Violent Femmes: Live With The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

CRITIC’S PICK: Violent Femmes w/The Atlanta Symphony, Symphony Hall— Most fans of journeymen alt-roots group Violent Femmes probably did a double-take when confronted with the odd, even radical, combination on this bill. After all, the Gordon Gano/Brian Ritchie led iconoclast’s stripped-down, nervy, raw sound wouldn’t naturally lend itself to lavish orchestral accompaniment. But these guys have never been predictable, and this is certainly a way to push the boundaries of their already quirky sound into fresh new directions. Still, no one, including the group, could have imagined when their first ragged album of angsty anti-folk was released in 1983 that they would even be around four decades later, let alone fronting a full orchestra. But here we are and with their professionalism honed over constant touring, this is sure to be a unique show well worth checking out. — Hal Horowitz