Latest news with #ViolentFemmes
The Star
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
The Hangout: Spin the black circle
Today I want to chat about vinyl. It has made a massive comeback over the past few years after falling out of fashion in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Back then, we were all buying cassettes and then CDs. I still remember walking into CNA to buy Guns N' Roses on tape, and recording Barney Simon's Night Zoo on my hi-fi instead of heading to bed, even though school was calling the next morning. I even had one of those very cool tape cases that neatly housed my cassettes and Walkman, so I could take it to friends' houses after school. How cool were we? I also remember hanging out at the old Randburg Waterfront, browsing CDs at the music store. Some of my very first CDs were Violent Femmes and Pixies, bought at the now long-gone Musica. Do you remember what your first buy was? I still have a big collection of CDs, and I have even seen bands selling cassettes at gigs again. But I digress. We are here to talk about vinyl. The first vinyl pressings date back to the 1930s and 1940s, which is almost a hundred years ago. That is pretty wild, and now they are back in full swing. I chatted to one of the vinyl gurus at Mr Vinyl, based at 44 Stanley in Milpark, and here is what Bret Dugmore had to say: 'The vinyl revival is an amazing story of how the human condition and our search for meaningful and mindful experiences brought back an old music format that modern society gave up on in the pursuit of ease and convenience. The experience and ritual of buying a vinyl record, putting it on a turntable, lowering the needle and carefully listening to it, while examining the artwork and lyric sheets, is by far the best way to experience music. All generations, with our youngest customers being nine or ten years old, have fallen in love with the art of collecting, caring for and listening to vinyl records. The vinyl revival was well underway overseas by 2010, but it only really took hold in South Africa around 2012. Mr Vinyl started as a hobby for me. I would buy a crate of records from a friend at a record label and sell them online. One crate turned into two, then four, and soon a large portion of my house was filled with vinyl. That gave me the push to find a retail space. We went from clicks to bricks and opened our doors at 44 Stanley in 2017. It has been our home ever since, and we have become a hub for music lovers across Johannesburg. We stock and sell all genres, and we feature the widest selection of new vinyl in South Africa.' And that's not a lie! Bret and his team really do have an outstanding store and a phenomenal selection of vinyl to choose from. I have also discovered a few fantastic vinyl fairs. There are plenty around, but here are two I think are worth checking out. The Soweto Record Fair is happening tomorrow at Native Rebels Restaurant, 1345 Kadebe Street, Central West Jabavu, Soweto. Entry is free, and you can flip through loads of records while great DJs spin vinyl and you enjoy a relaxed brunch vibe at this lovely restaurant. Then there is the Spin Music Fair, managed by Benjy Mudie of Vinyl Junkie. It brings together some of Gauteng's top vinyl dealers on the last Sunday of every month at Pirates Bowling Club in Greenside. The fair offers thousands of new and pre-loved records, from rock and pop to jazz, soul, soundtracks, hip hop and more. Crate digging is a massive part of the vinyl experience, whether you are on the hunt for a rare find or just admiring the beauty of old-school album artwork. The fair runs from 9am to 2pm and entrance is free. If you cannot make it to a fair, visit Benjy's beautiful store at 94 Conrad Drive, Blairgowrie, Randburg. It is a music lover's paradise, and Benjy's knowledge is second to none. Every visit feels like a little musical adventure, whether you are a lifelong collector or just getting started. I also often hear from people wanting to sell their vinyl collections. Both Bret from Mr Vinyl and Benjy from Vinyl Junkie can help with valuations and sales. You will be in good hands, as their passion for music and the format is matched by their honesty and care. Your beloved records will be going to good homes. If you have a collection gathering dust in your garage or storage, I urge you to go and get it. And for those who play theirs religiously, you need no coaxing — just dive in and feel the music.
