Violent Femmes - Country Death Song (Live on KEXP)

KEXP.ORG presents Violent Femmes performing "Country Death Song" live in KEXP's gathering space. Recorded August 2, 2017.
Host: Troy Nelson
Audio Engineer: Kevin Suggs
Cameras: Jim Beckmann, Alaia D'Alessandro, Kendall Rock & Justin Wilmore
Editor: Jim Beckmann
kexp.org
vfemmes.com

[@_dmfd]

Dudes just playing the grill like it ain't nothin! 😂

[@scottpierce68]

Right, like what even makes you say, nah "leave the drums,take the grill".

[@kingjellybean9795]

He's the patron Saint and living avatar of dad's grilling.

[@danielwhitehead6576]

i've played a weelie bin.... one is inspired.

[@sweetbabyray1000]

They're gonna BBQ some drumsticks on that grill/drum after the concert

[@chrisrus1965]

Holy fucking shit this is the most gut wrenching brutal song ever.

[@Wompzalot]

check out psycho. old bluegrass country tune about a murderous rampage.

[@terracomm1]

yes. it's their masterwork.

[@terracomm1]

@@Wompzalot yes. same Tone. brilliant.

[@terracomm1]

might enjoy the track "It's Gonna Rain" - sounds better in studio than live.

[@thekenty]

this is one of my favourite songs of all time

[@fuzzynutkila1]

Place this song next to the studio recording and it is EXACTLY the same vocals! That's almost impossible to not have to change key 35 years later! Suck it Sting

[@dahl86]

You have to do some skippedi du, but not that much hehe

[@xfiazc07]

So much so that I wonder if a little funny buisness is going on. Other songs def don't sound the same vocally as 80's...NO ONE sounds Exaclty like they did when they were 21. P.s. If you can find of the late 80's early 90's version of gimme the car, where Gordon has a Bright Red Strat....He has the most possessed, intense eyes you will Ever...Ever...See...It looks like he has "Something" if you know what I mean.

[@scottpierce68]

There is a little age in it but you're spot on. Same key indeed.

[@nooneinparticular7709]

@@xfiazc07 He is a unique individual that you would never pick out of a crowd.

[@PaulSmoker420]

While I do agree wholeheartedly that Sting should, in fact, "suck it" (whatever "it" may be), that does nothing to change the fact that the studio version of "Country Death Song" is much better that this very acceptable live rendition. Nostalgia sucks.

[@kelvingstrachan]

LEGENDARY!!!! Dude's playing drums on a Weber 😅

[@TranzparentMethods]

Gordon Gano is one of the best vocalists ever!!! He's got a great Bluegrass vocal style... Not to mention the fact the he plays the banjo amazingly... Not to mention the percussion players over the years... Their best songs were without a DRUM KIT, AT ALL!!!!

[@denisethetford9178]

I realize I have aged since the 80s but somehow didn't think Gordon & the guys had. You know how you still see a band as they were when you discovered them? Absolutely love VF. Always will. THAT VOICE THO!!

[@1996Gtalum]

Yes!!

[@DJSquish76]

Just found this now. 2023. I feel old

[@aztecdune]

I wish more people listened to this. Violent Femmes are one of the most underrated bands.

[@mikejh]

Still got it, always had it....brilliant lyrics, dark subject matter that only they could get away with then & now. Country Punk at it's finest.

[@danmurphy4724]

As a man with 4 daughters I can't get threw this song without crying.

[@kevinmeercat919]

Now now Dan . Dont you be getting any funny ideas .

[@Alsatiagent]

That is a disturbing mis-spelling of through...all things considered.

[@_dmfd]

@@Alsatiagent 2:55 😂😂😂

[@theivory1]

I have three and I play songs on the guitar on piano a few nights a week. I play the title track to this album, but I will never learn this one. Where could a person besides them sing it and not make everyone around them questions everything?

[@investrehab]

I have a 7 yr old daughter, still trying to figure this one out. I give hugs daily, never would send down a well.

