11-10-97

AMERICAN MUSIC: THE VIOLENT FEMMES MAILING LIST
currently run by Pat. Wary

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TOUR DATES: (NEW DATES MARKED WITH A **)

November 10-Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL (O,P,T)
November 11-McAllister Auditorium,Tulane University,New Orleans,LA (O,P)
November 13-Foellinger Auditorium,U of ILL/Urbana, IL (mg-black,P,O)
November 16-Tripp Athletic Center,UMASS/Dartmouth, N. Dartmouth, MA (P,O)

NOTA BENE: ‘O’ stands for the Official homepage
‘P’ stands for Pollstar
‘T’ stands for Ticketmaster
‘I’ stands for Insider Info
All other references are subscribers

Added Note: There is no word yet of a DC show on New Year’s.

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The Quote Of The Day:

… I lead her to a hole, a deep black well, I said make a wish,
make sure and not tell, close your eyes dear and count to seven,
you know your papa loves you and children go to heaven…
-from Country Death Song
-Submitted by

send your VF quotes to
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WHO/WHERE
Going to a VF concert? Want to know if anyone
else on the list also going? Check here first!

Boca Raton
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New Orleans
——————–

Champaign-Urbana
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N. Dartmouth, MA
—————-

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TRADE, SELL OR BUY
When your wishes are fulfilled, please email
to have your name removed from this section.
In the interest of space, I will remove each
name after it has been up for two weeks. If
you wish to resubmit it at that point, please
do so.

——————
Looking for Brian Ritchie solo effort boots
and the November 14th 1996 University of Maine Orono show.

——————
Looking to buy boot of the Lisle gig in IL.

——————-
I currently have 4 Femmes boots with more on the way. Here is the list
of them:
8/1/83 New Orleans, LA
1/20/85 Berkeley, CA
9/27/91 Seattle, WA
“Film Noir”
I’m looking for pretty much any Femmes live stuff but especially the
show from 9/16/97 at the Palace in Hollywood, CA.

———————-
Looking for Femmes boots. Will trade Replacements, Paul Westerberg,
Jonathan Richman, Big Star, Pixies, or two blank tapes for each show.

—————–
Will trade Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Sex Pistols, Rolling Stones, Who, etc.
for Violent Femmes boot, or what have you?

——————–
Looking to buy or trade copy of Tom Waits singing a Jack Kerouac song
at the Allen Ginsberg Memorial show earlier this year for a boot of Carrol
College, WI show from end of 96.

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ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO IMPROVE THIS LETTER SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO

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WEB PAGES:

Official: http://www.vfemmes.com
Unofficial: http://www.gl.umbc.edu/~mmerry2/femmes.html
Guitar: http://www.bucknell.edu/~wtorres/violent_femmes/
TAB DIGEST:

The tab digest is give and take; remember to share what
you have.

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In Today’s Issue:

Too Long
St. Petersburg Thoughts
RE: Opening Bands
RE: Opening Bands
RE: Opening Bands
RE: Milwaukee Show
RE: Fake Fans
RE: Fake Fans
RE: Fake Fans
RE: Fake Fans…IRC
RE: VF in DC on NYD
RE: Assumed Names
RE: Hallowed Ground
RE: Squirrel Nut Zippers
RE: VF Influences
VF Quote
Gone Daddy Gone Video
MP3’s

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Too Long
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Okay, here’s the one beef I now have with AM: The classifieds at the
beginning necessitate a two-parter every damn time! Perhaps a different
newsletter could be started for those looking to buy/sell/trade stuff.
Just a thought…

Claire

-Pat. Says: I personally would agree, although it does say in that
section that I will run each ad for two weeks only. You will
find several ads are no longer listed, and I have shortened
the rest as far as possible. If someone would like to
volunteer their time, it could be possible to start up a
buy/sell/trade letter which I would reference in the body
of this letter, as I do the tab digest. If there are no
volunteers, I will be forced to continue as is, because I
think the buy/sell/trade is a valuable feature. At any rate,
this particular issue would be a two parter anyway, since
there were so many submissions over the weekend.

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St. Petersburg Thoughts
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Well, I am sooooooo excited I finally get to see the Femmes again, it
has been three years since I last saw them. I am going to the
concert in St. Petersburg. I am going to drive two hours just to go
to the concert, but I don’t care. I would go to the concert in
Orlando, where I live, but I have to work. I used to live in St.
Petersburg, so it is cool because I will get to go to the see the
Femmes and see my friends. I am so happy, can’t you tell!! I will
write back and tell you all about it. My e-mail address is
(not the same as if you reply)

Thanks
Michelle

Stacy

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RE: Opening Bands
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All the VF concerts I’ve been to never had opening bands, but I have
seen the VF open for someone. The band was the B-52’s, five or so years
ago in Ottawa. It was really strange. The VF were strangely subdued. I
don’t recall any real variations to any of their songs. That thing they
do with Black Girls, the “I’ve never heard this version before” was
lacking. It was still good, but not great. It was almost as if the band
were playing underwater, if you know what I mean. Not much excitment,
not much … well VF’s thing. I know I’m being vague, maybe I just don’t
want to remember it too much…

Vive la resistance!

