I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: September 22, 2017] X

The very first CD I ever bought was by X (More Fun in the New World).  My college friend Anita was a big fan (I’d never heard of them).  When I got my first CD player, rather than buying music I already had on vinyl (why would anyone do that?), I bought this band that I really liked.  That was in 1987.

So, while X was celebrating their 40th Anniversary, for me it was a 30 year anniversary.

Either way, I was really excited that all four original members were playing: John Doe, Exene Cervenka, Billy Zoom, and D.J. Bonebreak.

My friend Kelli told me about this show and I was instantly intrigued about going.  And boy am I glad I did.  The band sounded great.  The crowd was really into it and I got to hear a bunch of songs that I really love.

The show started out somehow inauspiciously.  It was very hot in the basement room and the guy in front of me passed out (from heat, not drink, I gather).  He had to be taken out by security.  But soon enough Billy Zoom came out, with that wonderful smile and we instantly knew we were in for a good night.

They played everything off of the Los Angeles album except “Johnny Hit and Run Paulene.” Six of 13 from Wild Gift, Four of 11 from Under the big Black Sun and 4 of 13 from More Fun in the New World.

I’m somewhat surprised they didn’t play anything more recent than that.  Not even some of their bigger songs from later records.  But it was okay because I think we all wanted to hear that early stuff anyway.

Exene was super friendly to the audience, holding people’s hands, and singing right to people.  John Doe stood on the far stage with what might have been a 40-year-old bass guitar.

Billy Zoom sat on a stool chill as could be, playing these wonderful licks and solos with ease.  X has always been called a  punk band, but there is so much diversity in their music.  There’s total rockabilly and blues and that whole hollow body guitar sound that he carries off so well.  Like this one in “True Love.”

I actually don’t know “Beyond and Back” that well for some reason, since I know the other songs on the album quite well. So for me, the show really took off during “In This House That I Call Home.”  Both John and Exene were singing.

And from there on out it was all greatest hits to me.

I loved hearing Exene doing the lead vocals of “The Once Over Twice” and the duets in “Sex and Dying in High Society.”  Of course I was really excited when they played songs from More Fun.  I thought they might mention trump during the “it was better before they voted for whatshisname” line, but I guess it applied to Reagan as well as both Bushes, so whatever.  It was followed by the awesome energy of “White Girl” which really got the crowd moving.  And John telling us that we were wild.

I was really surprised by the inclusion of “Come Back to Me,” but it gave Billy Zoom a chance to play sax (and to “store” his pick on his forehead).  “The World’s a Mess, It’s in My Kiss” sounded terrific with Exene doing those anguished backing vocals perfectly(even if not like her teenaged self).

The crowd was really into the show, but it took until the wonderful intensity of “The Hungry Wolf” before the slam dancing really took off.  The middle of the song led to a small drum solo from DJ Bonebreak (I had to stop filming when I got smashed into).  The solo went on for a bit and then John and Exene came back with a kind of moaning/keening section before the end of the song resumed.

When they played “The Unheard Music” DJ Bonebreak went to the vibes, which was really cool.

A major highlight for me was when they sang “I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts”  It’s one of my favorite X songs ever.  DJ Bonebreak was back on vibes, and Kelli from Skating Polly came out to sing backing vocals first with John and then with Exene.  After the song, Exene said that Skating Polly are her favorite band right now.

From this point on it was pretty much all fast songs and the crowd was berserk.

We went crazy for the 7 thumps at the beginning of “Los Angeles.”  And then they played one of the best you’re-in-trouble song titles: “Your Phone’s Off the Hook, But You’re Not.”

I was intrigued that when they played “Nausea” (a wonderful song if ever there was), Exene didn’t sing “say oh Christ oh Jesus Christ,” she sang “Oh no no no no no.”  For this song and some others that feature prominent keyboards (The Doors’ Ray Manzarek on the original), they had a touring band member (he took over on drums when DJ was on vibes).  I really enjoyed watching Billy play those ringing note at the end of each chorus.

“Sugarlight” is just over 2 minutes.  “Motel Room in My Bed” bashed forth in just over 2 minutes.  There were people crowd surfing (the ceiling can;t be more than ten feet there–it was a little dicey).  I even saw a guy with a bloody forehead.

They played a rocking version of The Doors’ “Soul Kitchen.”

And then they left for a short time.

For the encore, John took off his outer shirt to start with the somewhat mellow “Some Other Time.”  And then they ended the show with a blistering version of “Devil Dog.”

They played for about 90 minutes.  But they played 22 songs so it felt like more than an hour and a half.  It was a terrific show and I came out sweaty and satisfied (and not bloody).

There’s a parking garage across the street from Underground Arts.  The last time I parked there I was out in 30 seconds, this time, however, there was easily a 20 minute lineup.   Wonder what that was all about.

Setlist:  Impressively, I’ve looked at some other shows and while the basics are the same, there is quite a lot of difference between nights.  It’s not a just-going-through-the-motions tour at all.

• Beyond and Back [GIFT]
• In This House That I Call Home [GIFT]
• The Once Over Twice [GIFT]
• Sex and Dying in High Society [LA]
• I’m Coming Over [GIFT]
• The New World [NEW WORLD]
• White Girl [GIFT]
• True Love [NEW WORLD]
• Come Back to Me [SUN]
• Dancing With Tears in My Eyes [SUN]
• The World’s a Mess, It’s in My Kiss [LA]
• The Hungry Wolf / Drum Solo [SUN]
• The Unheard Music [LA]
• I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts (with Kelli Mayo of Skating Polly) [NEW WORLD]
• Los Angeles [LA]
• Your Phone’s Off the Hook, But You’re Not  [LA]
• Nausea  [LA]
• Sugarlight [LA]
• Motel Room in My Bed [SUN]
• Soul Kitchen (The Doors cover)  [LA]
• encore
• Some Other Time [GIFT]
• Devil Doll [NEW WORLD]