Reunited Camper Van Beethoven keeps its edge

October 19, 2004|Globe Correspondent

Unlike other college rock bands from the 1980s that have recently shaken off the cobwebs to return to active duty, Camper Van Beethoven never really defined a subgenre of indie music. Instead, the band was crazily diverse, touching on ska, folk rock, punk, Eastern European and Middle Eastern music, psychedelia and, through its countrified cover of Black Flag's "Wasted," hardcore.

That very eclecticism may be why the group, performing as a working band rather than an alternative nostalgia act for the first time in a decade and a half, is often spoken of with more respect than outright affection these days. But there was plenty of the latter on hand at the Middle East Downstairs on Saturday night. The audience greeted material from the worthy if flawed new album, the war-themed "New Roman Times," with the same enthusiasm as the numbers from the band's 1985 debut "Telephone Free Landslide Victory" despite the new CD having been released less than a week before.

Half of the evening's songs came from those two albums, and the new material fit comfortably alongside the old by covering as much ground as possible, from the sharp and fierce guitar rock of the recruitment anthem "51-7" to the ethnic ska of "R 'n' R Uzbekistan." The band was up to the challenge presented by its own range and ambition, performing as a tight unit regardless of the style of song it was playing at the moment, with violinist Jonathan Segel adding touches of unpredictability as Greg Lisher tore off a few lightning-fast guitar solos.

Even so, mistakes were made, as when singer David Lowery stopped 1988's "One Of These Days" a few bars in, admitting that he was playing the similar chord progression from the new album's "Might Makes Right." It was all treated with good humor, though, with Segel apologizing for Lowery, saying, "He's just trying to make you think he's human," before confiding to the audience in a whisper, "He's not!" Balancing those lighter moments with more serious ones -- concerning the election and complex issues raised on "New Roman Times" -- Camper Van Beethoven showed that its spirit remains just as eclectic as its music.

Stereo 360 opened the show, combining a supercharged grunge rhythm section with stoner-rock guitars to create an energetic hybrid that didn't really fit into either category.

Camper Van Beethoven
With Stereo 360
At: Middle East Downstairs, Saturday