Get Kracking with Uncle Kracker

Nov. 28, 2002

DJ Uncle Kracker (Matt Schaefer as he is known to his family and friends) started his musical career at the ripe old age of 12. He hooked up with his now friend and collaborator, a 17-year-old Bob “Kid Rock” Ritchie. The two soon found themselves at the center of the Detroit area dance party scene in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Fifteen years later, Kracker and Rock have climbed their way to the top of international music scene together and apart.
Uncle Kracker will bring his band (minus Brian Schram, who has left to pursue recording opportunities in L.A. and minus Kid Rock, who is rumored to be in Vegas marrying Pamela Anderson) to Streeter‘s Ground Zero Nightclub, Wednesday, November 27 for a special Thanksgiving eve concert.
His Traverse City show is a satellite concert as Kracker is currently touring with the Counting Crows to promote his sophomore release, “No Stranger to Shame,” on Atlantic/Lava Records. His debut “Double Wide,” has sold three million copies worldwide and went double platinum in the states, with the number one hit “Follow Me,” anchoring the CD.
“I am happy to be able to come to Traverse City and play,” said Kracker. “For the past five years I have been on the road for Thanksgiving, so this will get me home with my family for the day.”
Does Kracker have a prediction on the Lions‘ Thanksgiving Day game?
“I don’t know who they are playing, but I can almost assure you that they are not going to win,” said Kracker. “My attorney says they are playing New England, so my answer remains the same.”
Probably won’t catch Kracker singing the national anthem anytime soon at Ford Field.
Kracker, after a big family meal, will play a special Thanksgiving concert in his hometown of Mt. Clemens before returning to the Counting Crows tour.
“I have been testing the waters with some of the rap stuff and my new material during the Crows tour, not being sure what their crowd was all about,” said Kracker. “What I am finding is them kids are no different then any them other kids out there, they are digging the music.”
“No Stranger To Shame” has been slow to catch on in sales, but his single “In A Little While,” has been climbing the charts. Since its release eight weeks ago, the song has found its way in to the top 10 of several Billboard charts.
“I didn’t go into this thing with any expectations. I didn’t expect this CD to do anything. I do however expect it to hold its own, and I think it will. I don’t count on nothing in this business. If you get your hopes up, you end up getting shot back down.”
Unless you are Eminen, CD sales are slow for everyone. However, when it is all said and done, “No Stranger To Shame” may be one of the best pop-rock CDs released in 2002. In fact, Uncle Kracker may be the next “Bob Seger” to come out of Detroit, especially considering Seger is all but retired and has remained quiet in recent years. Kracker’s heartfelt songwriting, raspy blue-collar voice, and soulful southern sound, make him the heir apparent.
“I am happy with the overall record, it is obviously better then my debut,” said Kracker. “Pound for pound and song for song, it is just better.”
Legendary R&B vocalist Dobie Gray is a fan and joins Kracker on the CD for a rousing rendition of Gray’s 1972 hit, “Drift Away.” The title cut of the CD features Sugar Ray lead singer Mark McGrath joining Kracker in a harmonious rap. A bonus #13 cut exists for old school Kracker fans and contributes to the Parental Advisory on the CD cover.
When asked about the CD and the fact that musically it has a harmonious, southern, soulful, R&B, Nashville sound to it, Kracker, at 27, chuckles and responds as if he is some old timer looking back on his career:
“The whole record is more or less a reflection of what has happened to me in my years in this business. It is where I am at mentally. The other thing is that everything has happened so fast and furious and this record is how I feel about certain things.”
Exactly how does Kracker feel about things? In his song, “Thunderhead Hawkins,” he lets the world know: “I don’t need no critics, I don’t need no suits, I just need somebody to tell me the truth.”
The truth is coming from one set of critics that have his ear when he home: his two daughters. He sings about it in his song, “Letter To My Daughters“:
“I am sending you this letter…there is so many things I want to say… your mother sent some pictures… my how you have grown… you say daddy come home… I hope when I get there it won’t be too late… I missed your first step today… I have no excuse… it kills me when you say daddy don’t go… I live on a bus with a rock and roll band… daddy is at work now… trying to pay bills… egos and assholes are part of my deal… the tax man he cometh and I am back to square one… take care and I love you… your rock and roll dad.”
The song is Kracker’s favorite from the CD.
“It is probably closest to my heart, the song is more or less an apology to them. It is probably the closest thing they will get as an answer from me about why I am gone,” said Kracker. “My oldest is three and a half and my youngest is two and some change, so being away from them is tough.”
Kracker isn’t complaining too much, though, and is trying to work more family time into his schedule; even renting cars to drive long distances after shows if only to give hugs and kisses and turn around to catch up with the tour bus.
His family was the reason for Kracker leaving the Kid Rock tour in October, which has caused speculation that he is no longer with Kid Rock.
“I don’t know what my future is going to be with Kid Rock and his next CD,“ he said. “A lot of it has to do with where I am at, when my next single is released and if I am on the road. If I am home, I will be a part of it; like the last record I wasn’t home and I was still a part of it as Bob and I hooked up and wrote some songs together. Shit, I have no real reason to leave the Rock camp at all. I did take a break last month from the tour to spend time with my family and to prepare for my tour. I needed a break. I needed to get right with myself. I only missed a few shows.”
Is Kracker contemplating leaving the music business?
“If I would ever do anything else I would want to be a builder, a developer -- yeah, develop a subdivision,” said Kracker. “Hell those guys make money -- I am in the wrong business.”
At further prodding, Kracker reveals he plans to stay around the music business and will debut some new songs in Traverse City, plus play a lot of material from his previous releases.
“I am not sure what direction my next CD will go. I like change, though it might be similar to ‘No Stranger.‘ I have more of this music to get out of my system. That’s a good question, maybe I will do the country thing.”
Are cowboy hats in line for the Ground Zero show?
“The Traverse City concert will be great because I will be able to do a full show instead of the 30 minutes at the Crows‘ concerts,” said Kracker. “It will be all about the music, about having fun; no surprises, no strippers, no pyro, just good music, with the goal of everyone leaving feeling good. This show is for everyone, young and old and certainly anyone with a cowboy hat.”
Hmm, good music, good time, feel good at the end of the night... hey throw the turkey in the oven on 200 degrees and head to Streeter‘s Ground Zero November 27 to catch Kracker. Doors open at 8:30. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. For tickets call (231) 932-1300. Cowboy hats are optional.