[@dorizook3922]

I briefly taught English and used this to teach the structure of a ballad poem (AABBB or ABABB) but also the basic structure of popular music; verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus. Yes, this has a bridge but the structure and story are classic ballad. I showed the video and they LOVED it! They were also fascinated by the structure of pop/rock songs. Hopefully it's stuck with them and maybe even lit a fire or two.

[@theivory1]

I remember when Hallowed Ground came out. I was 10 years old and man every song was just wonder and delight.

[@helgazubiz1750]

🖤

[@turtleonahottinroof8734]

There is art here, where storytelling and music meet, that is honest and very American in that this is the story that hides underneath folk music.

[@helgazubiz1750]

🖤

[@americavega8337]

Geez chills down the spine.

[@viddabroun8613]

such a shame I can only thumb this up once, genius level songwriting.

[@blaiseatkinson174]

How beautiful

[@ouinceton53]

Huge VF fan here. Probably the punkiest version I heard so far thanks a lot for the upload (:

[@MellowMell]

Heard it in 94 lived in Seattle well after. This song was always there

[@chrisdewar1726]

One of the few albums that I wanted to hear again , before finished the first hearing was complete .... thanks guys

[@longhairmullet]

I just listened to your live version from the 80’s and then a cover by another guy and THEN THIS, oh my this is SO GOOD! Wow unbelievable years later, you have not lost the edge in your voice or the emotion in the story the song tells. Really enjoyed this. Ive been to three live concerts of yours and I wish I was here for this evenings event. So good of you to post this to view. Now kiss your mother good night and remember that God save.

[@softdorothy]

Love the drum kit.

[@Sajiky]

The look on his face, while he sings that, is intense... Great band.

[@charlesburge3074]

They have 2 albums in my top 10 ever

[@SamuelVenturaMusic]

Nice which ones? I assume the debut’s one…

[@xfiazc07]

This is my Happy song.

[@artyschopy]

Saw these guys live in 2005. Just amazing. Time passes but the quality of their performances somehow stays top notch

[@asiandetective4998]

I had them around to my place for dinner in 1984, Sydney Australia. They made up a song about my girlfriend and sang it when I opened the door when they arrived and then later that night sang it as the opening song of their show.

[@moabb0mb]

That was legendary.

[@b3ckillzombiez968]

They still sound damn good.

[@bonniebickett4520]

My favorite VM song!

[@vintage1520]

OMG ONE OF MY FAVORITES BAND.

[@freedo333]

I discovered ive been saying Gordon Gano's name incorrectly for 40 years. It's pronounced "gay-no" & i always thought it was "gah-no". These guys are great!

[@madratter]

12 year old girl in the crowd freaking out in her head right now 🤣 😂😳😳😂

[@felixsuarez100]

most beautiful. Thank you

[@thekaiser4333]

Exceptionally brilliant!

[@user-zh6qg7cu7w]

Loved what this group has done since the 1980's. And now. Just concerned what was the "thinking" behind Country Death Song. I've clapped along for years.

[@1996Gtalum]

Love the Femmes!!!

[@jamessherosick2747]

This song always reminds me of Dylan's "Hollis brown"

[@funtimenetwork]

Oh man they're old, his voice has changed so much One of their better songs

[@Baxxter101]

Hold up... Is that guy playing a Coleman grill as a drum?

[@eoinryan3275]

My favourite song off of Hallowed Ground by far

[@bschuler6216]

Never Tell

[@fredpascarelli8386]

that was GREAT

[@djcrook6641]

Know your papa loves ya and know you'll go to heaven

[@TranzparentMethods]

I'm a bass player and I discovered the Violent Femmes in 1993, I was, and still am a fan of Pop Punk music... If there wasn't a Brian Ritchie, there would be no Matt Freeman... Aggressive, but still in the pocket... Brian created that pop-punk sound on bass...

[@IAmTheBestMang]

This isn't pop punk, this is folk punk. Also, Matt Freeman plays ska punk, not pop punk.

[@vincentdemargne3275]

And Victor Delorenzo was suddenly playing the BBQ!

[@DadDudeBruh]

1000+ views... 45 likes. WTF??? This is a clinic on live performance.

[@DadDudeBruh]

I was supposed to go to this. No idea why I didn't.

