Violent Femmes - 2 Mics & The Truth Unplugged & Unhinged In America '2017

Tracks list

The textbook American cult band of the 1980s, the Violent Femmes captured the
essence of teen angst with remarkable precision; raw and jittery, the trios
music found little commercial success but nonetheless emerged as the soundtrack
for the lives of troubled adolescents the world over. The group formed in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the early 80s, and comprised singer/guitarist Gordon
Gano, bassist Brian Ritchie, and percussionist Victor DeLorenzo.

Ritchie originated the bands oxymoronic name, adopting the word femme from the
Milwaukee areas slang for wimps. After being discovered by the Pretenders James
Honeyman-Scott, the Violent Femmes signed to Slash and issued their self-titled
1983 debut, a melodic folk-punk collection which struck an obvious chord with
young listeners who felt a strong connection to bitter, frustrated songs like
Blister in the Sun, Kiss Off, and Add It Up. Though never a chart hit, the album
remained a rite of passage for succeeding generations of teen outsiders, and
after close to a decade in release, it finally achieved platinum status.

With 1984s Hallowed Ground, Ganos lyrics began to reflect his devout Baptist
upbringing, while the Femmes music approached more traditional folk and country
structures. Produced by Talking Heads Jerry Harrison, 1986s The Blind Leading
the Naked advanced toward a more mainstream sound; a cover of the T. Rex
chestnut Children of the Revolution even became a minor hit. After the records
release, the Femmes temporarily disbanded: Gano recorded a self-titled 1987
album with his gospel side project the Mercy Seat, while Ritchie issued a series
of solo LPs including 1987s The Blend and 1989s Sonic Temple & Court of Babylon
for SST. (I See a Noise appeared on Dali Records in 1990.) In 1989, the group
resurfaced with 3, followed by 1991s Why Do Birds Sing?, which featured the
Femmes deconstructionist cover of Culture Clubs Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?
Following the release of the 1993 compilation Add It Up (1981-1993), DeLorenzo
exited the Violent Femmes to resume the solo career he began two years prior
with the release of Peter Corey Sent Me; his sophomore effort, Pancake Day,
appeared in 1996. Former Oil Tasters and BoDeans drummer Guy Hoffman was tapped
as DeLorenzos replacement in time to record 1994s New Times for Elektra Records,
which proved their sole release for the label. Rock!!!!! was released in 1995 on
Mushroom Records only in Australia; the live Viva Wisconsin followed on the
American indie label Beyond in 1999, trailed early the next year by a new studio
effort, Freak Magnet. In the spring of 2001, the Femmes released their first
MP3-only album, Somethings Wrong, through the website EMusic.com; it collected
an assortment of rarities, including covers, acoustic live tracks, alternate
versions, demos, and the like. In 2002, Rhino/Slash reissued their debut as a
two-disc deluxe edition that featured 22 previously unreleased tracks, followed
by Permanent Record: The Very Best Of in 2005.

The Violent Femmes closed out 2005 with a New Years Eve show featuring all three
original members and Guy Hoffman. This union was punctured in 2007 when Ritchie
filed a lawsuit against Gano, seeking proper accounting of royalties while also
claiming he was denied credit for songwriting; additionally, he stated Gano
licensed Blister in the Sun for use in a Wendys commercial without permission.
During the lawsuit, the Violent Femmes managed to release a single -- a cover of
Gnarls Barkleys Crazy, appearing in June of 2008 -- but the tensions caused the
group to split in 2009. Ritchie and Gano settled out of court in 2012 and the
Violent Femmes reunited in 2013, playing a number of shows, including a slot at
that years Coachella festival, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of their
landmark debut. Following these shows, drummer Victor DeLorenzo departed
acrimoniously -- in a statement, he claimed In regards to my history with the
Violent Femmes, the dream never quite got there -- and was swiftly replaced by
Brian Viglione, a drummer with the Dresden Dolls. Over the next couple of years,
this lineup played frequently and released a four-song EP for Record Store Day
in 2015, a teaser for the full-length We Can Do Anything in 2016. By the time
that album appeared in March 2016, Viglione had resigned from the band. John
Sparrow signed on as the Femmes drummer in time for the tour supporting We Can
Do Anything; recordings from the tour were compiled into a 2017 live album, 2
Mics & the Truth.

Tracklist:

01. Violent Femmes - Blister In The Sun (WXRV)
02. Violent Femmes - Im Nothing (PASTE)
03. Violent Femmes - Its Gonna Rain (PASTE)
04. Violent Femmes - Breaking Up (WFUV)
05. Violent Femmes - Good For / At Nothing (WFUV)
06. Violent Femmes - American Music (KINK)
07. Violent Femmes - Gone Daddy Gone / I Just Wanna Make Love To You (WXPN)
08. Violent Femmes - I Could Be Anything (WFUV)
09. Violent Femmes - Rejoice And Be Happy (KCMP)
10. Violent Femmes - Add It Up (WFUV)
11. Violent Femmes - You Move Me (WXPN)
12. Violent Femmes - Issues (KCMP)
13. Violent Femmes - Run With It (WFUV)
14. Violent Femmes - Ugly (WXRV)
15. Violent Femmes - Kiss Off (WXRV)
16. Violent Femmes - Jesus Walking On The Water (WFUV)
17. Violent Femmes - Prove My Love (WFUV)
18. Violent Femmes - Country Death Song (WFUV)
19. Violent Femmes - Untrue Love (PASTE)

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