Violent Femmes released four albums from 1991 to 2000, and then between 2001 and 2015 released…none. (A lawsuit and disbanding will do that). Thus, after a decade-and-a-half, their upcoming LP, We Can Do Anything (set for release on March 4), is highly anticipated.
Last night, the band appeared on the stage of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert for their first TV performance in 16 years, since back when they were promoting their album Freak Magnet — it was also, notably, Stephen Colbert’s first performance as a member of the band in, well, ever. The band first played their We Can Do Anything single, “Memory,” before performing their hit, “Blister in the Sun” with Colbert, who says he thinks he’s played it 1000 times, and that he “can’t wait to hear it 1001.”
Colbert’s verse — which only slightly exaggerates the staccato whispering Gordon Gano’s singing eases into towards the end of the studio version of the song — comes in at 3:20 in the performance, and then he totally nails the chorus.
Watch:
Also, watch their performance of “Memory”:
[h/t Consequence of Sound]