.png)
Seminal Alt Rockers Violent Femmes will be giving fans a one-two punch when they perform BOTH their ground-breaking, debut, self-titled album and their sophomore release, Hallowed Ground, from cover to cover at Riverfront Live on Friday, May 17.
All Ages
Doors at 6:30PM, Show at 8PM
Standard Admission: $45 advance
Pit: $50 advance
4-Person VIP High-Top Table: $65 per ticket (must buy all 4)
6-Person Picnic Table: $60 per ticket (must buy all 6)Outdoor Show - Rain or Shine
Violent Femmes formed in 1981 as an acoustic punk band playing on the streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Their main influences at that time were Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps and The Velvet Underground. Their goal was to rock harder than any other acoustic act on the planet.
After being rejected for an audition by a local nightclub, the Femmes set up outside a Pretenders gig and began to play. Pretenders’ lead singer Chrissie Hynde asked them to open that night’s show, which gave the young band a publicity boost and caught the attention of Richard Hell, who invited the Femmes to open for him in NYC. A rave review in the New York Times eventually led to a record deal, which in turn spawned worldwide touring.
Violent Femmes eponymous debut album became the first and only album in Billboard history to enter the charts with a platinum certification- eight years after its release. Over the ensuing three decades, the Femmes became a mainstay of festivals, clubs, and theaters in more than 20 countries worldwide.
MTV’s “Unplugged” show was inspired by the Femmes, although they never actually appeared on it. Their raw sound and honest lyrical perspective has been cited as an influence by artists as diverse as Pink, Keith Urban, The Smiths, The Pixies, John Cusack, Mark Morris, and Wim Wenders.
More than 40 years into their careers, Violent Femmes continue to attract young audiences on tour, create lasting music, and inspire people of all ages.
