They don't have a major record label backing them. Their new songs don't get much airplay on mainstream radio. And yet, life couldn't be better for members of the band Cracker.
"It's good to be where we are," guitarist Johnny Hickman said by phone from his home in Colorado. "Whether we have an album out or not, we can go on tour."
In fact, rather than going on tour to support an album, these days the band can put out a CD to support its live shows.
Hickman and his Cracker cohort David Lowery (who also formed Camper Van Beethoven in the mid 1980s) have been called the godfathers of alternative rock. The group scored a few radio hits in the early '90s with "Low," "Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)," "Get Off This" and "Euro-Trash Girl."
Now the band is the champion of indie rock, putting out albums and touring on its own terms. The group's latest CD, "Greenland," released last year, combines roots rock, psychedelic, guitar rock and alt-country influences, making it one of the band's best efforts in years.
Cracker has furthered its independent status by embracing all the latest technology and tools that many unsigned bands are using to promote themselves — such as YouTube. Hickman said it's a great sign that more musicians are taking control of their own careers. "The music business is getting more into the hands of musicians, which is what we were trying to do all along. I'm really happy to see things like MySpace and the advancement of the Internet. Bands can put tours together much better than before."
There is also more networking among bands, Hickman said, with artists trading advice on such things as which club owners to avoid, which out-of-the-way clubs are hidden gems and even how to sell T-shirts. "Musicians are learning how the machine works. It's better than being ripped off by the record industry. It's in the hands of the artist now. That's incredible. Things are changing by the minute. ... You have to approach it as a business or you will certainly fail."
That idea of networking was put to full use in February when Lowery posted a long and entertaining blog about a cruise that both Cracker and CVB were booked to play. Shady promoters, however, turned the event into a huge fiasco.
In addition to networking, the popularity of iTunes and similar distribution tools has brought almost a retro effect to the music industry, Hickman said. "It's back to almost a singles market with the Internet. In some ways, it's very similar to the '60s and '70s ... very singles driven."
When they're not playing with Cracker, both Lowery and Hickman always seem to be involved with a number of side projects. Hickman has become an "honorary member" of sorts of the Colorado-based band the Railbenders, which he described as "hard country." The group has received serious acclaim for its recent shows.
Hickman also plans to start writing songs for a follow-up to his outstanding debut solo album "Palmhenge." But getting out and writing with other people is also giving Hickman more inspiration to get back with the "mother ship" and write more songs with Lowery for Cracker.
Cracker has a full load of tour dates this summer, including a short trip to Europe. In September the full entourage of Cracker and CVB, as well as many of their side projects, will take the stage for the third annual Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven Campout in September, a three-day festival in California. Details can be found at www.crackersoul.com.
If you go
What: Cracker
Where: Suede, 1612 Ute Blvd., Park City
When: tonight, 8 p.m.
How much: $20
Phone: 467-8499 or 800-888-8499
Web: www.smithstix.com
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com