Folk-punk legends Violent Femmes hit Port Chester, New York’s Capitol Theatre on Saturday as part of their recently launched fall US tour.
With no opening act, Violent Femmes kicked off their set at a nice-and-early 8:15 p.m., as the band members (minus frontman Gordon Gano) marched down the aisle of the historic theater playing various wind and percussion instruments on their way to the stage.
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By the time they reached the stage, Gano was waiting for them with his guitar, and the Femmes soon launched into “Prove My Love,” one of nine songs they played from their iconic self-titled debut album. The 1983 LP was also represented throughout the set by such classics as “Blister in the Sun,” “Kiss Off,” “Gone Daddy Gone,” and “Add It Up,” among other tunes.
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The Femmes’ setup is not unlike a band that’s busking on the street, only it’s powered by a collection of almost cartoonish instruments.
Drummer John Sparrow’s drum kit looks like it was put together as a school project, with a barbecue grill among the percussive items in front of him. Meanwhile, Brian Ritchie’s basses look like something out of a museum, ranging from what appears to be a one-string stick to his uniquely shaped Big Johnson Hybrid Acoustic Bass.
Gano, meanwhile, switches up between an acoustic guitar, a mandolin, a fiddle, and more, while touring member Blaise Garza plays the comically gigantic contrabass saxophone.
All those bizarre instruments come together to deliver Violent Femmes’ signature sound, and the band sounded terrific at the Capitol Theatre. Fans were even treated to a never-before-played song with the chorus, “I am so happy,” that Setlist.fm lists as “For All Those Who Love.”
Additional standouts included “Country Death Song,” “I Held Her in My Arms,” and “Jesus Walking on the Water.” The evening closed with the sing-along anthem “American Music,” putting a cap on a truly enjoyable evening of acoustic-punk bliss.
Catch Violent Femmes on the remainder of their fall US tour (pick up tickets here), with shows running through an October 18th gig in their hometown of Milwaukee. See photos and video from the Port Chester concert below.
@consequence Violent Femmes’ “Blister in the Sun” never gets old. #violentfemmes #blisterinthesun #livemusic
♬ original sound – consequence – consequence
Setlist:
(Instrumental as band approached the stage)
Prove My Love
Promise
Memory
Confessions
Country Death Song
Waiting for the Bus
Blister in the Sun
Kiss Off
Jesus Walking on the Water
Good Feeling
Never Tell
I Held Her in My Arms
For All Those Who Love (live debut)
Dance Motherfucker Dance (Voot Warnings cover)
Black Girls
Gone Daddy Gone
Add It Up
Encore:
(Unknown)
American Music