Went to see the Violent Femmes while at Umass in 1983 at Hangar One, a club made from an old airplane hangar. We were waiting in the parking lot, this old station wagon pulled in with Wisconsin plates ...hung out with the guys from Wisconsin for awhile and they asked how good the Femmes band was. We had the first record and played it on a campus radio station so we told 'em they were great. When they came on stage to play it was the three dudes from the parking lot! Super hot show, slam dancing, drummer used an upside down galvanized tub for a drum. Up there with best show ever.

@Surferjoefwb

3 жыл бұрын

That’s bad ass dude!

@briankelley4163

3 жыл бұрын

Great story

@akaicedtea6236

3 жыл бұрын

Very nifty

@orcvsivstitia7608

3 жыл бұрын

They were so odd. But nice.

@WhatsCookingTime

3 жыл бұрын

I'm too young to remember that but I'm from Massachusetts when you say UMass do you mean Amherst? Where exactly was this concert

American originals. A absolute treasure of a band.

The greatest, most honest, sarcastic and to the point American song of all time. It should be the national Anthem.

@nooneinparticular7709

2 жыл бұрын

Gen X Conservative who despises "woke culture" here. Completely agree.

@patprince6011

2 жыл бұрын

I second that!

@the2ndcoming135

2 жыл бұрын

Before there was the White Stripes and other RocknRoll classic revival type bands there VF.

@unitedstatesofmordor

Жыл бұрын

"I wanted to be Thumb No 69, but I got here too soon." -Thumb 68

@ersp1

Жыл бұрын

@@nooneinparticular7709 oh, you poor dear. show us where the woke culture hurt you.

I loved it then (1991) and I love it now (2023).

@marcussmith3037

3 ай бұрын

24

@vergutzkw

2 ай бұрын

@@marcussmith3037 Not 32?

Grew up jamming to Violent Femmes. Very underrated band in my opinion.

@jacobrheaume1

2 ай бұрын

The musicians’ music.

In person, a remarkably quiet band that keeps the crowd very riled up. Never, ever underestimate the power of the bathrobe.

I love how Gordon Gano's eyes never alter, no matter what verse or emotion he's singing. A true psychopath. Or at least a really damned good imitation of one.

@keelangibson6902

2 жыл бұрын

Its because he is a pisces..

@spinblade6459

2 жыл бұрын

@@keelangibson6902 Or Gemini. Close enough.

@robertmaddog6749

2 жыл бұрын

Pp0

@oliverbrauning1586

2 жыл бұрын

He just has good focus!

@michellezirkle6268

2 жыл бұрын

Lol

Highschool in 96 I asked leslie to prom with this song in her living room good times.. she said yes

@69monstermunch

3 ай бұрын

Are you still in touch with Leslie?

@JessIca-rx9mx

Ай бұрын

Was Leslie hot?

@selalewow

Ай бұрын

My husband played Girl Trouble on the way to our wedding 😂

I wish I could tell these guys how happy their music makes me. I can actually remember finding the Violent Femmes tape in my sister's room when she went to college in 1987ish. I wore that tape out. That box included a Duran Duran tape, a Squeeze tape and Depeche Mode as well. Well, I know what I am doing with the next hour.

@merkules2001

2 жыл бұрын

Pretty much same story. Hand me down, "stole," from mine. The cure, cult, police, cars, men at work.

@notsureiL

2 жыл бұрын

Lucky dude your sister has great taste in music 😊

@kingofalldabblers

2 жыл бұрын

@@merkules2001 same bro. The cure, police, Depeche mode...

@1011.Nezuko

2 жыл бұрын

I was born in 84 and I love this band

@Jason-kg4rs

Жыл бұрын

Squeeze was awesome too.

When he says....baby....🤩

This should be our National Anthem. I want to hear this every single time an American wins gold at the Olympics.

One of the most underrated songs ever!

@stevecurcio6646

3 жыл бұрын

True

@meyou-dv8ns

2 жыл бұрын

More so them My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama by Zappa?

@stephenpereira2140

Жыл бұрын

10000928%

This song has not stopped resurfacing in my mind since first I heard it, many long years gone. I like American Music, it reminds me of me.

My roomate bought the first album when it came out in 1983. It's still one of my favorites. Never gets old.

I bought this CD when I was around 12. I'm 31 now. I never knew what these guys looked like.

@vanessakemp8653

3 жыл бұрын

me neither :)

@tishaburke8086

3 жыл бұрын

Me too

@WhatsCookingTime

3 жыл бұрын

I first liked them when I was a teenager I'm 49 now and this is the first time I'm seeing what they look like as well. They're much more normal looking than I thought they would be

@adamtrolinger9054

2 жыл бұрын

@@WhatsCookingTime should look up their older stuff.. not so normal back when

@JohnBrown-pq9tj

2 жыл бұрын

I bought this CD when I was a gamete. I'm a zygote now. I never knew what these guys looked like.

