DAVID LOWERY TO SPEAK AT AMERICANA MUSIC CONFERENCE IN NASHVILLE, TN

LA TIMES AND PANDO DAILY RUN INTERVIEWS WITH OUTSPOKEN ARTIST RIGHTS ADVOCATE ABOUT COMPULSORY USE

The Americana Music Association has announced the David Lowery – lead singer of the bands Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven and University of Georgia economics and music business professor – will offer insights on timely legislative issues debated and host the American Bar Association’s Symposium on Entertainment. The Conference will be headquartered out of the Sheraton Nashville Downtown hotel September 18-22.

LA Times has called Lowery "a vocal advocate for artists trying to make a living in music while CD sales crumble and fledgling online services try to build an audience," continuing, "David Lowery has a modest proposal to help his fellow musicians in the digital age: force Pandora and other online music services to negotiate for the right to play songs." Read the entire LA Times feature.

Meanwhile, Lowery broke down his earnings as a songwriter from Pandora for Pando Daily.

Read Lowery's uncensored thoughts on the music business at the Trichordist blog.

CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN PRINCIPLES BOTH SPEAK OUT AGAINST PANDORA IN BLOGS POSTS THAT HAVE SEEN CLOSE TO 1 MILLION VIEWS

DAVID LOWERY: "MY SONG GOT PLAYED ON PANDORA 1 MILLION TIMES AND ALL I GOT [AS SONGWRITER] WAS $16.89"

FORMER PANDORA EMPLOYEE JONATHAN SEGEL, ALSO OF CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN: "I WORKED THERE FOR THREE YEARS [AND] HERE'S THE TRUTH: THEY ARE TRYING TO LOWER THE RATES"

This week, David Lowery – leader of Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven and University of Georgia economics and music business professor – has posted two blog posts about Pandora that have gone viral, seeing almost 1 million views on the Trichorist blog. The first details his payment as cowriter of Cracker's "Low" for over a million plays as $16.89 and Pandora's current efforts to reduce that rate. He posts his royalty statement and shows that for far fewer plays, SIRIUS XM paid him $181 for "Low" while terrestrial (AM/FM) radio paid him $1,522.

Meanwhile, Camper Van Beethoven band-mate and former Pandora employee Jonathan Segel posted to his own blog. He notes, " I worked there for 3 years. I saw the intent change massively when it went public… Here’s the truth: they are trying to lower the rates."

In the process, they advance the greater debate about songwriter rights and earnings. David and Jonathan are not alone as witnessed by public statements by other songwriters including Ellen Shipley's statement of accounting in Digital Music News, Blake Morgan's email exchange with Tim Westergren in the Huffington Post and Pink Floyd's OpEd in USA Today. 

Ellen Shipley - Digitial Music News 

My Song Was Played 3.1 Million Times on Pandora. My Check Was $39...

Blake Morgan - Huffington Post 

Tim Westergren Emails Underscore Tension Between Pandora, Artists 

Pink Floyd - USA Today

Pink Floyd: Pandora's Internet radio royalty ripoff

Another Lowery blog entry about Pandora hiring a Washington, D.C.-based lobbyist has also been attracting attention.

CNBC asked Lowery to appear (his segment begins at 2:17 at this link) to discuss his royalties from Pandora.

CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN ADDS ADDITIONAL TOUR DATES AS AV CLUB PREMIERES NEW MUSIC VIDEO, WALL STREET JOURNAL POSTS FEATURE

Since Camper Van Beethoven played the Brooklyn Vegan party at SXSW, the band continues to gain attention for its new album 'La Costa Perdida' (429 Records) and its thirtieth anniversary.

The Wall Street Journal ran a Q&A with David Lowery this week in he talks about the band's "strange song structure"; "the secret weapon of Camper"; and writing as a team.

The AV Club premiered a new music video for "Someday Our Love Will Sell Us Out," during the filming of which the band crashed a rental car.

Camper has also added additional spring tour dates:

May 9—The Firebird—St. Louis, Missouri

May 10—The Cubby Bear—Chicago, Illinois

May 11—Majestic Theatre—Madison, Wisconsin

May 12—The Intersection—Grand Rapids, Michigan

May 16—State Theatre—Falls Church, Virginia

May 18 –Hatch Memorial Shell – Boston, Massachusetts

June 14—The Bluebird Theatre—Denver, Colorado

June 19—Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk—Santa Cruz, California

Camper Van Beethoven "Someday Our Love Will Sell Us Out" music video

Camper Van Beethoven "Come Down The Coast" music video

Camper Van Beethoven Brooklyn Vegan SXSW Wednesday day party poster

CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN JOINS BROOKLYN VEGAN SXSW DAY PARTY

Camper Van Beethoven – indie rock originators celebrating their 30^th anniversary and first album in nine years 'La Costa Perdida' (429 Records) – have been added to the Brooklyn Vegan SXSW Day Party Wednesday at 4pm at the old Emo's (603 Red River St. at E. 6^th Street).

Reviews have been ecstatic as Pitchfork called the album "delightful," Consequence of Sound "easy to love," The Newark Star-Ledger "bewitching," Pop Matters "sure to satisfy," and Blurt "a wonder to behold."