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
The Hangout: Spin the black circle
Today I want to chat about vinyl. It has made a massive comeback over the past few years after falling out of fashion in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Back then, we were all buying cassettes and then CDs. I still remember walking into CNA to buy Guns N' Roses on tape, and recording Barney Simon's Night Zoo on my hi-fi instead of heading to bed, even though school was calling the next morning. I even had one of those very cool tape cases that neatly housed my cassettes and Walkman, so I could take it to friends' houses after school. How cool were we? I also remember hanging out at the old Randburg Waterfront, browsing CDs at the music store. Some of my very first CDs were Violent Femmes and Pixies, bought at the now long-gone Musica. Do you remember what your first buy was? I still have a big collection of CDs, and I have even seen bands selling cassettes at gigs again. But I digress. We are here to talk about vinyl. The first vinyl pressings date back to the 1930s and 1940s, which is almost a hundred years ago. That is pretty wild, and now they are back in full swing. I chatted to one of the vinyl gurus at Mr Vinyl, based at 44 Stanley in Milpark, and here is what Bret Dugmore had to say: 'The vinyl revival is an amazing story of how the human condition and our search for meaningful and mindful experiences brought back an old music format that modern society gave up on in the pursuit of ease and convenience. The experience and ritual of buying a vinyl record, putting it on a turntable, lowering the needle and carefully listening to it, while examining the artwork and lyric sheets, is by far the best way to experience music. All generations, with our youngest customers being nine or ten years old, have fallen in love with the art of collecting, caring for and listening to vinyl records. The vinyl revival was well underway overseas by 2010, but it only really took hold in South Africa around 2012. Mr Vinyl started as a hobby for me. I would buy a crate of records from a friend at a record label and sell them online. One crate turned into two, then four, and soon a large portion of my house was filled with vinyl. That gave me the push to find a retail space. We went from clicks to bricks and opened our doors at 44 Stanley in 2017. It has been our home ever since, and we have become a hub for music lovers across Johannesburg. We stock and sell all genres, and we feature the widest selection of new vinyl in South Africa.' And that's not a lie! Bret and his team really do have an outstanding store and a phenomenal selection of vinyl to choose from. I have also discovered a few fantastic vinyl fairs. There are plenty around, but here are two I think are worth checking out. The Soweto Record Fair is happening tomorrow at Native Rebels Restaurant, 1345 Kadebe Street, Central West Jabavu, Soweto. Entry is free, and you can flip through loads of records while great DJs spin vinyl and you enjoy a relaxed brunch vibe at this lovely restaurant. Then there is the Spin Music Fair, managed by Benjy Mudie of Vinyl Junkie. It brings together some of Gauteng's top vinyl dealers on the last Sunday of every month at Pirates Bowling Club in Greenside. The fair offers thousands of new and pre-loved records, from rock and pop to jazz, soul, soundtracks, hip hop and more. Crate digging is a massive part of the vinyl experience, whether you are on the hunt for a rare find or just admiring the beauty of old-school album artwork. The fair runs from 9am to 2pm and entrance is free. If you cannot make it to a fair, visit Benjy's beautiful store at 94 Conrad Drive, Blairgowrie, Randburg. It is a music lover's paradise, and Benjy's knowledge is second to none. Every visit feels like a little musical adventure, whether you are a lifelong collector or just getting started. I also often hear from people wanting to sell their vinyl collections. Both Bret from Mr Vinyl and Benjy from Vinyl Junkie can help with valuations and sales. You will be in good hands, as their passion for music and the format is matched by their honesty and care. Your beloved records will be going to good homes. If you have a collection gathering dust in your garage or storage, I urge you to go and get it. And for those who play theirs religiously, you need no coaxing — just dive in and feel the music.
Montreal Gazette
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Montreal Gazette
Friday on My Mind: It's a circus out there with jazz, Comiccon and Montréal Complètement Cirque
Friday on My Mind is a highly subjective, curated rundown of five of the cooler things happening in Montreal during the weekend. Violent Femmes Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts. Brian Ritchie, bassist for the fabulous folk-punk band Violent Femmes, goes way back with the Montreal International Jazz Festival. The band, which formed in Milwaukee in 1981, headlines Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier as part of fest. Their first set will be devoted to 1984 album Hallowed Ground, considered to be one of the first Americana records. Then they'll perform the self-titled 1983 debut LP from start to finish. That's the disc they're best known for; it features Gone Daddy Gone and Blister in the Sun. On the phone this week with Ritchie, who was in Prince Edward Island mentoring local artists, I told him I'd seen them at an epic 1985 show at the Spectrum and he began talking about his history with Montreal and the jazz fest. Violent Femmes played the fest at Metropolis in 2014. 'The first time I flew on a plane in my life was to go to Montreal and I went to the jazz festival,' said Ritchie. 'I think it was '79 or '80. Carla Bley and Archie Shepp were playing that year. So it's meaningful to me to play the festival. That was my first adult festival experience. They played at the Théâtre St. Denis. So I'm a little bit tender about the Montreal jazz festival. It's kind of like a full-circle thing.' Their first album it remains far and away the most influential thing they've ever done. The trio was then made up of Ritchie on bass, singer-guitarist Gordon Gano and drummer Victor DeLorenzo. Today the group consists of Ritchie, Gano, multi-instrumentalist Blaise Garza and drummer John Sparrow. Though they don't have a big catalogue of hits, their music resonates more than 40 years later. 