On Sunday July 13, 2025 I took the short drive to Napa, California. The event of the day was The Violent Femmes at the Meritage Resort for the Blue Note Summer Sessions concert series. What a show it was!
The Violent Femmes are an iconic band hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They opened their set with “Prove My Love”, which instantly energized the crowd, getting everyone dancing and singing along. They continued with “Promise”, and the audience remained fully engaged, joyfully participating while the band played. This was the show we all hoped for, perfectly suited to the day.
When they started playing “All I Want”, it felt like a collective sigh of relief. The song’s mellowness provided the breather we all needed before launching into the raucous “Country Death Song”. For this number, Gordon brought out his second favorite instrument, a banjo, and played it with such rhythm that the crowd cheered enthusiastically when they finished.
Next came “It’s Gonna Rain”, a song about building the ark for the biblical flood, marking the second track from their second album, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Following that was “Blister in the Sun”, arguably their biggest hit from the ’80s. It was an epic moment when the crowd sang the chorus back to the band, who happily let them take the lead.
After “Blister in the Sun,” they performed “Kiss Off”, another hit from their first album. The energy during this song was electric, with cheers erupting from the audience. It still has me counting 1, 1, 1 because you left me, and 2, 2, 2 for my family… absolutely epic! They then played “Confessions”. a mellow song that transitioned into “Jesus Walking on the Water”, from their second album once again. This time, Gordon showcased his talent on the violin, delivering a stellar performance.
The next song, “Good Feeling”, was impactful, discussing feelings surrounding a girl leaving him. This song led into “Dance Motherfucker Dance”, a cover of Voot Warnings that they absolutely nailed. The following tracks maintained the same epic energy — “I Held Her in My Arms”, “Color Me Once”, and “I’m Nothing” were stunning as the band jammed through them, much to the crowd’s delight.
For their next song, they played one the crowd had been eagerly requesting, accompanied by introductions to the band. “Black Girls” sent the crowd into a frenzy, followed by the delightful “New Generations”, which was a banger. They then performed “Happy Birthday to You”, a cover by Mildred J. Hill and Patty Hill, which felt crisp and current, despite its roots in the late 1800s.
Next, they returned to their original album with “Gone Daddy Gone”, which had the entire crowd singing along. They then broke into “Add It Up”, causing the audience to go wild. This song was exactly what the crowd needed, but the night wasn’t over yet.
After a short break, the band returned to the stage with “How to Kiss”, a new song they played for the very first time. The excitement and nervousness were palpable. After that, they performed “Gimme the Car”, another hit that kept the crowd engaged. They concluded their set with “American Music”, which prompted loud cheers from the audience. As they finished their final song, the band thanked the crowd, and just like that, they were gone.
Follow The Violent Femmes band members on social media
Gordon Gano – guitars, violins, banjo, vocals
Brian Ritchie – bass, backing vocals
John Sparrow – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Blaise Garza – saxophones, percussion, keyboards, backing vocals
Setlist
1). Prove My Love
2). Promise
3). All I Want
4). Country Death Song
5). It’s Gonna Rain
6). Blister in the Sun
7). Kiss Off
8). Confessions
9). Jesus Walking on the Water
10). Good Feeling
11). Dance Motherfucker Dance (Voot Warnings cover)
12). I Held Her in My Arms
13). Color Me Once
14). I’m Nothing
15). Black Girls (w/ band introductions)
16). New Generations
17). Happy Birthday to You (Mildred J. Hill and Patty Hill cover)
18). Gone Daddy Gone
19). Add It Up
Encore
20). How to Kiss
21). Gimme the Car
22). American Music
Follow The Violent Femmes on social media