Other musicians have also toasted Camper Van Beethoven. 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 know this one will be a keeper"

- Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers)

SXSW 2013 Must-Sees Camper Van Beethoven, Corb Lund, & John Murry

Wednesday March 13

4pm – Camper Van Beethoven, Brooklyn Vegan Day Party, old Emo's, 603 Red River St., open to the public

"Delightful" (Pitchfork) indie rock originators 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, as the band celebrates its 30^th anniversary.

7pm – Camper Van Beethoven, Copyright Alliance, El Sol y La Luna, 600 E 6th St., RSVP required

9pm - Corb Lund, Lonestar Music Official Showcase, Black Heart, 86 Rainey Street, open to badge and wristband holders only

"A revelation" (Washington Post), Corb Lund is the descendent of four generations of Albertan ranchers and former punk/metal player. In the Nashville Scene's 13th Annual Country Music Critics' Poll, Corb Lund is the #10 male vocalist and 'Cabin Fever' is the #20 best album of 2012. 'Cabin Fever' is out now on New West Records.

Thursday, March 14

2pm – David Lowery, Big Data: The New Oil or the New Snake Oil?, Room 9ABC, Will Mills (Head of Music, Shazam), Brett Alperowitz (VP, A&R Republic Records), Marie-Alicia Chang (Co-Founder & Head of Business Dev Musicmetric), Alex White (CEO Next Big Sound): http://schedule.sxsw.com/2013/events/event_MP4094

2:30pm – Corb Lund, New West Records Day Party, Threadgills, 301 West Riverside Drive, private

4:15pm – Corb Lund, Lonestar Music Day Party, St. Vincent De Paul parking lot, 1327 South Congress Ave., open to the public

Friday, March 15

2:45pm – John Murry, Daily Havoc Day Party, Hole in the Wall, 2538 Guadalupe St. (front stage), RSVP required

The "Masterful" (Baeble Music) John Murry – the southern literature-inspired songwriter, William Faulkner's second cousin, and darling of UK music scene – has been named a Next artist by NPR's World Café, which praises his music as music "alluring, emotional and infectious." 'The Graceless Age' comes out April 2 on Evangelina Recording Co.

5pm – David Lowery, Who's Ripping Me Off Now? Panel, Convention Center, Room 10AB, 500 E Cesar Chavez St. Also with Daryl Friedman (Chief Advocacy & Industry Rel Officer The Recording Academy( and East Bay Ray (Artist Dead Kennedys).

Camper Van Beethoven Clips

NY Times (October 1, 2013) profile of David Lowery

LA Magazine Online (December 12, 2012)

American Songwriter Online (December 6, 2012)

Billboard.com (November 8, 2012)

NPR World Café (February 21, 2013)

NPR California Report (Jan 25-27, 2013)

USA Today.com (Jan 18, 2013)

SPIN.com (Jan. 14, 2013)

MTV Hive (Jan 25, 2013)

eMusic (Jan. 8, 2013)

Stereogum (Jan 20, 2013)

NPR WORLD CAFÉ AIRS CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN SESSION

CVB SELLS OUT SHOWS IN SAN FRANCISCO, PORTLAND, SEATTLE, PHILLY, BOSTON, AND ATLANTA

Camper Van Beethoven's session and interview on NPR World Café aired Thursday.

"I am impressed," says David Dye of music from 'La Costa Perdida' (429 Records) as the band plays "Too High For The Love-In," "Come Down The Coast," and "Northern California Girls." CVB talks about navigating strong personalities, northern California origins, and how reading Henry Miller, Jack Kerouac, Richard Brodigan, and Thomas Pynchon influenced "Come Down the Coast."

Meanwhile, the band has sold out concerts in San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Philly, Boston, and Atlanta thus far this year.

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

STEREOGUM DEBUTS MP3 FROM NEW CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN ALBUM 'LA COSTA PERDIDA' AS SPIN HAS FULL STREAM

DAVID LOWERY PROVIDES SPOTIFY WITH COMMENTARY AS "NORTHERN CALIFORNIA GIRLS" SINGLE RELEASES

HOW BAD ACID, A BIRD TRAPPED IN A HOUSE IN NORTHERN CA, AND VIPER-BITES IN SWEDEN INSPIRED "TOO HIGH FOR THE LOVE-IN"

Indie rock originators Camper Van Beethoven's new album 'La Costa Perdida' is out next week and Stereogum has debuted the first downloadable mp3, which Michael Nelson calls "a swirling, Eastern-flavored psychedelic jam."

SPIN has posted a full-album stream and Q&A with David Lowery. David Menconi writes, "They finally bring it all back home to their native California on 10th album, recalling '60s-vintage West Coast pop filtered through their timeless, idiosyncratic prism."

Meanwhile, Spotify has the "Northern California Girls (radio edit)" single and "Too High For The Love-In" alongside David Lowery's commentary on both tracks. He explains how a bad acid trip, a bird trapped in a house in northern California, a venom bite in Sweden, and an insatiable desire for a sandwich came together in writing the latter.