IA CHAUGNAR FAUGN !!!

Erik

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RE: Milwaukee Show
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Jaci- I was at that show!! 3rd row section 2!!!!!!!! The goo goo
dolls played way too long, I was done with them after about 2 songs.
Dishwalla, well let’s just say I was done with them before they started
playing. But the Femmes? I have to say that Milwaukee and Chicago shows
are the best!!!!!!!!!

Stacy

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RE: Fake Fans
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The issue of the fake fans is a double sided sword- you’re into the
Femmes for a few songs, or you’re totally immersed, and there’s really
no middle ground. So the people who are totally immersed think it sucks
to have people being into the same stuff for the wrong reason- a few
catchy pop tunes that are good, but not great in terms of the total body
of the Femmes work. The few songs fans think it’s cool to be into
something like the Femmes, and don’t really care about us
Femmes-for-lifers.
Case in point- one of my friends older brothers has Add It Up, period.
But when the Femmes are coming to Champaign later this month, he was
first in line to buy tickets. I’m cool with him wanting to see the show,
but he’s taking away those tickets from someone who might be a big fan,
and who’d want to see the show and might not get tickets. It’s a similar
thing with the CD’s- it’s a little bit like an exclusive club- we don’t
really want anyone to being into the stuff we’re into, and yet most of
us got the Femmes from our older siblings/friends. What a contradiction.
I heard someone talking about how they bought Add It Up, and thought it
was the coolest thing. He was a friend of mine, we have similar musical
tastes, so I lent him the debut (actually a tape of the debut- can’t
risk losing my CD). He was unimpressed. I was sort of glad. You know?
I’d like to turn people off to them who aren’t really into them, so the
community of us into them are, in fact, REALLY into them.
I bought the new Verve (not Pipe) CD, and it’s the best thing I’ve
heard for a long time. Some airhead girl said she had bought it and
liked it, and I questioned myself and didn’t particularly want that sort
of association with her. I get a lot of that from this discussion, too-
if some stupid person decided he liked the Femmes all of a sudden, being
associated with him would probably throw me off a lot. People know I’m
into the Femmes. Hell, I listen to more 80’s music than any high school
student I know (I’m not just saying the Femmes are 80’s, BTW). But they
don’t try to identify with them because they’re either interested on a
purely conversation level (I’m the only Deadhead I know, too- people ask
me if I’ve ever done acid and whatever) or they want to hear the music.
And usually they’re turned away. But if they aren’t, they’re a member
for life. And isn’t that what this whole thing is all about?
—
Paul

—
“She thinks of John Travolta on the same day as me.
She likes artichoke hearts like me.
She likes corn- corn on the cob
And she eats Corn Flakes before she goes to her job.”

-moe., “She Sends Me”

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RE: Fake Fans
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When “” made this comment:

I was a bit taken back. How could someone think that “just Gordon” is
the talent of the Femmes?

Gordon does deserve the credit. Brian Ritchie can play. The guy plays
so many instruments that I wonder if he knows how many! I think
“Mickii’s” quote would offend Gordon and Brian. The sound and meaning of
the Violent Femmes is based upon all 4 of the members experiences.

Gordon, Brian, Victor, and Guy contribute to their sound in their own
ways.

MBlack

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RE: Fake Fans
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I have never replied to the list before, so I hope I do it correctly.
Firstly, I don’t care if the Femmes are all the rage or if people hate
them. Their music appeals to me. Also, I have to admit, it was the
popular songs that got me to even listen to the rest of the Violent
Femmes’ music. I really liked it and bought more of it. I also play it
for my friends and girlfriend all the time. They like it too. I guess
what I’m trying to say is that it’s cool that we all connect with the
Femmes in different ways (for me it’s the lyrics’ total application to a
lot of what I feel and experience every day). For others, it’s other
reasons. I don’t think that if people like them, that it makes my
connection shallow, it’s just different. And if the Violent Femmes became
popular overnight, I wouldn’t abandon them just to be different. I have
to agree with previous sentiment, if you want to truly be a nonconformist,
don’t even look at what others think. Personally, I think nonconformity
is impossible. We’re all affected by what surrounds us.
So, we should all do what suits us best. That being said, I am glad we
can all at least talk about this maturely (most of the time).

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RE: Fake Fans…IRC
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Don’t you people that are bitching about the “fake fans” realize that the
more popular a band is, the more their cds are placed on the market and
the lower the prices of their cds become (supply and demand..maybe you
were busy listening to femmes on yer headphones druing that part of
economics). And the more people you’ll have that can discuss Femmes with
you!! Never quit liking/doing something cuz everyone else does. I used
to like Nirvana in like early 7th grade. Then, the a year and a half
later, Cobain put a bullet through his mouth and brain and they
overplayed them and you got all those “oh he was my hero!” type ppl. And
then I came to not be able to like Nirvana (all their songs sound alike
anyway). I’ve been called a freak more than once. I began dying my hair
red in 8th grade. In like 10th grade, everyone was going red. I joked
that I’d have to quit dying mine red cuz everyone was trying to be like
me…wrong..it’s cuz they liked it. Just like the Femmes.
Even if someone does only know 3 songs, they’re going to buy the album for
those 3. Then realize that the other songs rock. Then buy more albums.
Then let their friends listen to them who will in turn buy them..etc etc
..you get the point!