My love for this band is pure.

This song has such as strong nostalgic vibe. It's also hauntingly sad as if Gordon is singing about his life regrets with lines like "....I did too many drugs.." and "...I was born too soon, you were born too late..." or "nobody would go to prom with me..." An underrated masterpiece!

Takes me back...argh! I feel so old. Violent Femmes rock!

@johnnyp8979

Ай бұрын

LOL Like SIXTO RODRIGUEZ mentioned; old ? I'm ancient 😖... Nevertheless, ENJOY !

Great song and one of the all time great videos, like something David Lynch would have made.

@davidgehring4194

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly what I was thinking when I saw it as well.

@UncleErnie71

2 жыл бұрын

The director would go on to direct a bunch of television, including episodes of Breaking Bad, Fargo and Better Call Saul.

@CB-vg1wq

2 жыл бұрын

Great comment. I thought the same thing, this looks very Lynchian. David Lynch should put them in his next movie as lounge singers.

@slaughterhouse5585

Жыл бұрын

Great observation. David Lynch. Oh, yeah. 😵‍💫

Wow, I'm totally emotional over this. It looks and sounds so good. Thank you.🖤 Greetings from Germany.🤗

How lucky am I that I was maintaining my Best of 1991 playlist on the DAY this came out?!

April 2024 . Perfect.

@AFloridaSon

2 ай бұрын

Yep..

@lewisgiles8855

Ай бұрын

May 2024 trying not to get emotional lol

Saw the Femmes in 2019 and they were amazing! If you haven't seen them live, you should! One of the best shows I've ever been to. Timeless sounds and great energy.

the aspect ratio, themes, and red curtain are all giving me big twin peaks vibes i love it

Though they were my favorite band in high school and college, I listened to them less and less over the decades as I got old and boring. Well, I just saw them with Flogging Molly in Eugene, and it reminded me that they are still the greatest live band ever. Most bands drown their music out with over-amped bass notes, but not the Femmes. Their albums are awesome, but they are even better live, and even better 40 years later. Ritchie still rocks the xylophone, Gano sings with raw angst, and Sparrow played a mean solo on the Weber grill (did the other drummers spontaneously combust from sheer coolness?). Maybe I was born too late, or they were born too soon, but I miss the fresh simplicity of bands like the Femmes. You guys are invited to my place any time.

@Aleph-Noll

2 жыл бұрын

i think their first self titled album is perfect. which album should i listen to next?

@jeffzylland1311

2 жыл бұрын

Their first album is their most perfect. Many of their albums have themes, so you may like some more than others depending on your taste. I like stuff from all their albums though. maybe take a look at their hallowed ground album, though?

@kristineapodaca3173

Жыл бұрын

I saw that show in Denver! Great show

@daisywrabbit

7 ай бұрын

Eugene! ⚡️💙⚡️

@daisywrabbit

7 ай бұрын

@@Aleph-NollAdd it Up 1981-1993 is a compilation album with many of their greats.

I'm always amazed at how strongly they touch me with only two guitars and a single drum. Of course the songs, the lyrics, Gordons' voice, it all adds up to JOY! I'm always happy when listening to the VF!

@joeschmucketelli9364

Ай бұрын

Let’s not forget one is a bass guitar..

@rondohunter8966

Ай бұрын

@@joeschmucketelli9364 Yes. Bassist Brian Ritchie, guitarist Gordon Gano and percussion Victor DeLorenzo (originally). Two guitars. One drum.

Legit one of the absolute best songs ever written and recorded.

I live in Milwaukee and saw these guys at a big music festival we have every year at our lakefront and they're from Milwaukee, they used to perform there every year and when we were young (the 90s) we'd go see them every year......brings back many fun memories from l8ng ago lol.....☺️💜💗🔆

@ThatWeirdGuyYouKnow

5 ай бұрын

Was it Summerfest? Or the Milwaukee State Fair?

@squirrelgirl1853

5 ай бұрын

@@ThatWeirdGuyYouKnow Summerfest.... They used to play every year....

@craigkanning1762

5 ай бұрын

I saw them at Summerfest as well . One of my favorite shows of all time. Such a fun show.

@squirrelgirl1853

5 ай бұрын

@@craigkanning1762 yeah we made it a tradition in our friend group for years.... Great times!!!

This is amazing, and the timing is incredible. I just decided to search for this song, Hadn't heard it in probably 15 or 20 years. And you published this 2 weeks ago!

