Photograph by Bradford Jones
Cracker’s new release, Berkeley to Bakersfield, is a double-album that opens with a call to arms entitled “Torches and Pitchforks,” a spare song that features David Lowery and co. rightfully threatening corrupt congressmen, politicians and the insanely rich. I should add that threats and promises in song couldn’t come at a better time, with the political landscape in such shambles and the future of America so terribly uncertain. Cracker’s snide and beautiful songs see to it that they are indeed watching what’s before them in the political arena. The band expresses not just unrest but a certain degree of delicious insurrection. Let’s call these musical warnings what they are: timely meditations that deserve to be heard. The band has never been in better form. Berkeley to Bakersfield goes by in a brilliant flash rather than taxing the listener’s patience. “El Commandante” is an extremely arresting song that deals with topics ranging from lost love to incrimination for marijuana. In the end, Lowery sings, “it’s just a bag of weed.” There’s a charming mix of rightfully sinister tunes, woeful love ballads, indeed, a variety of topics. Cracker, at least for those who will bother to venture into a double album and listen, sound better than ever. “Where Have the Days Gone,” features the singer meeting Thomas Pynchon—the elusive recluse-writer—at a bar. The album concludes on a rather melancholy tone, wondering how time has chewed up its creations and spit them up.
We had the opportunity to speak with Johnny Hickman, who’s been with Cracker since the beginning, if I am not mistaken:
What were some of the musical influences on tracks such as "California Country Boy?"
Well, David Lowery and I grew up in what we like to call Eastern California. Even though we came of age musically in the early punk rock days, as teenagers we identified more with the kids of local ranchers and citrus workers from the central valleys and agricultural areas than we did with hip people from Los Angeles or San Francisco. "California Country Boy" and a lot of the songs from the Bakersfield disc reflect that.
"Where Have Those Days Gone" is such a finely layered and arranged song. Could you talk about your process on that track?
We first recorded that song for our Greenland record about 16 years ago, but while we were recording the new double CD Berkeley to Bakersfield, we decided to revisit it with our Athens, Georgia band who we refer to as the Georgia Crackers. It seemed to fit right in with the country sounds and vibe we had going in the studio, so we re-recorded it along with all the new tracks. The song is semi-autographical from David’s standpoint, and I think the new setting really lets his story unfold in a great, relaxed sort of way.
Could you talk a bit about general influences on how you see the musical landscape, as it were? I mean books, other music, food...What inspires you to keep working and writing?
Good question. One of the things David and I have always had in common is that our influences are pretty wide, They go far beyond rock music, even though that’s our work. Although we both grew up listening to British rock and country music, we also heard a lot of Mexican music on the radio where we lived as teens. Being military sons, we’ve also both lived all over America, and even spent time abroad. David spent some of his formative years in Spain, and I spent four of mine in Puerto Rico. I think this had a big influence on who we became as men and songwriters.The sounds, foods, fashions and ways of life in those places, but also, I feel that we understand and don’t necessarily fear other political structures, other social mores or socio-economic structures as much as some of our fellow countrymen and women do. We both read a lot and perhaps aren’t quite as hesitant to accept and explore other possibilities that a lot of North American musicians and songwriters might be.
Cracker plays Blueberry Hill's Duck Room on Friday, May 13 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25. For more info, go to blueberryhill.com.