'We still have kids getting into us,' Ritchie said. 'A lot of music (from back then) isn't still valid. It's just nostalgia. Whereas with The Cure or the Femmes, it's not just nostalgia. It's also excellent music.' He thinks Violent Femmes have endured 'because the lyrical perspective, at least in the songs we're most known for, is universal, yet it was a kind of vulnerability that Gordon was relating at a time when rock was very macho and very artificial. I think he was ahead of the times. Then also the music itself, with the way that we played with acoustic instruments and we didn't use any production trickery of the time, which would've dated it by now. Our recordings could've been made in the '50s or they could've been made now.' Comiccon Friday to Sunday at the Palais des Congrès. Comiccon spokesperson Jason Rockman reeled off names of some of the celebs attending the pop culture festival — and it was kind of dizzying. The guest list includes Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd and Andy Serkis from The Lord of the Ring movies; Famke Janssen from X-Men; former Montrealer William Shatner of Star Trek fame; Peter Weller from RoboCop ... and the list goes on. That's why 65,000 people show up every year. 'This is their pop-culture event of the year,' Rockman said. 'This is like their Super Bowl, this is their Game 7, it's a big big deal and it's fun to be part of something that makes people happy. This is an event that brings smiles to people's faces.' There are autograph sessions and photo ops, but Rockman underlines that most of the participants also take part in panels, talking about their lives and careers. Tickets: Montréal Complètement Cirque All weekend at various venues. With the jazz festival and Comiccon in full swing, it goes without saying that our city — festival hub that it is — just has to have another major fest on the go. Montréal Complètement Cirque kicked off Thursday and continues until July 13, another reminder that Montreal is the most notable circus-arts centre in the world. There are two shows at La Tohu: The Genesis from the Copenhagen Collective and La Noce d'Alfonse from Cirque Alfonse. But if paying indoor shows is not your cup of acrobatics, head down to St-Denis St. every night for al fresco circus action between Sherbrooke and Ste-Catherine Sts. from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. You can check out the Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia, Catalonian artists who construct giant human towers on the street. There's also the Cirqu'Easy bar at the corner of de Maisonneuve Blvd. and St-Denis. It's possible your bartender might be a circus performer. Tickets and information: Demons and Wonders All weekend at Cinémathèque Québécoise. Cinémathèque has kicked off a two-month series, Demons and Wonders, devoted to the big screen world populated by giants, fairies, ghosts, dragons and monsters of all kinds. Films this weekend include the Tim Burton classic Edward Scissorhands (Friday at 7:45 p.m.) and the 1982 fantasy cult hit The Dark Crystal (Sunday at 6 p.m.). Rolling Stone Presents Amplified All weekend at Oasis Immersion at Palais des Congrès. This is an immersive exhibition presented by Rolling Stone magazine and featuring The Who, Radiohead, Janis Joplin, Tame Impala, The Ramones and many more. You're in, right? Me, all it took was mention of The Ramones.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Iconic ‘Mr. Brightside' Band Delivers Epic ‘80s Cover Live and Breaks Internet
Iconic 'Mr. Brightside' Band Delivers Epic '80s Cover Live and Breaks Internet originally appeared on Parade. Sometimes the most beautiful moments in rock happen when bands honor their influences in the most meaningful way possible, and The Killers just delivered one of those spine-tingling tributes that reminds us why live music matters so much. During their SummerFest performance in Milwaukee, the Las Vegas quartet surprised fans with a cover of "American Music" by Violent Femmes – and the choice couldn't have been more perfect. Playing the work of Milwaukee's most iconic alt-rock heroes in their actual hometown felt like the ultimate act of musical respect. For those who know their alternative music history, this moment was pure poetry. Violent Femmes burst onto the scene in 1981 with their folk-punk sound that defined Milwaukee's underground music culture. Gordon Gano's distinctive vocals and Brian Ritchie's acoustic bass created a template that influenced countless bands. Brandon Flowers and company delivered "American Music" with the reverence it deserved while maintaining their signature energy that's kept them at the top of their game since 2001. The performance showcased how The Killers have maintained their creative vitality more than two decades into their career, sounding as crisp and passionate as they did during their early 2000s breakthrough. What made this cover particularly special was the hometown context. SummerFest has long been Milwaukee's crown jewel music festival, and seeing an international superstar band like The Killers pay homage to local legends Violent Femmes created one of those full-circle moments that festival magic is made crowd's reaction was immediate and intense, with fans capturing the moment on TikTok where it quickly went viral. Comments poured in from viewers expressing disbelief that "the band at the top of my i-need-to-see-them list" was performing their "favorite Violent Femmes song." This kind of cross-generational tribute represents everything beautiful about rock music's interconnected nature. The Killers didn't just perform a cover – they created a bridge between eras, honoring the Milwaukee legends who helped shape the alternative landscape they now dominate. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Iconic 'Mr. Brightside' Band Delivers Epic '80s Cover Live and Breaks Internet first appeared on Parade on Jun 29, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