I am logged onto IRC now too. There are 6 people on there and all of them
are idle..come on folks! When are we going to do some talking..and thank
you to maisieday for being the ONLY person I have actually found that was
alive and active in there!

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RE: VF in DC on NYD
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Attention:

I am from Illinois and am planning a road trip with about 3 buddies to
go to this year’s New Years Eve show in DC.

I would like to know anyone who lives in the area who will be attending
the concert so they might get tickets for us when they go on sale and
perhaps give us a floor to crash on. We are loyal Femmes Fans (all
males) and want to meet other Femmes fans!

Thanks
MBlack

-Pat. Says: Don’t start up the car yet. That show is just conjecture
at this point.

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RE: Assumed Names
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>I just received an e-mail from my uncle who lives in Milwaukee, WI and I
>was wondering if anyone has any idea of what tavern and what assumed
>name they would happen to be playing at and under…

um, why don’t you just ask your uncle…?
there are only about a gazillion taverns in Milwaukee, otherwise i would
guess.
personally i think your uncle was pulling your leg since I don’t believe
any of the Femmes, except maybe Guy, live in Milwaukee, or in the area.
but if you do find something out from your uncle, let us (or me) know and
i can check it out for you since i’m in the milwaukee area.

rob=)

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RE: Hallowed Ground
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Alyshea, I can’t but agree that Hallowed ground is amazing. I hear
the rain is an excellent song but so are all the others in the
album. I think it’s the best femmes album when I’m all alone, on
my couch in the dark. It makes me lose everything else. The only
thing in my mind is the aggression in Never tell and the melancholy
in Sweet misery blues and the totally complex simplicity of the
artistic chaos in Black girls.

If there’s anyone out there who still hasn’t got it – Get it!

Kiss off,

Erik 🙂

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RE: Squirrel Nut Zippers
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In a message dated 97-11-07 22:43:11 EST, you write:

<< ps: If you are a fan of the Femmes because of the instruments, I
highly recommend The Squirrel Nut Zippers. >>

that depends on if he likes the variety of instruments or how the
instruments are played…..the free jazzish way of the horns o’ dilemma
are nothing like the standardish horns on the Zippers….and the
banjo/singer girl plays strictly chords from what i’ve seen/heard…but
hey what the hell i’m an idgiot when it comes to music….i’m very …
hmmm what was that word that person on the list called me biasidity i
don’t know i had a good laugh=) and was thoughtful enough not to blast
that person into outerspace on the list…actually i didn’t even blast
them at all…it is a waste o’ time and i’m lazy …i just sorry i know
nothing about music at all..please forgive me….no response beat that…
he probably is fillin his shirt with a heave of the ole chest and smackin’
the chin to the sky…ooooo humble pie for him
byebye

kyle

-Pat. Says: Further discussion about SNZ and chest heaving should be
conducted privately, unless someone else can discuss either
topic in direct relation to the VF.

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RE: VF Influences
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Violent Femmes Influences:

The Violent Femmes homepage mentions a few of their influences (like Lou
Reed, of course…) But I noticed that it does not mention Roger Miller
or Johnny Cash, which Gordon himself has told me are two of his bigger
influences…

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VF Quote
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>And in the immortal words of Gordon Gano:
>*The Violent Femmes…they bring all their equipment on the bus…AND YOU
>CAN’T FUCK WITH THE VIOLENT FEMMES—-YOU CANNOT FUCK WITH THIS BAND!*
>

IS THIS SAID BY GORDON???? I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST AN ANNOUNCER. . .

-Pat. Says: Nope, not Gordon. Hubby and I have been having a long running
argument over who actually does say this. Anyone know?
Oellablue, you seem one of the most knowledgeable..whaddaya
say?

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Gone Daddy Gone Video
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Just a nice little bit of information for anyone who is interested. Here
in Australia every weekend there is a music program which runs all night
called Rage. Well on the Saturday nights they have guest programmers who
play all their favourite film clips and songs. Well on the Saturday that
just passed they had “DEVO” programming and one of the film clips they
got played was “Gone Daddy Gone”, which I thought was pretty cool. It
was the first time Id seen the film clip and I was wondering if someone
has seen if they can answer a question for me. In the clip, its
obviously pretty old but there is a lot of those scratchy type things
going on (I hope people know what i mean) I was wondering is that their
for effect or because its old?

Frank

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MP3’s
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Here is something new for everyone. This could go under the
trade/sell/buy cateragory, but I don’t think it does. I am into MP3’s now.
Which for all of you who don’t know what they are, they are full length
songs that can be played off your computer. You can put them onto a CD if
you have a programmable CD-ROM.
ANYWAY, I am looking for Violent Femme MP3’s. I have one so far,
Blister in the Sun, what else? I am wondering if anyone out there has
any???
Thanks!

Raylene Thompson

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