Article • 1993
Femmes Live Up To Reputation
- Title: Femmes Live Up To Reputation
- Author: Sarah Shellman
- Publication: Green Bay Press-Gazette
- Date: 04-27-1993
Flannel shirts, pierced noses, and an alternative lifestyle were the norm for the Violent Femmes' concert last week.
St. Norbert College's Schuldes Sports Center was about half-filled with mostly young adults who came to see one of the most popular undergrounds bands.
The Violent Femmes - Gordon Gano on vocals and guitar, Brian Ritchie on bass, and Victor DeLorenzo on drums - are Milwaukee natives who recorded their first album 11 years go. Most of their reputation is built on live concerts and their debut album, Violent Femmes.
Just hours before the St. Norbert concert, DeLorenzo announced his immediate departure from the band, citing creative differences and the desire to pursue other projects. The Femmes got BoDeans drummer Guy Hoffman to fill in. The Opening acts were Stringbeans, a popular local group, and Sigmund Snowpek III. Snowpek, as much a comedian as a musician was little "different;" his act included not only the usual synthesizers but also instruments such as the flute.
The Audience was more than ready for the Violent Femmes by the time the opening acts were over. Fans cheered wildly as the Femmes launched into Prove My Love. Audience enthusiasm dwindled during the next few songs, but returned as the band played Blister In the Sun. In the midst of the songs were plenty of guitar and bass solos, although these altered the flow of the numbers a bit, it didn't affect the crowd's overall enthusiasm much.
Gano's strident vocals were right on all night, varying enough from the Femmes' recordings so that it didn't sound as if someone was playing a tape over the sound system. Ritchie followed the changes smoothly, and added an impressive, even bass line. Hoffman did an excellent job filling in at the last minute, especially during the drum solo in the encore.