I always find it inspiring when weird bands whom drift between genres and play somewhat left field music get some attention. It’s a classic underdog story and it makes me happy to just hear about them making waves in their local scenes. What makes me even happier though, is that three whacky muso’s were discovered busking on a street corner in 1981. The weird and wacky songs they played to an unsuspecting audience have now become classics that I presume the whole world has (at least drunkenly) sang along to at least once. The band name originated from what Gordon Gano (guitar and vocals) called his made up band when he was trying to impress his brother and friends. The band he went on to join was Violent Femmes, and they went from busking on street corners to selling out concert halls all over the world. This success has not faltered over the years though, with their latest show in Brisbane also selling out. This show was held at The Triffid and was also the show I had the pleasure of watching and reviewing. 

Walking into The Triffid you can feel the excitement in the air. People are chatting at a quick pace, the lines to the bar seem to be in an infinite loop, the merchandise store is having trouble keeping up with the eager customers and everyone has a huge smile on their face. The crowd is diverse, consisting of the young and old(er), illustrating that the music’s depth and brilliance is not lost through the passages of time. I wanted to get closer to the front but alas it was too condensed, so I stayed towards the back. This wasn’t really an issue though, and it never is at the Triffid, because due to the layout of the old airplane hanger and the brilliant lights that shine throughout, you can always see the stage. I don’t think I was in the hall for more than 10 minutes when a roar erupted and they were suddenly there. A few moments later there was silence, a pause, and then that twangy rift which opens their first album started to play and we all began to dance. How can you not dance to Blister In The Sun?

They followed with Kiss Off and Please Do Not Go which had everyone bouncing around and yelling at the top of their lungs. The set was a mixed bag of excerpts from all of their albums, but fortunately they played most of their first and debuted songs of their much anticipated, and very recent We Can Do Anything. Throughout this amazing mixed bag, members would jump in and out from the front of the stage to indulge us with amazing guitar, bass and sax solos. It was fantastic! Oh and did I mention they used a Theremin? How cool is that! What impressed me most was that for what seems such simple folk punk songs they really showed off how brilliant they are as musicians in both compositions and instrumental skill. I still think that Brian Ritchie is one of, if not the best bassist in the world and something which is definitely not captured on their records.

They plowed through for just over an hour, enchanting us with amazing tunes and intense feelings of nostalgia. My personal highlight would have to be Add It Up, not only for how well they played it but how well it was received by the crowd, with spilt drinks and flailing bodies erupting throughout the hall. When they finished I wished that they could have kept on playing throughout the night. Although they couldn’t, Brian did ensure us that they would be back soon and that’s more than good enough for me. 

- Kacper Majchrowski