Never saw them, but was lucky enough to hear the debut LP at Christmas break 1983, when my lifelong music mentor handed me a half-dozen vinyl LPs and said, “Tape these.” Yeah we stole music back then. But among the stack was Violent Femmes. For me, as for so many people, their music became a touchstone of purity that I really have no quibble with down to as recently as-today. This is American music. I like American music. I like Violent Femmes music. It reminds me of me.

and now Im singing the next song from the album, out the window...

@braindeadjalapeno

3 жыл бұрын

That one is my favorite second to this one!+

@derrikferguson3219

3 жыл бұрын

Same here. Life was fun life was great

@Sc250108

3 жыл бұрын

Til I made my big mistake. Oh no... It'll never happen to me.

@waukivorycopse2402

2 жыл бұрын

Catch me, really, I'm falling

There was only one station in the valley that was playing the Femmes, KROQ. Without that station I would have never heard this and countless amazing bands. It was the soundtrack of my youth and I wish I could back.

@franktall7705

7 ай бұрын

Wayyyy back in the days

Been a fan since I was a kid! I've seen them live over 20 times. Gordon is a sweetheart ❤

@Surferjoefwb

3 жыл бұрын

Wow 20 times! That’s bad ass. The Femmes and The Cure are the only 2 bands that I always wanted to see but never got to.

@1011.Nezuko

2 жыл бұрын

That's awesome hell yes I'm sure it was awesome

Grew up to this music. The Violent Femmes are a national treasure.

One of the best bands ever. True modern folk.

Genuinely, one of the MOST underrated 🥰 *LOVE LOVE LOVE* this collection of songs formerly called an album!

Yeah hearing theses guys brings me back to the care free days of junior high school. “Why can’t I get just one f**k?” I’m 46 now!!! Man time flies!!

@klausicornfield

3 жыл бұрын

And so did the fucks ;-) I´m 56 and i saw them live when i was a teen

@naturalnashuan

4 ай бұрын

I never did get a date to the prom.

Loved this song since the first time I heard it. I don't think it's intended sarcastically, though I do believe there are many layers and underlying emotions being expressed simultaneously. My read is that this is Gordon's recantation of the effect that his devotion to the music had on his life and how one cannot be dissociated from the other. His life to that point, for better or worse, reflected back at him by the music he loved so dearly. Wonderful.

I LOVE AMERICAN MUSIC!!! aNd, the MORR VIOLENT aNd FEMME(Y) the music is, THE BETTER!!!

Saw them at Cruel World in Pasadena this year. Totally rocked their set. A very solid live act and everyone was so into it. I was very impressed at the number of instruments one of the back-ups was amazing.

Why Do Birds Sing? Love it wore the tape out. I saw them at Geelong many moons ago....turn it up people....life was fun life was great....

The music was pure. Nothing to hide behind

This was my jukebox anthem throughout my entire 20s

Effing fanbloodytastic! One of the best and most underrated songs ever.

I wasn't born in in 1979, but, luckily I had good parents. Saw them in '96 at 13. Still one of the best shows I've ever been to

You know, after close to 40 years since their hit song came out, I had more or less forgotten about the Violent femmes. I think I went to Jones Beach to see them,. But last night I heard this song on wlng out of Sag Harbor, having no idea who did it. Somehow, it totally knocked my stockings off, and I fell asleep with the song spawning many dreams. I had never heard a sound like this before. I needed to find out who did this. And yes, the Violent Femmes, and until jus' now I had never seen them on You Tube either. A great video and a great song. Thanks!

My first memory of the Femmes was when my sister told me about them coming to play at her high school in Milwaukee. It was a Catholic school, so when they played Add It Up, the school admins shut the show down, haha. My sister also used to go listen to the gospel choir that the lead singer was a member of. Stalker...

Fun to see this video in HD. It reminds me of me. I like all kinds of music.

We just saw them last weekend in Cleveland. Our 4 year old's first show. He loved it!

@stevemandl5140

2 жыл бұрын

they are from here milwaukee wisconsin

One of the greatest bands of all time

I love driving in the country playing this over and over and over and over and over 🪕🎸

I got a promotional copy of this when it came out. Like everyone I love their first album but nothing after seem to compare until this. I think this record really brought then back to the fore as one of the Premier bands during this time.. I saw them once in 84 and then again in 91 at Lollapalooza. They played last before Jane's Addiction. I was so worn out from drinking in the sun all day. I used all my energy and had so much fun watching them I passed out in the grass for most of Jane's Addiction. I don't regret it one bit.