[@DadDudeBruh]

70k views. That's better

[@irenebradley9879]

Femmes are simply not as well recognized as they should be, particularly the lesser known songs. Gordon and Brian are f’ing ridiculously talented. Great album! No sophomore slump in my view, but many hated it at the time. I’m from MKE. I know, I’m biased.

[@csteele24]

Thank you, O Lord, for Gordon Gano

[@helgazubiz1750]

🖤

[@hollyrose7219]

What is the vocal equivalent for The Portrait of Dorian Gray?

[@NessunaOffesa]

Best comment!

[@carlospires7411]

❤

[@JLG629]

Jeez this song is really dark.

[@Wompzalot]

billy strings needs to cover this asap

[@scuffedstudiosgla]

THIS SONG MAKES WONDER IF MY SISTER STILL HAS A BOYFRIEND

[@RingerDaClown]

Femmes on one stage H on a different stage at the same time.... don't regret not seeing H.

[@MrMkayultra]

He took Bella and threw her it that well

[@eveblack5843]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@mrwestern123]

surreal

[@helgazubiz1750]

🖤

[@GeorgiaGrowGuy]

Who dances to this???

[@thebipolarbear2639]

Was this an ad for Webber BBQ's??

[@stevenfunderburg1623]

Very difficult to find quality BBQ drummers these days.

[@lukechandra6233]

प्रतिभा !!!

[@wackyruss]

This song is horrifying. It freaked me out as a teenager. Worse than Halloween.

[@MrMkayultra]

Yikes ,ya think Chris W listened to this??

[@michellestory1686]

Kiss your mother goodnight. And Remember that God saves

[@zenobardot]

What could be more punk rock in 2017 than wearing a pair of glasses that look like you stole them off of Donald Rumsfeld's dresser?

[@nooneinparticular7709]

Punk rock these days is fucking with the wokes.

[@loucat2779]

that's funny right there, great observation.

[@Dirt290]

It seems like the crowd is at the wrong show There are children in the crowd?!? It's not a feminist rally btw

[@mads1097]

kids can like the femmes too!

[@asong4thedead]

This now reminds me of Chris Watts

[@amyhulvey5534]

Know wonder our children are f.....d up

[@deanperez9426]

Legacy 9

[@oliverjohnwasiliev-zk4tn]

MARK Tongs song.

[@Budsport_TV]

Savagery

[@Budsport_TV]

Interesting song choice after the Las Vegas tragedy as well. The Femmes are fuckin epic

[@Gloominous]

They recorded this in August

[@Manzanahh]

remember that god saves 😧

[@TheDarkCow11]

This dudes voice sounds like he's 20 in some sections

[@MrMkayultra]

Chris Watts theme song

[@turtleonahottinroof8734]

Disturbingly believable..

[@neiloshodges2816]

This guys voice is the aural equivalent of "Oh God Why" 🙂

[@actualsurfer]

He is describing the Political Left! Awesome.

[@MrMkayultra]

NK and CW in hell

[@balthasardenner5216]

No trace of that pretty face left...

[@chrisdougherty9098]

We should all look so good after 40 years. Youth and beauty are temporary. They’re still grinding it out for our benefit. Be grateful, and respectful.

[@balthasardenner5216]

@@chrisdougherty9098 Yeah, women in society always get extended that respect. I'm sure you make sure to comment every time you see a woman's looks being disrespected online. If women can put up with it so can men. Deal.

[@julianbutler6298]

You have to be akin to a flat earth believer to think that this is real music! It's so bad, boring and discordant that it's comical, but maybe that's the point...

[@MrCemsipahi]

dreadful..just give it up for the good memories. aren't you ashamed of yourselves?

[@justinarnold84]

Man this is awful.

[@justinarnold84]

No. Bad.

[@kevinmeercat919]

not if you know the song . its mainly pre listening anticipatory ....

[@eggdude]

Johannes DeMoravia Put a fuckin sock in it buddy, your incessant mindless ramblings are only making you embarrass yourself

[@ryanpford77]

The Best.

[@helgazubiz1750]

Oh...Gordon...