Violent Femmes, Victor's return
Jul. 7th, 2002 10:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kevins_concertsFor the previous three years, I got to the Miller Oasis about two bands early. I'd go up front while the crowd was a little sparse, and move up further between acts when people were coming or going. Last year I had Cyn with me, and it was still rough sitting there for something like four hours. By the time The Femmes went on, it was so packed you could hardly stand up. Everyone stands on the benches, so your feet end up killing you by the end of the show, from trying to keep your balance while dancing for ninety minutes. And so many people are trying to get up there, that you barely have room to stand anyway. And then people start filling in between the benches, so you have to be extra careful not to fall off. And it's always really hot, and sweaty. So this year I decided we'd not even try to get up close.
Cyn and I got to the Miller Oasis at 7:45. We found a table near the back, and sat down. At eight o'clock (one of the rare on-time shows there this year) The Eddie Butts band came on. they were very loud. Even at the back, Cyn and I had to lean forward and yell to each other.
Around ten o'clock, a Who song started up over the PA. They played two, including "Boris the Spider," in tribute to John Entwistle. I imagine this was Ritchie's idea. (He has a nice tribute to Dee Dee Ramone on the website.) We all got up on the tables. Then Gordon, Victor and Brian came out. Ritchie was dressed somewhat normally, for a change. Victor was obviously excited to be there. Gordon was just short.
Before the show, I wondered what their selection of songs would be, since Former drummer Victor DeLorenzo was back after nearly a ten year absence. He had gotten together with bassist Brian Ritchie to choose songs for a repackaged Rhino edition of their debut album. Ritchie decided to invite him back into the band for an anniversary/farewell tour. Thus, this was Victor's return the Violent Femmes stage (and marking Guy Hoffman's unceremonious dismissal). Victor was goofier than ever. They played only songs that he was involved in recording. Actually all but three songs were from their first two albums.
In no particular order:
Blister in the Sun
Kiss Off
Add It Up
Confessions
Prove My Love
Promise
Gone Daddy Gone
Ugly
Gimme the Car
Waiting for the Bus
Country Death Song
I Hear the Rain
Never Tell (opened encore)
Jesus Walking on the Water
Black Girls
I Held Her in My Arms
American Music
Look Like That
(I made this list after I got home and looked at their CD's, so it may not be 100% accurate. In fact, I'm really not sure about "Promise".)
"American Music" and "Look Like That" are from their fifth record, and "I Held Her in My Arms" was the only offering from their third record. It was kind of strange that they didn't play "Old Mother Reagan," but otherwise I wasn't surprised at their selection from The Blind Leading the Naked I've heard them play "No Killing," "Faith" and "Children of the Revolution," but never more than twice each.
The sound was too quiet. At most concerts I'm wanting them to turn it down, but this was barely audible. If I didn't know all the songs already, and was able to fill in the blanks, I would have been angry. Some people were. At one point, I heard a large group of people chanting in unison to the sound guy to turn up the volume. I would have thought it was because we were way out in the back but Eddie Butts was so loud. About twenty minutes in, it got a bit louder, but still wasn't great.
Victor only played his one tom, the tranceophone and the high-hat. Ritchie switched between his mariachi bass and the electric - and of course the xylophone for "Gone Daddy Gone." Gordon similarly switched between electric and acoustic guitars. The Horns of Dilemma was onstage for "Black Girls". Snopek only played keyboards for one or two songs, but I can't remember which.
Overall, I'd have to say it wasn't their best show. They were a bit loose - especially Gordon. Maybe it was because I couldn't hear very well, but it didn't seem like his playing was really into it.
Victor was clowning around. At one point he was running across the stage to hit his beats. Or when the band was waiting for him to hit it to start the music after Gordon did the intro, and he just stood there grinning, with his sticks in the air. When he first came onstage, he was jumping in the air. He was just so damned happy to be there.
Cyn and I got to the Miller Oasis at 7:45. We found a table near the back, and sat down. At eight o'clock (one of the rare on-time shows there this year) The Eddie Butts band came on. they were very loud. Even at the back, Cyn and I had to lean forward and yell to each other.
Around ten o'clock, a Who song started up over the PA. They played two, including "Boris the Spider," in tribute to John Entwistle. I imagine this was Ritchie's idea. (He has a nice tribute to Dee Dee Ramone on the website.) We all got up on the tables. Then Gordon, Victor and Brian came out. Ritchie was dressed somewhat normally, for a change. Victor was obviously excited to be there. Gordon was just short.
Before the show, I wondered what their selection of songs would be, since Former drummer Victor DeLorenzo was back after nearly a ten year absence. He had gotten together with bassist Brian Ritchie to choose songs for a repackaged Rhino edition of their debut album. Ritchie decided to invite him back into the band for an anniversary/farewell tour. Thus, this was Victor's return the Violent Femmes stage (and marking Guy Hoffman's unceremonious dismissal). Victor was goofier than ever. They played only songs that he was involved in recording. Actually all but three songs were from their first two albums.
In no particular order:
Blister in the Sun
Kiss Off
Add It Up
Confessions
Prove My Love
Promise
Gone Daddy Gone
Ugly
Gimme the Car
Waiting for the Bus
Country Death Song
I Hear the Rain
Never Tell (opened encore)
Jesus Walking on the Water
Black Girls
I Held Her in My Arms
American Music
Look Like That
(I made this list after I got home and looked at their CD's, so it may not be 100% accurate. In fact, I'm really not sure about "Promise".)
"American Music" and "Look Like That" are from their fifth record, and "I Held Her in My Arms" was the only offering from their third record. It was kind of strange that they didn't play "Old Mother Reagan," but otherwise I wasn't surprised at their selection from The Blind Leading the Naked I've heard them play "No Killing," "Faith" and "Children of the Revolution," but never more than twice each.
The sound was too quiet. At most concerts I'm wanting them to turn it down, but this was barely audible. If I didn't know all the songs already, and was able to fill in the blanks, I would have been angry. Some people were. At one point, I heard a large group of people chanting in unison to the sound guy to turn up the volume. I would have thought it was because we were way out in the back but Eddie Butts was so loud. About twenty minutes in, it got a bit louder, but still wasn't great.
Victor only played his one tom, the tranceophone and the high-hat. Ritchie switched between his mariachi bass and the electric - and of course the xylophone for "Gone Daddy Gone." Gordon similarly switched between electric and acoustic guitars. The Horns of Dilemma was onstage for "Black Girls". Snopek only played keyboards for one or two songs, but I can't remember which.
Overall, I'd have to say it wasn't their best show. They were a bit loose - especially Gordon. Maybe it was because I couldn't hear very well, but it didn't seem like his playing was really into it.
Victor was clowning around. At one point he was running across the stage to hit his beats. Or when the band was waiting for him to hit it to start the music after Gordon did the intro, and he just stood there grinning, with his sticks in the air. When he first came onstage, he was jumping in the air. He was just so damned happy to be there.