Violent Femmes 40th Anniversary with MSO Hits National PBS Broadcast

Do you like “American Music?” We like “American Music.” Okay, “American Music” isn’t on the Violent Femmes’ self-titled album. Crazy.

The Violent Femmes are an undeniably local band. Each of the group’s founding members grew up in the city, where they shaped the sound that pioneered the folk-punk genre and carved their place into the national music scene. And it’s here where they were discovered by none other than punk legends James Honeyman-Scott and Chrissie Hynde, busking outside of the Oriental Theatre in 1981. The band would go on to release the hit-laden “Violent Femmes” in 1983, launching their career into the stratosphere and unleashing a sound that would define an era of punk-loving teens everywhere.
 

(Photo credit: PBS Milwaukee)
 

Last year, on the 40th anniversary of the release of the Violent Femmes self-titled LP, the band returned to Milwaukee for a special concert with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra at the Bradley Symphony Center in the heart of the Milwaukee Theater District downtown. A show blending the Violent Femmes’ trademark punk music with the lush sounds of a full symphony, the band performed their self-titled album in its entirety, alongside some of the group’s hits, before a sold-out crowd, making the homecoming nothing short of a special moment for the band, the fans and the city.

But sadly, not everyone could feel the energy of this concert and sing along to their favorite Violent Femmes songs. At least, not until now. This Friday, December 13, you can find this must-watch Milwaukee experience on your local PBS channel. Airing at 8 p.m. Central, with an encore performance at 9:15 p.m. Central, be sure to set your schedule to see songs like “Add It Up,” “Gone Daddy Gone,” “Blister In The Sun,” and, yes, “American Music,” performed like you’ve never seen them before, with the magic of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
 

(Photo credit: PBS Milwaukee)
 

Where to Watch

Your local PBS channel at 9 p.m. Central, with an encore performance at 9:15 p.m., or, if you’re a Sustaining Member of Milwaukee PBS, you can stream at any time. Memberships start at just $5 a month to gain access to the extensive library of programming.

(Photo credit: PBS Milwaukee)
 

What Now?

Now that you’ve watched the Violent Femmes 40th Anniversary with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra,  why not continue exploring the music scene that made the Violent Femmes legendary?

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

While the band itself will return to their hometown on an upcoming tour at some point in the near future, you can catch all the talent you’ve seen on the screen in the setting it was filmed, the Bradley Symphony Center at an MSO performance.

The Oriental Theatre

Before the concert hit the airwaves, Milwaukee PBS hosted its premiere at the Oriental Theatre, a full-circle moment for the band, the venue where they got their start. Now, the theatre itself no longer hosts rock shows, but it does screen some of the best movies in the area. The immaculately maintained and intricately designed venue is a landmark in Milwaukee's music history and a great place to catch a flick.

Live Music in Milwaukee

The most beautiful piece of the Violent Femmes story is the notion that up-and-coming artists, the nation’s next rising stars, can be found in even the most unlikely of places. Even busking outside of the Oriental Theatre. You can catch some of the best up-and-coming musicians at places like Vivarium, Club Garibaldi, The Cactus Club, The Miramar Theatre and so many more across the city. Check out more live music here.

It's Always Showtime in Milwaukee!