VIOLENT FEMMES – LIVE AT THE WESTVILLE MUSIC BOWL
Monday I received an email from The Westville Music Bowl offering free tickets to Wednesday’s Flogging Molly and Violent Femmes show. I had never attended a show there before so I called my friend Christian who is always up for a show and off we went. I knew a couple songs going in but Christian knew the bands more and was, as he said going 95% for Flogging Molly. Upon entering the venue the message board announced they would not be playing due to 2 positive Covid cases among the traveling party. Well let’s see what the 5% would bring.
The opening act was Thick, a three piece all female band from Brooklyn. Nikki Sisti ( Guitar,/Vocals), Kate Black( Bass) and Shari Page (Drums) were full of energy during their set but reminded me of your friends band trying to play at the school dance.
Next came Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, a punk rock cover band from San Francisco, that puts their punk rock interpretation on main stream songs. Lead singer Spike Slawson, who let the crowd know he was from New Haven, was a stellar showman and had the best line of the night for me at least. Introducing John Denver’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane”, he said, “here’s one from a fairly good pilot” Joining Slawson was CJ Ramone (Bass),Dave Raun (Drums), Joey Cape (Rhythm Guitar), and John Reis (Lead Guitar). They reminded Christian of a cruise ship band. Next up was the only headliner on this night of the tour.
Violent Femmes are a folk punk band from Milwaukee. Two founding members Gordon Gano (Guitar, Lead Vocals) and Brian Ritchie (Bass) were joined by Blaise Garza (Instrumentals) and John Sparrow (Drums). Admittingly I didn’t know many songs going into the evening, but a good night of live music was in store. The band upped their set to 22 songs, making up a bit for the loss of Flogging Molly from tonight’s lineup. “Add It Up” led off the night followed by “Memory” and “Prove My Love”. Gano took the next few moments to thank the openers and wish Flogging Molly well. Next was a rapid fire of songs, “Promise”, “Breakin’ Up”, “Nightmares”, “I’m Nothing”, “Confessions”, and “Life is a Scream”. Garza’s jumping around to different instruments was impressive as was the size of a huge saxophone on stage that he would play at times. Punk songs seem to be so short in length or the night just flew by. Next was “Country Death Song”, Waiting for the Bus”,” Jesus Walking on the Water”, “Good Feeling” and “Dance, Motherfucker, Dance!”. Gano explained that they didn’t write this one but the 3 guys who did all added one word. “Gimme the Car”, “Ugly”, “Never Tell, “I Held Her in My Arms” and “Gone Daddy Gone” were followed by the song I knew, “Blister in the Sun”. It is always more fun when I can sing along at the top of my lungs very off key. At least I think I sound good. ”Kiss Off” followed before the band said their first Thank Yous They returned for one encore song “American Music” leaving the crowd happy with a fun night of music from beginning to end. I’d say the 5% did their job.
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To learn more about Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, check out their website
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Stream music: Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud
To learn more about Thick, check out their website
Follow on Facebook / Instagram / YouTube / Twitter
Stream music: Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud
Purchase: Purchase Direct / Bandcamp
To learn more about Violent Femmes, check out their website
Follow on Facebook / Instagram / YouTube / Twitter
Stream music: Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud
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