16 illinoisentertainer . com february 2025
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Sun .” In 1984 , that reckless experimentation alienated many fans drawn by the prior year ’ s bristling pop . Ironically , a high-school-aged Gano had written all of the songs for Hallowed Ground in the same batch that had produced the material recorded on Violent Femmes ’ first album . Country and American roots music influences share space with punk and electrified pop sounds on songs , including the title cut “ Hallowed Ground ,” foreshadowing alt-country acts like Uncle Tupelo . Ritchie colors the agitated but atmospheric “ I Hear the Rain ” with marimba and switches to gritty electric bass leads to reflect the dark secrets of “ Never Tell ” while Gano plays tremolo-drenched electric guitar . The grim fable of filicide “ Country Death Song ” is given cinematic character by Tony Trischka ’ s Appalachianstyled banjo . Gano sings the eerie tale of a poverty-stricken man driven mad by his circumstances and his ensuing crime . “ She was screaming as she fell , but I never heard her hit ,” the father says after sending his young daughter down a well and to her doom . “ Black Girls ” features avantgarde woodwinds by John Zorn and a rumbling mid-century jazz beat – not to mention Ritchie ’ s cartoonish jaw harp . The controversial song is an equal opportunity offender while prodding at the hot buttons of race , sexual preference , and religion . “ Sweet Misery Blues ” includes New Orleans-styled flourishes from the Horns of Dilemma . Gano ’ s voice on the song drips with the youthful angst and paranoia that marked the band ’ s earlier singles , but elsewhere on “ Jesus Walking on the Water ” and “ It ’ s Gonna Rain ,” the band is conscripted into Gano ’ s fondness for Gospel folk . Gano would explore his fascination with songs of faith further during the ‘ 80s with the side project Mercy Seat . The religious elements were an additional polarizing element among fans upon the release of Hallowed Ground and were reportedly a source of internal friction among the band members . In retrospect , the album resonates as fearless and honest art . With Hallowed Ground , the Violent Femmes were resolutely true to themselves .
– Jeff Elbel
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THE ROLLING STONES Welcome to Shepherd ’ s Bush Blu-ray + CD ( Mercury Studios )
Amid a summer 1999 stadium run , the Rolling Stones took a side trip during their No Security tour to play a hometown gig before 1800 lucky fans at Shepherd ’ s Bush Empire . In what must have been a treat for the band itself as much as for fans who returned to attend the massive shows that followed at nearby Wembley Stadium , the Stones shook up the set list at this “ secret gig ” to include a half dozen deep cuts rarely or never played on the rest of the globetrotting tour . The biggest surprises include the swinging blues of “ Melody ” from the 1976 album Black and Blue , propelled by Darryl Jones ’ loping bass line and spiked by Michael Davis ’ hot trombone solo . The portrait of a femme fatale had been performed only once when supporting the album in 1977 , and it hasn ’ t been performed since this 1999 outing . Also included is the Stones ’ only performance to date of “ Moon is Up ” from 1994 ’ s Voodoo Lounge , launched by Keith Richards ’ watery guitar lick and punctuated by Mick Jagger ’ s harmonica . “ I Got the Blues ” from 1971 ’ s Sticky Fingers is another hidden gem introduced by Jagger as “ a soul thing like Otis Redding used to do .” “ This is very slow , so we have to slow ourselves down mentally to get into the groove for this one ,” he says . The band seems energized by the return to their old stomping grounds . “ Welcome to Shepherd ’ s Bush ,” says Jagger soon after the show begins . “ I ’ ve been waiting to say that for a little bit .” The singer cheekily welcomes old friends , new friends , wives , and ex-wives in attendance . “ And that ’ s just Charlie ,” he quips , igniting a chant of beloved drummer Charlie Watts ’ name from the audience . Richards adds a similar sentiment before leading the rootsy “ You Got the Silver .” “ It ’ s good to be home , I ’ m telling you now ,” he says . Agitated Some Girls single “ Shattered ” makes its second and final appearance for the year , as does Exile on Main Street ’ s rowdy “ All Down the Line .” The latter song features Ronnie Wood ’ s woozy slide guitar solo , Chuck Leavell ’ s sparkling piano , and a bristling brass section . Voodoo Lounge single “ Brand New Car ” receives its only outing for 1999 , as Wood ’ s wah-wah guitar spars with Richards ’ Chuck Berry-styled guitar lines . In close proximity to the band , the audience can be heard singing along to
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