Multi-platinum folk-punk pioneers Violent Femmes have kicked off 2023 US tour dates to celebrate their 1983 self-titled debut’s 40th anniversary with “cover-to-cover” performances of the album’s entire tracklist. Formed in 1981 by Gordon Gano (vocals, guitar), Brian Ritchie (bass), and Victor DeLorenzo (percussion), the Milwaukee group currently features John Sparrow on drums/percussion/Weber Grill and Blaise Garza on the impressive contrabass saxophone.
The tour began in Ventura, California May 5th, before stops and festival appearances in Los Angeles, Dallas, Austin, and more, and will wrap at Denver’s Levitt Pavilion on May 21st–available to livestream at violentfemmes.veeps.com. The early summer trek also included a performance in San Diego with the San Diego Symphony, while also being supported by Jesse Ahern, Plastic Culture, Spray Allen, and Eric Wilson of Sublime.
Joshua Tree’s oasis in the desert, Pappy + Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, provided a unique experience and dusty environment to celebrate the seminal album, with songs that defined male maturation (or lack thereof), with celebrated hits: “Blister in the Sun,” “Please Do Not Go,” “Gone Daddy Gone,” and the urgent “Add It Up.
Violent Femmes Debut Album Side A
Debut Album Side B
Other tracks
Gotta Get to Peekskill
(Drop kick Murphy song with Woodie Guthrie lyrics)
Encore:
