Coachella 2013: Violent Femmes, blistering in the sun

2

Violent_Femmes3@Coachella_by_Scott_Dudelson

Who: Violent Femmes at the Main Stage
In 3 or Fewer Words: Remember those songs?
Memorable Because: When the reunited Violent Femmes opened with “Blister in the Sun” and got that annoying bit of business out of the way, I knew I was in good hands. Then they played “Kiss Off.” And then “Please Do Not Go.” That’s when it dawned on me: They’re going to play the whole self-titled debut front-to-back. Yep. Missing throughout was the urgent sense of sexual frustration that permeates that album, a dysfunction of a band aged 30 years that no amount of Viagra could cure. But the Femmes weren’t cruising for converts; this was pure, uncensored fan service. Clumsy at first, once the alternative folk rockers hit their rhythm on “Add It Up,” the thousands of suitors were panting for more. By the time the sun had dipped down to kiss the tips of the palm trees as the Femmes crooned “Good Feeling,” the whole polo field was after-glowing. Thanks guys, call me next week?
What I’d Tell My Friend Who Was At El-P: The classic Sole dis track is burned into my mind, I don’t think I can never take El-Pee seriously. “I’m tearing down that posterboy Miss Piggy-lookin’ leprachaun!”
– Ben “Mouse” McShane (Photo by Scott Dudelson)