1st memory was 1984 in highschool and blasting them on the old boom box getting disgusted looks from the quote normal azz holes of the world i knew then i found the perfect band for me like the cramps and others of the day THERE MUSIC DOESNT GET OLD IT ENDURES ...👊🙌

This is just visual and accustic chaotic pleasure.

Loved them since I was a kid still love them at 44

Thanks for posting this. I used to play the album (yes, vinyl) regularly. Forgot all about it, now this song's gonna be my 'earworm' for the next week or so (and that's a good thing!).

Love this so much

One of the best bands ever. Takes me back to amazing places

My favorite song so far of the 2020s

One of the lucky to have seen this live with the 1 string. The Ramones played directly after them. Good night.

Awesome , guys! Loved you on college radio in the 80s; you rocked out the Ryman ...

From my home town of Milwaukee 🙃

This song is fucking amazing. Been on my playlist forever like many Femmes songs but this one no matter my mood will never ever get skipped (I don't think the other ones do too but especially this one)

Saw them in '91 when they toured this album. Best rock'n'roll show I ever saw.

I was living in Milwaukee in the early 80's when these guys were just exploding on "the scene." I was one of the original editors of The Crazy Shepherd newspaper and they did some gigs to help us out. Victor DeLorenzo would show up at parties on the East Side and everyone wanted to be near him. Brian Ritchie would show up and everyone would want to smoke a joint with him. Gordon Gano didn't show up much cuz I guess he was somewhere quiet writing songs about angst. "When I go walkin..." Great stuff.

Used to play all the Femmes on my old late night radio show on KPFT 90.1 FM in Houston. Always loved this song.

How can you resist a punk band with a song where the lead instrument is a xylophone? I discovered them way too late, but still went on 7 mile runs through the mountains with their music blasting in my earbuds.

I love American music.

He posted on my birthday!! this is one of my favorite songs from violent femmes! I somehow knew this at 11!

First heard the Femmes on WLIR, 92.7 back on Long Island in the early 80's STILL LOVING THEM ALLTHIS TIME LATER!!!!

So good, thanks for rocking guys

Forever fan 🤘🤓

I loved them, love them, have never seen his silly little face so close... thank you.

Thanks guys. Love this!

I've been a fan for years😊😁❤❤❤

I saw the Violent Femmes in 2006 in Tucson Az at the he Rialto. It was ab outstanding concert.

30 helens agree. This song is dope

Been a fan since 1991 and today, I saw what the band looks like. That's a real rock and roll experience for me. Hahahaha thanks VF for being such a great band.

American originals.I love American originals. Baby.

Damn that is a cracking video! Its also my favourite VF song to boot....!

I found this song on my spotify, and I love it!

Seen them a few times live. So good.

Get to see em again, this Saturday!

If this isn’t the 2026 World Cup anthem, we don’t deserve to host the World Cup

Excellent, had this on my watchlist. I've only managed to catch the Femmes live three times, wish that had been much more.

Qué recuerdos tan bonitos!!🥰

I really love the almost unsettling or unnerving feeling of the song. Feels like the character is almost desperate for the other person's love and is at his wits end to have affection. Every out of tune "Baby" kinda drives home this feeling.

I got their best of album around 2003? finishing high school. I went to a party and took over the stero to play this song. Everyone danced after they got over yelling at me for touching the stereo and so I put a lampshade on my head and danced because I'm a clown. It is a great song I think.

STILL brilliant after all these years...

Saw them this past weekend in Boston MA.. Fantastic Show. They blew doors!!!

one of my fav

This should be our National Anthem. 👍

Love it!!! Saw your Eugene, Oregon, concert with 3 hours of rain a couple of weeks ago...Totally great. Glad that you are still touring. ;)

Back in 1986 saw them at Summerfest in Milwaukee for the first ever all Milwaukee bands show on the main stage Violent Femmes the Bodeans and the R&B Cadets epic show

Sunday, July 17, 1994 - zephyr fest New Orleans. These guys were the reason we went.

Victor de Lorenzo is supposedly doing a parody/homage of Maureen Tucker drummer for Velvet Underground. I think it’s when he uses the mallets with a serious look on his face. 💙🥹

LOL, their videos make me laugh. I love the Violent Femmes. I did right away too, Which is unusual for me, usually a new band needs to grow on me a little bit but not them, loved em as soon as I heard em on the radio.

Won free tickets to see them open for Barenaked Ladies around 2015ish. Totally left after the Femmes but they put on one of the best live shows ive seen 🤙

@jcoltrane8976

2 жыл бұрын

Jeez, they’re opening for Barenaked Ladies?! It should’ve been the other way around.

love you guys!!!!!

Thank you from Seattle!