I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: July 29, 2022] Kings X [rescheduled from August 21, 2020 and June 11, 2021]

Back in 2017, after seeing King’s X for the fourth time, I felt like I didn’t really need to see them again–they tended to play a lot of the same songs after all.

But then two big things happened.  One.  There was a pandemic and bands didn’t tour for several years.  And two.  Which was possibly more shocking, King’s X released a new album.  Their first in fourteen years!  The album came out in 2022, so I’m not sure if the proposed show in 2020 or the original rescheduled show in 2021 would have had the new songs, but this new show sure did!

Even with a new album out, King’s X didn’t venture too far from their old path when they played this show.  Indeed, this show’s setlist was pretty much the same as the one five years ago.  The big difference was that they did play some of the album’s songs.  The kicker, though, was that they took out some of their more popular song to accommodate them!

All shows start with “Welcome to the Groove Machine,” which makes sense.  It’s a statement of purpose.  You get to hear dUg Pinnick’s bass sounding lower than anything that can be imagined.  You get to hear Ty Tabor’s guitars sounding incredible, and everyone will cheer for Jerry Gaskill’s dynamic drumming and harmonies.

They segued into “The World Around Me” and they followed it with “Pillow.”

So far, it was the same exact set list as 2017.  Now, dUg is getting up there (he is 71!) and I have to wonder if he likes “Pillow” because everyone sings the chorus for him.  On the last tour I was thinking that dUg’s voice was starting to go.  I think the years off with the pandemic might have helped him, because he sounded pretty good.  But in fairness, he has always had one of the most amazing voices in rock and he has sung his ass off for decades.  Something has to give eventually.  But he can still do it, and he commands a room like no one I’ve seen.

Up next was “Vegetable” which has a fantastic funky bass line and ripping guitar riff.  The middle of the set had the standard “Flies and Blue Skies” and then came a bust out.  “Believe” (in yourself) from Manic Moonlight.  So far “Believe” was the only bust out.  I don’t know when the last time they’d played that was but it was fun to hear something different.  Although truth be told, it had been five year and it was fun to hear all of the songs.

They followed that with the big-time sing-along “Pray.”  (Which also means dUg’s 12 string bass!)

And then they turned the page and showed us some of the new album.  It wouldn’t be out for a few more months so this was really our first taste of the new songs.  Well, “Let It Rain” had been out for a bit, but “Give It Up” had only just come out.

So it was cool to hear those.  “Let It Rain” was heavy and wicked, a classic King’s X song with bouncing bass and recognizably wild guitar work.  Then Ty got to show off one of his new songs.  “All God’s Children” had a slow, pretty intro and a long buildup to a powerful chorus.

Then came the third new one.  “Give It Up” is classic King’s X with a totally recognizable riff and big “Oh oh oh” harmonies.  It was really fun to hear these new songs, although it was kind of weird that they played all three in a row.

It was really fun that they jumped back to A Box, even if that is a song they play often.  I guess I didn’t realize quite how often because I Was really excited to hear it.

I never get tired of “Everybody Knows a Little Bit of Something” and hadn’t realized that they hadn’t played it since 2015.  So that was awesome. I am a big time Gretchen Goes to Nebraska fan, so they can play as much of that as they want.

Just as “Welcome to the Groove Machine” is the perfect opener, “Go Tell Somebody” seems like the perfect show ender. Go tell somebody about what you just saw–like a preacher.  It’s a great song with lots of hype.

But they weren’t done yet.  Because they seem to need to end every show with “We Were Born to be Loved.”  Now, once again, I will never ever complain about hearing this song.  Whether they end with it for the lyrical content or because it is such a kick ass sing with an incredible ending, I don’t know, but it’s fantastic.

They didn’t paly any of their actual hits in this set.  No “Over My Head,” No “Lost in Germany,”  No “Black Flag.”  That was pretty interesting.

When they came back from the encore break, they did play “Dogman” which got a huge reaction.  And then they ended with “Goldilox.”   For “Goldilox” the audience sang the entire song (quite well) with dUg adding grace notes and backing vocals.  It was pretty cool and really shows off the church of King’s X.

Because things were still in weird pseudo- post- pandemic land and because of Jerry’s health and Ty had some kind of crazy surgery coming up, the guys did not do their standard meet and greet.  So I’m really glad I stayed for it last time. But it did mean I got home a little earlier than I thought I might.

Perhaps I just needed to blow off a couple of shows in 2018 and 2019, because this show gave me some news songs and reminded me how much I like King’s X live.

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[POSTPONED: ] King’s X [rescheduled from August 21, 2020 and June 11, 2021]

This is a courtesy email to let you know that the June 11, 2021 King‘s X show is being rescheduled. We are working on confirming the new date. Please hold onto your tickets for now and we will contact you again when we have more information to share.

King’s X were supposed to play The Stone Pony back in June.  I didn’t want to see them there, but I was willing to return to Sellersville to see them for what I felt was probably the last time

dUg’s voice is not what it once was (and it was phenomenal), but they put on a great show and their positivity is infectious.  So I figured I’d see them once again in the place I’ve seen them the most.

I was getting notices of cancellations in September, so I assumed this one would get the postponement as well.  It came on June 18.

King’s X has rescheduled their August 21 show to Friday, June 11, 2021. Your tickets will be honored on the new date. We need your help, and the easiest way to help us and King’s X right now is to mark the new date on your calendar and keep your tickets. Make seeing King’s X at Sellersville Theater one of the things you can look forward to next year!

Who knows, maybe a year off will allow dUg to take care of his voice and they’ll all be on fire next year!