who is just as good at engineering and producing as he is at songwriting, and it was really cool to get to conspire with someone that talented and accomplished."

Camper Van Beethoven - "Northern California Girls" - postable radio edit lyric video

"ADVENTUROUS" (ROLLING STONE) & "DELIGHTFUL" (PITCHFORK) CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN READY FIRST NEW ALBUM IN NINE YEARS 'LA COSTA PERDIDA' FOR JANUARY 22 RELEASE ON 429 RECORDS

CREATORS OF INDIE ROCK GENRE CUT ALBUM TOGETHER IN ONE ROOM, DEPICTING CHARACTERS AND STORIES FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Camper Van Beethoven – the beloved, genre-mashing musical unit and one of the bands that created the indie rock genre – has confirmed its first album in nine years with 'La Costa Perdida' (January 22 / 429 Records). The release will mark CVB's first album recorded as a unit with the band cutting songs organically with all in attendance and produced entirely by the band's members. 'La Costa Perdida' vividly depicts untamed characters and bizarre experiences on northern California's coastline, where the band began its musical adventures.

Camper Van Beethoven is: Victor Krummenacher (bass, baritone guitar), Greg Lisher (guitars), David Lowery (guitars and vocals), Chris Pedersen (drums), Jonathan Segel (violin, guitar, mandolin, organ, backing vocals) and new addition Michael Urbano (drums and percussion).

Camper Van Beethoven have long held a place as influential pioneers of indie rock. Pitchfork Media called Camper Van Beethoven "great… assiduous creativity… inventive… delightful." SPIN has praised the band's "depth and worldly flavors," continuing, of its recent run in the 21^st century, "The band still rocks with the vigor of any young sprite." NPR says, "Their cryptic wit and dense, layered music offered rewards in repeated listening… blending genres of world and rock, translating current events into a swirl of witty banter and interpretation." Rolling Stone has raved about the band's "adventurous music."

On the making of 'La Costa Perdida,' Victor Krummenacher says, "The coolest part was that everything flowed from the fact that these distinctive musicians and personalities sat in the living room. Four people are writing it. The songs have great energy, but we're more relaxed and stately and a lot more confident."

Tour dates will be announced shortly.

La Costa Perdida Track List

1. Come Down The Coast

2. Too High For The Love-in

3. You Got To Roll

4. Someday Our Love Will Sell Us Out

5. Peaches In The Summertime

6. Northern California Girls

7. Summer Days

8. La Costa Perdida

9. Aged In Wood

10. A Love For All Time