Violent Femmes

Rip It Up, Issue 82, 1 May 1984, Page 2

Violent Femmes

New Zealand made a big impression on Milwaukee’s Violent Femmes so much so that they want to return here next January to record their third album.

Bass player Brian Ritchie hopes to be back before that to play with and produce Martin Phillipps of Dunedin's Chills. The Chills played support at the Femmes’ Christchurch gig and the visitors were mightily taken with Phillipps' songs. Ritchie was later given a selection of Flying Nun discs and was to be heard singing the praises of the Clean, the Builders and others.

Ritchie and manager/producer Mark Van Hecke are also interested in ethnic music and stayed on a few days after the tour so Maui Records' Dalvanius could take them down to Patea and show them what Maori music was all about. The band also made an unusual in-store appearance at an Auckland record shop, playing an acoustic set to a crowd jammed in between the record bins. The performance was broadcast live on Campus Radio, which followed it up with a repeat of the band’s chaotic radio interview with a bemused Chris Easther. (When's the bootleg coming out?) Y’all come back now y’hear? Footnote: Look out for the new Femmes album, Hallowed Ground, which is due out soon. It's quite a change from their first, with song titles like 'Jesus Walking on the Water’, and the introduction of new instruments, including a horn section. rb