Violent Femmes came together in 1981 and were quickly applauded as one of the most inventive and original bands of the era, constantly pushing forward with their singular blend of folk and punk, sarcasm and spirituality. The Milwaukee-based band first attracted attention while busking in front of their hometown’s Oriental Theatre. The performance caught the ears of that night’s headliners, Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde and the late James Honeyman-Scott, who invited the young group to open the sold out concert with a brief acoustic set. From there Violent Femmes released eight studio albums and more than a dozen iconic singles, among them such classics as “American Music,” “Gone Daddy Gone,” “Nightmares, “Add It Up,” and of course, “Blister In The Sun.” Violent Femmes’ remarkable three-decade-plus career has earned them cumulative worldwide sales in excess of 10 million, with 1983’s Violent Femmes awarded with RIAA platinum certification eight years after its initial release. Violent Femmes’ always busy live schedule follows last year’s release of 2 MICS & THE TRUTH: UNPLUGGED & UNHINGED IN AMERICA (PIAS), a remarkable collection of unprecedented live recordings available now at all music retailers and streaming services.

Formed in the late-'70s wake of punk's first wave, Echo & the Bunnymen forged a unique fusion of post-punk, new wave, and neo-psychedelia that established them as pioneers of a new direction in British rock. Today the band's moody, sophisticated sound is as compelling as ever, and their spellbinding live shows are the perfect place to experience it in the flesh. Whether brooding frontman Ian McCulloch is belting out classics from seminal 1984 album Ocean Rain or performing newer material from 2014's Meteorites, Echo & the Bunnymen never fail to mesmerize with muscular musicianship and intense performances on their unforgettable tours.

Echo & the Bunnymen formed in Liverpool in 1978, taking their name from a list of nonsensical monikers suggested by a friend. The band made their debut in 1979 with "The Pictures on My Wall", released on the now-legendary Mute Records imprint. Their 1980 album debut Crocodiles was a critical and commercial success, cracking the UK Top 20 and setting the stage for the success of sophomore album Heaven Up Here, which reached the Top 10 in 1981. Their chart run continued in 1983 with third album Porcupine, the vessel for hit singles "The Back of Love" and "The Cutter" and predecessor to the band's landmark 1984 album Ocean Rain, which included the album’s emotional centerpiece and one of the band’s most widely-recognized songs, “The Killing Moon.” After taking a hiatus between 1993 and 1996 the band reformed with a vengeance, scoring another Top 10 hit with "Nothing Lasts Forever" and delivering a powerful series of performances on tour. Their powerful 12th studio album Meteorites hit shelves in 2104 and Echo & the Bunnymen’s fans have since eagerly awaited their live shows.