Name: Viva Wisconsin
Brand: Beyond
SKU: 620049
Availability: OutOfStock

Performer Notes

Violent Femmes: Gordon Gano (vocals, acoustic guitar); Brian Ritchie (vocals, shakuhachi, conch, harmonica, soprano saxophone, Theramin, xylophone, acoustic bass); Guy Hoffman (vocals, bugle, snare drum, tranceaphone).
The Horns Of Dilemma: Sigmund Snopek III (vocals, flute, Native American flute, bass clarinet, oboe, trombone, piano); Mike Kock (saxophone); Shane Derstl (trumpet); Ray Cribb (trombone, bass); Eric Markstrum (trombone).
Recorded live in Wisconsin from October 25-31 1998.
Violent Femmes: Gordon Gano (acoustic guitar); Brian Ritchie (conch shell, acoustic bass guitar); Guy Hoffman.
Personnel: Brian Ritchie (vocals, guitar, shakuhachi, harmonica, soprano saxophone, xylophone, acoustic bass, Theremin); Sigmund Snopek III (vocals, flute, Native American flute, bass clarinet, oboe, trombone, piano); Guy Hoffman (vocals, bugle, snare drum); Gordon Gano (vocals); Mike Kock (saxophone); Shane Derstl (trumpet); Ray Cribb, Eric Markstrum (trombone).
Additional personnel: Ray Cribb (bass instrument); Sigmund Snopek III, Mike Kock, Shane Derstl, Eric Markstrum.
Recording information: Wisconsin (10/25/1998-10/31/1998).
Recorded live before an adoring and extremely vocal crowd (guess where), VIVA WISCONSIN is the Violent Femmes' return to basics album. With "no overdubbing, no electronics, no crap," the Femmes tear into their impressive back catalogue of tracks with a fervor that has been somewhat subdued on more than one of the more recent studio albums. The performances here go a long way to suggesting that the best way to hear these songs is live. Nearly every track is at least as good as its studio counterpart, but there are some standouts.
"Life Is an Adventure," from ROCK!!!, was always a nice song, but here is looser and it seems even more heartfelt. Though "American Music" is a song that is good enough to withstand even the most uninspired performance, the version here truly shines, far outstripping the album version that appeared on WHY DO BIRDS SING? To give you an idea of how good these versions are, even an elongated drum solo on "Black Girls" somehow manages to sound as though it ought to have been in the original version (from HALLOWED GROUND). And how can you fault an album that ends after more than 72 minutes with "Kiss Off"?

Professional Reviews

Mojo (Publisher) (12/99, p.108) - "...wringing singalong fun from murder, misery and bad sex. A greatest hits, of sorts - black and blue all over."

NME (Magazine) (11/6/99, p.38) - 6 out of 10 - "...Despite their age, the nastiness of their records lives on....[the band] can still make your skin crawl and feet tap..."

Album: Viva Wisconsin
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Prove My Love
2)	I'm Nothing
3)	Country Death Song
4)	Blister in the Sun
5)	Gimme the Car
6)	Don't Talk About My Music
7)	Confessions
8)	Hallowed Ground
9)	Life Is an Adventure
10)	Old Mother Reagan
11)	Ugly
12)	Good Feeling
13)	Dahmer Is Dead
14)	American Music
15)	Special
16)	Sweet Worlds of Angels
17)	Black Girls
18)	Gone Daddy Gone
19)	Add It Up
20)	Kiss Off

Album: Viva Wisconsin
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Prove My Love
2)	I'm Nothing
3)	Country Death Song
4)	Blister in the Sun
5)	Gimme the Car
6)	Don't Talk About My Music
7)	Confessions
8)	Hallowed Ground
9)	Life Is an Adventure
10)	Old Mother Reagan
11)	Ugly
12)	Good Feeling
13)	Dahmer Is Dead
14)	American Music
15)	Special
16)	Sweet Worlds of Angels
17)	Black Girls
18)	Gone Daddy Gone
19)	Add It Up
20)	Kiss Off