POP MUSIC REVIEW : Cracker, Crows in Engaging Roxy Show

There’s not too much commonality connecting one of the more potent double-bill tours in recent memory--the current Cracker plus Counting Crows swing--other than a whole lotta alliteration goin’ on. Their mutuality is pretty much limited to Cracker’s having had the best mainstream-leaning alternative-rock debut album of 1992 and Counting Crows claiming that honor this year, which was in fact more than justifiable synchronicity enough to fill the Roxy for two shows on Thursday.

With two albums out now, Cracker has escaped the shadow of David Lowery’s former band, Camper Van Beethoven, effectively enough that when--in the early show--he launched into Camper’s old signature song, “Take the Skinheads Bowling” (with ex-Camper fiddler Morgan Fichter guesting), there was no more roar of recognition than for the new stuff.

The more straightforward direction Lowery’s taken--putting his laconic spin on some supreme guitar rave-ups and a lot of wry, loping Stones-do-country ballads--continues to make Cracker an American treasure. The revolving door backing him and stinger-fingered partner John Hickman has now brought around their best rhythm section yet: ex-Pixies drummer David Lovering and Poi Dog Pondering bassist Bruce Hughes. “Dr. Bernice” as a pre-encore closer may have been one slow tune too many; otherwise, a superlative set.

Counting Crows got but a half-hour to open, not quite enough to draw up the usual full head of steam, but still adequate passionate travel time on the Van Morrison/Band axis the young group traces and takes off from so distinctively to elicit disappointed boos when denied an encore because of time constraints.