Since it was California and since it was in July, you’d figure such a liberal-minded state wouldn’t think twice about such flesh-revealing antics anyway. But it turns out that having Barenaked Ladies in attendance didn’t necessarily mean nudity was afoot.

Barenaked Ladies, the popular musical group, gave a rousing concert performance to a throng of excited fans as a way to top off “DriversFest 2000.”

Driversfest is an annual event that brings Volkswagen owners and enthusiasts together to celebrate “the spirit and fun of the brand.” The festivities started at 10 a.m. on July 23 and ended that night with the Barenaked Ladies concert.

DriversFest featured four closed driving courses, where participants were allowed to drive faster than James Bond on his way to the free clinic. Drivers were allowed to test out a 204-hp racing version of the New Beetle by riding shotgun with pro celebrity drivers like three-time LaMans winner Hurley Haywood.

More than 1,000 cars — many of them vintage air-cooled, customized, restored and late-model water-cooled designs — were on display at the Volkswagen Village. Thousands of attendees were able to take a gander at new Volkswagen models, talk car shop with parts and service experts, shop for Volkswagen apparel and get a first look at new Volkswagen commercials.

Only the Barenaked Ladies could cause enough of a distraction to take some attention away from the car-related festivities. The alternative group, which formed in 1988, experienced phenomenal success in 1998 with their quadruple-platinum-selling album, Stunt. That album contained such popular hits as “If I had a $1,000,000” and “One Week.” The band also has a live album, Rock Spectacle, which is something of a musical anomaly: Kids and adults seem to like it.

Barenaked Ladies played a number of songs from all their albums, as well as a pair of songs from their upcoming new release Maroon, due to hit stores this fall. So now you know what to get your spouse and kids for Christmas. And if you drive a Volkswagen, you won’t be able to help but think of Barenaked Ladies now. Or if you’re like many guys, thinking of the same happens whether you own a Volkswagen or not.

But the question remains. If you’re going to have a band perform at a Volkswagen festival, why not go all out and get the Beatles?

Writer Mike Lawrence is associate editor of BodyShop Business.