Members of REM, Pavement, Built To Spill, The Decemberists, and Divine Fits toasted the band on its 30^th anniversary.

Embeddable "Someday Our Love Will Sell Us Out" mp3.

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

CVB tour dates

CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN PLANS 30TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT FEB. 21 AT LA'S HOUSE OF BLUES

FIRST STUDIO ALBUM IN NINE YEARS, 'LA COSTA PERDIDA' OUT JAN 22 ON 429 RECORDS

THREE NPR TAPINGS FOR CVB IN JANUARY AS STEREOGUM PREMIERS MP3

Camper Van Beethoven -- one of the bands that founded the indie rock genre – will celebrate its 30^th anniversary and new album 'La Costa Perdida' (January 22 / 429 Records) its first in nine years, with a concert February 21 at the House of Blues. The anniversary and new release has captured the attention of Brooklyn Vegan, among others.

Stereogum premiered the mp3 for "Someday Our Love Will Sell Us Out" on January 10.

On the tour, the band will also tape sessions with NPR's World Café and NPR's Mountain Stage and an interview with NPR Here & Now within the next month.

WHO: Camper Van Beethoven, in a double bill with Leftover Salmon

WHAT: 30^th anniversary concert and celebration of 'La Costa Perdida'

WHEN: 8pm, February 21, 2013

WHERE: 8430 Sunset Boulevard, W. Hollywood, (323) 848-5100

TICKETS: $22.50 in advance or $25 day of show via House of Blues box office

The band's peers are also toasting Camper Van Beethoven's 30^th anniversary. Built To Spill's Doug Martsch said, "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."

Bob Nastanovich of Pavement said, "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."

Camper Van Beethoven "Someday Our Love Will Sell Us Out" embeddable mp3

CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN PLOTS 30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

PIONEERING INDIE BAND TO DEBUT FIRST NEW SONGS IN NINE YEARS FROM NEW ALBUM 'LA COSTA PERDIDA' (JAN. 22 / 429 RECORDS)

CVB TO TAPE THREE NPR SHOWS IN JAN: WORLD CAFÉ, HERE & NOW, & MOUNTAIN STAGE

Camper Van Beethoven is planning a thirtieth anniversary tour starting Thursday and running through February. The band will debut its first new songs in nine years in concert. 'La Costa Perdida' (January 22 / 429 Records) is the band's tenth album and first in nine years.

Billboard.com recently spotlightlighted the band, which are among the creators of the genre of indie rock.

CVB will also tape three NPR shows in January: World Café, Here & Now, and Mountain Stage.

In a feature last month, the San Diego Union-Tribune said, "The group’s daring sonic hybrid defined 'alternative' before the term was widely used."

CVB tour lineup: Victor Krummenacher (bass, baritone guitar), Greg Lisher (guitars), David Lowery (guitars and vocals), Jonathan Segel (violin, guitar, mandolin, organ, backing vocals) and Frank Funaro (drums and percussion).

Click here for a lyric video of "Northern California Girls (radio edit)."

CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN TOUR DATES

Fri Jan 18 2013 - World Cafe Live – Philadelphia, PA (w/ Cracker)

Sat Jan 19 2013 - Stage 48 – New York, NY (w/ Cracker)

Sun Jan 20 2013 - The Middle East – Cambridge, MA (w/ Cracker)

Wed Jan 23 2013 - Sky City – Augusta, GA

Thu Jan 24 2013 - 40-Watt Club - Athens GA

Fri Jan 25 2013 - The Grey Eagle – Asheville, NC

Sat Jan 26 2013 - The Earl – Atlanta, GA

Sun Jan 27 2013 - Mountain Stage - Charleston WV

Thu Feb 14 2013 - Burnsville PAC - Minneapolis MN (w/ Cracker)

Fri Feb 22 2013 - Tractor Tavern - Seattle WA

Sat Feb 23 2013 - Mississippi Studios - Portland OR

CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN PLANS 30TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT JAN. 19 AT NYC'S STAGE 48 IN DOUBLE BILL WITH CRACKER

FIRST STUDIO ALBUM IN NINE YEARS, 'LA COSTA PERDIDA' OUT JAN 22 ON 429 RECORDS

THREE NPR TAPINGS FOR CVB IN JANUARY

Camper Van Beethoven -- one of the bands that founded the indie rock genre – will celebrate its 30^th anniversary and new album 'La Costa Perdida' (January 22 / 429 Records) its first in nine years, with a concert January 19 at Stage 48. The anniversary and new release has captured the attention of Brooklyn Vegan, among others.

On the tour, the band will also tape sessions with NPR's World Café and NPR's Mountain Stage and an interview with NPR Here & Now in January.

WHO: Camper Van Beethoven

WHAT: 30^th anniversary concert and celebration of 'La Costa Perdida'

WHEN: 8pm, Saturday, January 19

WHERE: 605 W. 48th St., NYC

TICKETS: $20 in advance or $25 day of show via Stage 48 box office

The band's peers are also toasting Camper Van Beethoven's 30^th anniversary. Built To Spill's Doug Martsch said, "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."

Bob Nastanovich of Pavement said, "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."

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."