The Violent Femmes at The Flynn in Burlington, VT

A timeless alt-rock spark reignited in Burlington as the Violent Femmes turned a crisp Vermont night into a nostalgic, high-energy sing-along at the Flynn. As fall leaves shift from fiery reds, yellows, and oranges into their final pre-winter browns, another vibrant hue lit up the Flynn Theater in Burlington, Vermont: the unmistakable energy of the Violent Femmes.

By 8:00 p.m., the historic sold out venue was packed wall to wall. Jazz bass lines pulsed through the air, echoing anticipation from a crowd of Gen Xers and Millennials alike—all gathered for a completely sold-out stop on the band’s Grasp and Reach for a Leg of Hope Tour. Spanning 14 dates across the East Coast and Upper Midwest, Burlington marked the midway point of the run, with a healthy handful of shows already sold out.

The Violent Femmes have been a cornerstone of alternative rock for over four decades. Their debut self-titled album, released in 1983, delivered a raw and unforgettable sound that still resonates today. It’s an album loaded with songs etched permanently into pop culture: “Blister in the Sun,” “Add It Up,” “Kiss Off,” and “Please Don’t Go,” just to name a few.

For many, these tracks entered our lives almost subconsciously — through MTV, the radio, or tucked into the background of a ‘90s movie. Reality Bites, anyone? Grosse Pointe Blank ringing any bells? Or maybe you first heard them in The Crow, with the haunting “Color Me Once” setting the perfect tone for that dark, cult-classic soundtrack.

Not a movie person? Let’s go the TV route. How about My So-Called Life? With “Blister In The Sun” Or maybe you’re a Millennial who remembers that unforgettable episode of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, when Sabrina cast an infatuation spell on Gordon to make him fall for Libby and Gordon sang “Please Don’t Go” to her. Or perhaps it was How I Met Your Mother, where Lily and Marshall claimed “Good Feeling” as their relationship anthem. However you found them, the result was the same — their songs have stuck with you over the years.

In true Violent Femmes fashion, the band made their entrance in a way only they could. Members emerged from two different directions — the musicians marching down the aisles of the historic Flynn Theatre while Gordon Gano waited center stage to meet them. It was a delightfully unconventional start, like watching a quirky folk-punk parade unfold through the crowd.

They kicked off with “Olinguito” before rolling right into “Prove My Love”and “Promise” off their 1983 self-titled debut — a one-two punch that instantly transported fans back to the band’s raw beginnings.

The entire 23-song setlist was a carefully curated mix that kept both diehard fans and casual listeners moving. Seeing the entire Flynn Theatre on its feet — clapping, dancing, and shouting every lyric — was a sight to behold, proof that the Femmes’ blend of punk energy and folk soul remains as magnetic as ever.

When “Blister in the Sun” kicked in, the crowd’s roar rivaled the band’s amps. Every person in the room sang at full volume, hands raised and smiles wide — a collective burst of joy that filled every corner of the historic theater.

They rolled through “Kiss Off,” which featured an epic bass solo from the incredibly talented Brian Ritchie, before diving into “Please Don’t Go.”

What’s truly unique about the Femmes is their fearless use of unconventional instrumentation. The stage looked like a musical playground — bass, horns, mandolin, fiddle, even makeshift percussion — each member seamlessly switching between instruments as if it were second nature. It’s part of what makes a Violent Femmes show so special: every song feels alive, spontaneous, and distinct, yet perfectly cohesive in that wonderfully chaotic way only they can pull off.

Spontaneous might just be the perfect word to describe the Violent Femmes. During “For All Those Who Love,” Gano ad-libbed a line about Taylor Swift, paused mid-verse, laughed, and joked that he “should’ve practiced this,” before starting the verse over again — the crowd eating it up. Later, a fan held up a sign requesting “Girl Trouble” or “Fat.”What followed was a playful back-and-forth between Gano and Ritchie that ended with the band launching into “Fat” — a completely unplanned, purely in-the-moment performance that reminded everyone they don’t rely on tracks or rigid setlists. Afterward, Gano quipped that he was “half-tempted to go down the rows and have fans pick the rest of the songs,” before smirking and adding, “Not gonna happen.”

The night continued with extended drum solos, stories, and laughter. At one point, Gano joked about how he didn’t realize his robe was called a house coat in some households, drawing laughter from the crowd. The overall vibe was one of genuine connection — musicians and fans feeding off each other’s energy in real time.

The show closed on a high note with “Add It Up,” the band’s signature anthem that had the entire Flynn Theatre shouting along word for word. For the encore, the Femmes delivered a beautifully fitting cover of Nat “King” Cole’s “Autumn Leaves,” a poetic nod to Vermont’s changing season as fall fades and winter approaches. They ended the night with “American Music,” a song that perfectly encapsulates everything the Violent Femmes stand for — humor, honesty, and heart.

It’s that kind of authenticity and interaction that makes the Violent Femmes timeless. The magic of their music lies not just in their musicianship, but in how their songs cling to memory — catchy without trying to be, unforgettable without force. Their music has soundtracked road trips, breakups, makeups, and coming-of-age stories — and on this night in Burlington, it became another memory to add to that soundtrack.

There are still a handful of dates left to catch them live on their Grasp and Reach for a Leg of Hope Tour. Check out the remaining stops below — and if you get the chance, don’t miss it.

Violent Femmes Tour Dates

THE SETLIST-The Flynn Theater In Burlington, VT

Olinguito
Prove My Love
Promise
Memory
Country Death Song
Waiting for the Bus
Blister in the Sun
Kiss Off
Please Do Not Go
For All Those Who Love

(Mentioned Taylor Swift at top of second verse, then forgot place in song and had to restart verse)
Jesus Walking on the Water
I Held Her in My Arms
Good Feeling
Never Tell
Fat

(Request from fan with large red sign, first performance since 2019)
Girl Trouble
I’m Nothing
Color Me Once
Black Girls

(Band introductions)
Gone Daddy Gone
Add It Up
Encore:
Autumn Leaves

(Nat King Cole cover)
American Music