Photos by Andy Argyrakis

As nearby neighbors from Milwaukee, Violent Femmes spent much of its formative years in the early 1980s around Chicago, though quickly blossomed into a global presence given an unlikely combination of sardonic songwriting set to folk and punk.

Over four decades later, The Salt Shed was filled to the brim for a semi-homecoming on the “Grasp And Reach For A Leg Of Hope” Tour, which chronicled the previous and present pursuits of the platinum-plus players.

Currently comprised of co-founders Gordon Gano (vocals, guitar, banjo) and Brian Ritchie (bass), alongside longtime drummer John Sparrow and saxophonist Blaise Garza, Violent Femmes were as fierce as ever, entering through the crowd marching band-style, then tapping into the local debut of “Olinguito,” “Prove My Love” and “Promise.”

For the next 90 or so minutes, the core foursome and a couple accompanists cranked out the insistent likes of “Country Death Song,” “Waiting For The Bus” and a surprisingly early inclusion of the iconic “Blister In The Sun,” now impacting the masses all over again on Netflix’s “Four Seasons.”

The sing-a-long continued during the fellow smash “Kiss Off,” yet there were still plenty of catalogue cuts to uncover, such as “Please Do Not Go,” “Good Feeling” and “Color Me Once.”

Violent Femmes reached another pinnacle when “Gone Daddy Gone” and “Add It Up” appeared to end the energetic evening, each coming across as exciting and ageless as all the aforementioned.

Members returned to the newer, like-minded beats of “Betrayal,” followed by the communal calls of “American Music” as they claimed a rightful place amongst the country’s truest alternative treasures.

For those wanting more and willing to take a mini-road trip, Violent Femmes officially head home to the Riverside Theater on Saturday, October 18 and Sunday, October 19 to perform all of 1983’s self-titled debut and the following year’s “Hallowed Ground” as this fall’s grand finale.

For additional information on Violent Femmes, visit VFemmes.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at The Salt Shed include Lucius (Oct. 18); Parcels (Oct. 19); Los Fabulosos Cadillacs (Oct. 21); Lorna Shore (Oct. 23); My Morning Jacket (Oct. 24-26); Lil Tecca (Oct. 31); Jeff Tweedy (Nov. 1); Little Simz (Nov. 5); Of Monsters And Men (Nov. 6); King Princess (Nov. 7); Grizzly Bear (Nov. 8-9); The Mars Volta (Nov. 14); Big Gigantic (Nov. 15); The Band Camino (Nov. 20); Tape B (Nov. 21); Portugal. The Man (Nov. 22); The Beths (Nov. 23); Waterparks (Nov. 28) and Neal Francis (Nov. 29). For additional details, visit SaltShedChicago.com.

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