Violent Femmes Viva Wisconsin CD

Recorded live before an adoring and extremely vocal crowd (guess where), VIVA WISCONSIN is the Violent Femmes' return to basics album. With "no overdubbing, no electronics, no crap," the Femmes tear into their impressive back catalogue of tracks with a fervor that has been somewhat subdued on more than one of the more recent studio albums. The performances here go a long way to suggesting that the best way to hear these songs is live. Nearly every track is at least as good as its studio counterpart, but there are some standouts.

"Life Is an Adventure," from ROCK!!!, was always a nice song, but here is looser and it seems even more heartfelt. Though "American Music" is a song that is good enough to withstand even the most uninspired performance, the version here truly shines, far outstripping the album version that appeared on WHY DO BIRDS SING? To give you an idea of how good these versions are, even an elongated drum solo on "Black Girls" somehow manages to sound as though it ought to have been in the original version (from HALLOWED GROUND). And how can you fault an album that ends after more than 72 minutes with "Kiss Off"?

Few bands have captured the angst, sexual frustration, and repressed rage of the '80s and '90s better than the Violent Femmes. Without falling prey to death, breakups, and commercial overexposure, the Femmes have maintained their simmering intensity with an ever-growing loyal fan base of former punks, Generation Xers, and their younger brothers and sisters. The Wisconsin trio captures nearly two decades of post-punk smarminess with Viva Wisconsin, a live retrospective recorded during a one-week tour of their home state in October 1998 that boasts a depth of song choices and performances. Whether playing their best-known hits or lesser-known classics, the band delivers great live performances with largely nothing more than the acoustic bass, drums, and guitar they are known for. The alternative radio staples "Blister in the Sun," "Gone Daddy Gone," and "Kiss Off" are here, of course, but longtime fans and new initiates will love the variety of songs spanning the band's career. Dark gems like the twisted sagas "Country Death Song," "Gimme the Car," and "Hallowed Ground" showcase singer/songwriter Gordon Gano's capacity for spinning haunting tales. Creepy anthems of alienation like "Prove My Love" and "Confessions" show off the trio's musical virtuosity. Fans love the Femmes for their ability to

Recorded live in Wisconsin from October 25-31 1998.

Remastered Gh Live + 1 Bonu Track.

Violent Femmes: Brian Ritchie (conch shell, acoustic bass guitar); Gordon Gano, Guy Hoffman.

Personnel: Gordon Gano (vocals, acoustic guitar); Sigmund Snopek III (vocals, flute, Native American flute, bass clarinet, oboe, trombone, piano); Brian Ritchie (vocals, shakuhachi, harmonica, soprano saxophone, xylophone, acoustic bass, Theremin); Guy Hoffman (vocals, bugle, snare drum); Mike Kock (saxophone); Shane Derstl (trumpet); Ray Cribb, Eric Markstrum (trombone).

Audio Mixer: David Vartanian.

Audio Remasterer: Keith Blake.

Liner Note Author: Brian Ritchie.

Recording information: Barrymore Theater, Madison (10/25/1998-10/31/1998); Grand Opera House, Oshkosh, WI (10/25/1998-10/31/1998); Grand Theater, Wausau, WI (10/25/1998-10/31/1998); Hollywood Theater, LaCrosse (10/25/1998-10/31/1998); Pabst Theater, Milwaukee (10/25/1998-10/31/1998); State Theater, Eau Claire, WI (10/25/1998-10/31/1998).

Director: Guy Hoffman.

Violent Femmes: Gordon Gano (vocals, acoustic guitar); Brian Ritchie (vocals, shakuhachi, conch, harmonica, soprano saxophone, Theramin, xylophone, acoustic bass); Guy Hoffman (vocals, bugle, snare drum, tranceaphone).

The Horns Of Dilemma: Sigmund Snopek III (vocals, flute, Native American flute, bass clarinet, oboe, trombone, piano); Mike Kock (saxophone); Shane Derstl (trumpet); Ray Cribb (trombone, bass); Eric Markstrum (trombone).

Additional personnel: Ray Cribb (bass instrument); Sigmund Snopek III, MikeMojo (Publisher) (12/99, p.108) - "...wringing singalong fun from murder, misery and bad sex. A greatest hits, of sorts - black and blue all over."
NME (Magazine) (11/6/99, p.38) - 6 out of 10 - "...Despite their age, the nastiness of their records lives on....[the band] can still make your skin crawl and feet tap..."