Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven

Whether taking the helm of iconic ironic rockers Camper Van Beethoven, the sardonic janglers of Cracker or a smarty-pants solo project, David Lowery has consistently dug up the twisted roots of American music, always with dark humor and twangy intonations intact. If "alternative rock" ever had any meaning, it was defined by the energy of Lowery's withering social and sexual parodies and celebratory self-loathings. Ubiquitous hits such as "Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)," "Take the Skinheads Bowling" and "Euro-Trash Girl" were principally political even as they made a mockery of the possibility of postmodern principles at all.

What to Expect: Touring as a double bill of Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker should give Lowery plenty of room to stretch out across all the hits – and dip into this year's fine solo release, The Palace Guards, as well.