Violent Femmes Celebrate 40th Anniversary of Debut Record at LA's Fonda Theater
Making their way to the iconic Fonda Theater in Los Angeles for a nostalgic night of music, Violent Femmes took the stage and it was electric to say the least. Read on for our full review of the set below, as well as a full photo gallery attached at the bottom.
The night kicked off in busking fashion with Jesse Ahern’s solo folk/punk set which really set the mood for the rest of the show. The gravel in his voice earned from the streets of Boston, Jesse lands somewhere between Woody Guthrie and Tom Waits. His new song, “Pray” fitting perfectly in a Violent Femmes show, Gordon Gano being the son of a Baptist minister, peppering gospel in much of the Femmes’ music. Ahern also busted out a cover of The Clash’s “Bankrobber” an obscure Neo-reggae tune that was only available on the EP Black Market Clash”, which shows Jesse’s true punk allegiance.
All that was missing amidst the mostly acoustic guitar and harmonica and stomp drum was what would have been a wholly appropriate "This machine kills fascists" sticker. In true spirit of the night, Jesse Ahern proved he would be equally at home at the Fonda, on a political stump tour or playing on a subway platform.
Now, if you were in college in the 80s you either had or knew someone who had Violent Femmes’ debut record. The sounds of "Blister in the Sun" emanating from dorm rooms were insistent and pervasive. This little group of three buskers discovered outside a Pretenders show by James Honeyman Scott put out THE seminal record of teenage angst and frustration that, it could be argued, started the entire Indie movement. Surely they helped instigate "college radio".
40 years later, to a jam packed audience of all ages, Gordon Gano, Brian Ritchie and drummer John Sparrow blasted through the debut in front of a packed house at The Fonda on Sunday night.
There are no frills in a Femmes show. No between song banter, no light show, no pyrotechnics…just the songs. Like the record, it's one track after another. Also like the record, everyone that hears each song can't help but sing along. The Horns of Dilemma, led by multi-instrumentalist Blaise Garza show up around the end of Side One’s “Confessions” and round out the sound of controlled chaos. Once side one was done, Brian told a story about being in the green room, the walls lined with album covers. That’s what we are all there for, to celebrate the album on its 40th anniversary. There was nothing else to do but turn the record over and fire up Side Two, and that’s exactly what they did.
When they got through “Good Feeling”, the crowd swaying in communal reverie, they launched into a “best of” set but made it clear that they don’t have a playlist. They seem to just play what they want and take suggestions from the crowd. Which is why we were privy to explosive versions of some of the best off Hallowed Ground, including “Country Death Song”, "Jesus Walking on the Water", "Never Tell" and the showstopping epic of mayhem, “Black Girls”, along with a new song they did with Dropkick Murphys, “Gotta Get to Peekskill”.
Less nostalgic than celebration of a monumental achievement that entered the DNA and the consciousness of the college rock/New Wave Indie music lovers, the concert was breezy and flew by, even though it approached 90 minutes. Look, there's no way you haven't been touched, at some point, by a Violent Femmes song. This audience was there to sing every word, dance in the crowd, sway and hug to the music of Gen X's life.
The Femmes play and sound exactly as they should, as they were probably heard that day by The Pretenders on the street outside the theater. Just with more instruments, amplification and a larger, adoring audience. If this album tour comes to your town, don’t hesitate. Go! Or they’ll be Gone Daddy Gone. ;)
Review & Photos by: @areallulu
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