Some organizations reward their volunteers with free cookies and juice after a hard day’s work. The people at Green Apple and Planet Green were kind enough to reward their hard working Earth Day volunteers with a fantastic concert. Now into its fourth year the Green Apple Festival is held in tandem with eight other cities and attracts a crowd of more than 200,000 nationwide.
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Cracker and The Green Apple Festival
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 Entertainment
Art
Metro
Chicago, IL
April 19, 2009
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To be honest, calling the event a festival or even a concert is being generous. Only those with personal invites or on the band’s guest list were in attendance. The result was a small, intimate concert with one of the greatest bands of the 90’s.
You have to remember that for many in the audience this was just a chance to relax and let loose after a hard weekend of volunteer work. Many were there to help support the cause more so than the band. The result was a fusion of hardcore fans (they may have been roadies, I’m still not entirely sure) and those who, frankly, didn’t know who Cracker was.
Regardless of the crowd, or perhaps because of it, Cracker put on an intense show. The Metro allowed the band enough room to move freely and flex their musical muscles. The band debuted in 1992 just as the grunge movement was taking off. Filled with angst and irony Cracker became a sensation with favorites such as “This is Cracker Soul” and “Low”.
Cracker has always represented the golden age of 90’s grunge rock. They are unpretentious and have a love of music that transcends their own albums. It was in that spirit that the band pulled a rabbit out of the hat when they called Chicago native Ike Riley on stage as a special guest.
Riley compliments Cracker like peas compliment carrots. Though they have different backgrounds their take on rock is essentially the same. Watching them jam on an extended version of “Duty Free”, one of Riley’s originals was breathtaking.
With a new album on the way Cracker played a wide list of old favorites and new songs many had not heard before. The band hasn’t lost their touch at all. Many Generation-X era bands have more or less faded away into pop culture memory. While they may not be bursting onto the mainstream circuit like they used to the same reckless, desperado spirit hasn’t abandoned them in the new millennium.
Watching them play Sunday night was like turning back the clock. Though there weren’t that many people to see it those fortunate enough to be in the audience had yet another reason to appreciate their time on Earth.
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