Just as the original UK punk scene led to the more diverse styles of post-punk, American hardcore fired up many musicians who didn’t just want to play hard and fast. A scrappy set of players with roots in California’s garage and punk scenes, Camper Van Beethoven dominated college-radio playlists of the ‘80s with a wild stew of styles. Folk, reggae, country, and ska were all part of a sound that was sometimes haphazard but always exciting. Frontman David Lowery sharpened his skills as a satirical-minded songwriter in his next band, Cracker, before reactivating Camper Van Beethoven in 1999 for spirited forays into prog rock and heavier sounds.