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Violent Femmes + The Vasco Era Heaven, Sun 3 April All the night the screens around Heaven bombarded us, telling us how "privillaged" we'd be as Heaven Gold Card holders. Were a card holder to have unknowingly slipped in about halfway through last Sunday's 'Femmes show they may not have found what they bargained for. There on stage were a man with a voice nearly as scratchy as his violin playing, one dancing around half a drum kit, an impossibly large man with an acoustic bass guitar and, at the back, two apparent refugees from a Peruvian pan pipe band on keys and guitar. They were playing a song called Good Feeling, and for a brief few minutes, Heaven was almost living up to its name. The Vasco Era's opening set went down a storm, their enthusiasm more than matched by musical ability. Old heads on young shoulders, they've melded influences from blues, folk and rock to arrive at their sound. Organic without trespassing into that cloying new roots style, they're on the up and well worth catching. The Violent Femmes defy logic. How can Gordan Gano still play some of these 20-plus year old songs with even a shred of dignity? He manages it effortlessly. It's because they were always beyond simple teenage song writing. It's because he doesn't pretend to be living the songs, just enjoying them. And it's because they're so freaking great, we can't resist. A more varied set list than last tour saw standards like Add It Up, Gone Daddy Gone and American Music interspersed with a funked-up version of Waiting For The Bus complete with piano solo, a full-band I Held Her In My Arms and a manic Never Tell. The 'Femmes don't leave crowds feeling short-changed - no matter how many favourites are not played - and the party atmosphere lasted all night, whether the song was celebratory (36-24-36) or not quite so celebratory (Country Death Song). Despite the rumours there was no obvious intra-band tension and the whole shebang ended with the crew and The Vasco Era taking the stage, before the three 'Femmes returned for a blast through Kiss Off. Card or no card, there's little doubt we were all privillaged (sic) to be there.  |
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