Photos: Violent Femmes at The Bellwether

Violent Femmes took over The Bellwether on July 29 for the second night of a four-show Los Angeles residency celebrating the band’s 45th anniversary.

The band played its first two albums, Violent Femmes and Hallowed Ground, in full. That meant plenty of favorites, including “Blister in the Sun,” “Kiss Off,” “Add It Up,” and “Gone Daddy Gone,” alongside some deeper cuts rarely heard live.

Led by Gordon Gano and Brian Ritchie, the band sounded loose, loud, and unmistakably themselves. The songs may be more than 40 years old, but they still felt restless and alive, especially with a packed crowd singing along.