The Breeders Bring a Night of Nostalgia to Baltimore’s Nevermore Hall
Tuesday night in Baltimore, Maryland was truly something remarkable. Nevermore Hall is one of my favorite venues in Maryland, with a roomy photo pit, adjacent parking garage, gothic decor, and friendly staff, it's the perfect combination for a fun night. The crowd was sparse as doors opened, aside from a handful of dedicated fans stuck to the barricade.
VIOLET GROHL
But it didn’t stay that way for long. In the next half hour, people trickled in until every railing on the balconies was lined and the room was nearly shoulder to shoulder before Violet Grohl took the stage to open up the evening.
I first experienced Violet Grohl’s music live a couple of weeks ago at The Atlantis in Washington, DC on the third night of her debut tour. Two things have happened in the past 17 days: guitarist Tim Gray got a haircut and Violet Grohl has gracefully grown in her confidence as a performing artist. Not that she wasn’t incredible the first time, but the shift is perceptible.
Before, the focus for me was on the elegance of her vocals, but this time I saw her. She carried herself more comfortably onstage, making eye contact with the crowd, engaging with her fans on a deeply personal and emotional level. Even her choice of clothing struck me.
Earlier in June, she had worn a long coat over her outfit onstage, but this time she wore a structured, short sleeve dress, showing her tattoos. Being able to see the art she chose to make a permanent part of herself added a greater level of vulnerability, giving a further glimpse into her personality and the things that she loves and values.
Of course, the performance was outstanding and met with an overwhelmingly positive response from the crowd. Bassist Ainjel Emme and drummer Anthony Lopez have the most infectious smiles as they play and guitarist Salar Rajabnik has an incredibly energetic presence onstage. Violet performed many of the hits from her debut album Be Sweet to Me, as well as a few unreleased songs.
Seeing her open for a band that she credits as one of her biggest inspirations was such a sweet full circle moment. To echo the sentiment of my last review of her June 6 show — Violet Grohl is a highly talented new voice in the music industry and I, like many others, cannot wait to see how she continues to grow.
THE BREEDERS
The Breeders are a classic alternative rock band for a reason. Since the 90’s the band has been pushing creative limits, experimenting with structure and sound to form the atmospheric identity that is The Breeders. Their stage design supported the nostalgic feel of their songs, with colorful amps and boxes stacked against each other and three rugs rolled out across the stage.
Even in a packed, multi-level music venue, it felt like they were inviting you into their home as they played. Kim Deal played with energy, while Kelley Deal brought warmth and Josephine Wiggs brought a grounding presence to the stage, forming something special in tandem.
The Breeders played a mix of songs from their discography, primarily pulling from their albums Last Splash and Pod, as well as a number of covers, including “Drivin’ on 9” by Ed’s Redeeming Qualities and and “Happiness is a Warm Gun” by The Beatles. No matter the song, there was a strikingly mixed-age audience singing and dancing along, which truly stood as a testament to the timelessness of The Breeders. To make the evening even more special, they took a moment in the set to sing “Happy Birthday” to their drummer, Jim Macpherson.
Shortly after playing “Do You Love Me Now?,” The Breeders reemerged on the stage and launched into an encore set featuring “Alien Eyes,” “New Year,” and the famous track “Cannonball,” which many fans had been waiting all evening to hear.
Something that particularly stood out to me about this show was the lack of phones. Of course, screens dotted the crowd for quick videos here and there, particularly during hit songs like “Divine Hammer,” but on the whole, the crowd was deeply engaged, connecting with the music firsthand, rather than through a screen.
Tuesday night was a full circle moment. Alongside new and original fans alike, I was able to see musicians who were trailblazers in the 90’s alternative rock scene and a musician who was inspired to continue and evolve the legacy that The Breeders began. It was something beautiful to be a part of and a unique representation of how music ties together different places, people, and times.