As I tirelessly circled and searched
to find somewhere to park, you
could tell something was different in
downtown Spokane. The streets were
teeming with energy and the sidewalks were lined with fans walking
from all directions, to one place, for
one reason, The Violent Femmes.
I was fortunate enough to have
jaw-dropping seats for that evening’s
sold out show. With the venue filled
to capacity, I looked out onto a sea of
smiling faces, anxiously awaiting to
be reunited with a band they loved
and some of their favorite music.
spoKane, wa
Come along as we cover the live performance of
theViolent Femmes in Spokane, as well
as an Art Chowder exclusive interview with
lead singer,
Gordon Gano.
22 ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE
Music is amazing in that it can transport you to a time and a place in your
life, like very few things can. What
is even more incredible is what force
and accuracy it is able to do it with.
A band like the Violent Femmes has
been making these connections and
weaving their way into the memories
of the public for over 30 years now.
After the captivating opener from
Phoebe Bridgers was finished and the
stage crew began to prepare for the
main event, you could visually see
the crowd vibrate with anticipation.
It only took the faintest indication of
light coming from the backstage door
to set the crowd into an eruption of
excitement.
Then it happened. They knew what
we wanted and they gave it to us,
opening with the ultimate crowd
pleaser, Blister in the Sun. Over a
thousand singing in unison, hands
in the air, all without missing a beat.
Frontman, Gordon Gano’s signature
voice casted out with the same intensity and strength; somehow preserved
despite years gone by. At that moment, everyone lucky enough to be
there knew that it was going to be a
night to remember.