X

Still, nothing he's done is as insane as Henry Rollins' car wreckin' hostin' job.

*looks around impatiently for Dan Perry*

I love X, one of the best L.A. bands ever.

I, too, have seen X many times and enjoyed every minute of their shows. It's good to see that they've gotten back together, though i have to confess that i've not seen 'em since 1987 and haven't heard any of their new material (assuming they have some.) Personally, i think they peaked with _Los Angeles_/_Wild Gift_, but continued to put out great albums up to and including _See How We Are_, though there was a lot of change over that time period.

-Matt, who still thinks that Billy Zoom is one of the coolest guitarists on the planet.

He'll be disappointed to hear that.

Otherwise John Doe with Ad-Rock in Roadside Prophets is best non-Alex Cox Alex Cox movie.

Wild Gift is the only album I kept, btw.

both of their albums are again available stateside.

My unconditional love for X is well documented. I've probably seem them at least a dozen times over the years.

OK, I don't really hate them, they have a couple of classic songs. It's more their attitude and their place in the Hilburnesque LA Rock Pantheon. They're my #1 "I Just Don't Get It" band.

A lot of their songs really bounce and roll along quite nicely. Great hooks for a band that fell outside the circle of commerical success.

Have to say, I agree with Arthur on that.....I hate that shit too.

Still, Billy Zoom is one damn cool motherfucker.

;^p

Ugh...I sure didn't remember Ain't Love Grand being quite this "1985," if you know what I mean. Weird that "Love Shack" is a completely different song than the one The B-52's recorded 4 years later, but still sounds like a B-52's song.

It's recorded two years later than Ain't Love Grand, but, wow, "4th of July" is such a great song (it graced a "Sopranos" episode a couple of years ago too).

The demo version of 4th Of July from the 2cd Beyond and Back comp is even better. A little less slick and eighties-afied.

Ha! I was listening to "Los Angeles" the other day and was struck by how much it reminded me of the B-52s. Not sure if that's a good thing...

Still, I enjoy X in small doses, but have never loved them. I'd like to see what they are like in concert because I've heard nothing but good things. Maybe another reunion tour will happen.

When the fuck is ATP gonna invite them to do Los Angeles in its entirety, as I've been dreaming about for some reason

the B-52s were a big obnoxious convertible jalopy tootin down a dirty back road, and x were some kind of erratic used datsun swerving dangerously, going slow in the fast lane and fast in the slow

Exene's new solo material is great!

For some reason I always assumed I wouldn't like this band. Turns out I was wrong.

what album are you listening to?

They should have had a better career than they did. But Wild Gift is an alltime great record.

I wish they stayed together and did more roots rock like 4th of July.

"More Fun in the New World" right now, also recently dl'ed "Los Angeles." I guess I had kind of mixed them up in my head with the Cramps and so thought they were kitschier/jokier and more rockabilly than they actually are.

The movie "X: The Unheard Music" is great at capturing both the band and the early-mid 80s world that produced them. I knew Zoom had played with Gene Vincent, but I didn't know Bonebreak could tap out Lionel Hampton riffs on the vibes.

I watched this recently and enjoyed it a lot, although I wish there were more extensive live clips.

I like how committed they were (are?) to their personal brands - they were truly living the rockabilly life.

One thing I was wondering about when watching this: was the character of Izzy from the Love & Rockets comics inspired by Exene? Definitely some very strong resemblances both in looks and personality.

I'm in love with Exene's new record.

:-/:

Exene Cervenka, the high priestess of the Southern California punk and alternative music scene for three decades, has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the singer for X and the Knitters revealed in a statement issued today.

Cervenka said she underwent tests “after some months of not feeling 100% healthy” and was told she had the inflammatory disease of the central nervous system.

“Although this is obviously unfortunate news,” Cervenka’s statement said, “I am choosing to see the positive in it. I, and X as a band, have supported the Sweet Relief charity since the mid-1990’s; the irony of this is not lost on any of us. Sweet Relief was started as an aide to uninsured artists by musician Victoria Williams when she herself was diagnosed with MS in 1992.”

“While this diagnosis will most certainly mean some changes for me, personally, it will not affect my commitments to the current X U.S. tour, nor will it affect my solo album that is slated for release this fall,” she said.

People with MS can lose control of functions that pass through the brain or spinal cord, but how it affects each person varies widely.

“My focus will certainly be on maintaining my health,” Cervenka, 53, said. “Many people remain strong and continue to live their lives as productively as they had before an MS diagnosis, and I plan to be one of those people.”

In April at the Stagecoach country music festival in Indio, where she sang with the Knitters, Cervenka said backstage that she had been trying to reduce her travel time and time away from her home in Missouri by concentrating performances in short bursts. The Stagecoach set came on the same weekend of a duo performance she gave at the Getty Center in Malibu with her longtime partner in X and the Knitters, John Doe.

“I fly out, do a few shows, see everybody I want to see,” she said, “and then I go home again.”

goddamn I love this band. I know this isn't saying anything new but John Doe + Exene is like my favorite vocal harmony combo

I spent a whole summer listening to Wild Gift, wishing I had the sort of relationship that would have inspired these songs.

X!!!! Whatta band! One of the best live acts I ever saw, especially w/ Billy Zoom. The first three records were flawless, and they were all very good. Yeah - tons o' love.

Recently watched The Decline of Western Civilization for the first time: I had dug this band before (esp. "We're Desperate" and "Adult Books") but now I can't seem to get enough of them. Definitely one of the greatest bands of all time.

Def go an watch The Unheard Music. It's a doc on X and no one else. VERY GOOD!

Definitely one of the greatest bands of all time.

co-sign

man I was just thinkin about this band and I start seeing what they're up to an I guess Exene had to cancel a tour 'cause her MS got brutal on her. Feel so bad about the Knoxville show, what could be more terrifying than to have your body just quit on you onstage.

A Message from Exene - 4/8/11

as you probably know by now, i was diagnosed with ms. i have been doing relatively well. i thought i could handle sxsw in austin, and a short solo tour. however, i got sick in austin during sx, it is a hard event even under the best of circumstances. it didn't seem that hot to me, but heat is very bad for those of us with ms. i started feeling bad almost as soon as i started playing on wednesday and by sunday night, i had a terrible headache and couldn't get out of bed. i didn't feel any better by wednesday so i called my neurologist and got a prescription for steroids. i started to improve a little and thought i'd be okay to start my southwest southeast tour on the following friday. in retrospect, i should have called off the tour then and there. but i didn't want to cancel. kevin seconds, who was on the tour with me, met me in austin, and we played our first show. but i wasn't getting better.in knoxville tn, a week later, i was fatigued and having a hard time functioning. when i took the stage that night, i was surprised to discover that my right hand and arm were not responding to my commands, and i couldn't play guitar. i apologized to the audience, talked alot, and sang acapella. because i had driven ten hours from new orleans, i hoped it was just fatigue from gripping the steering wheel so long. but i knew the tour was over. the next morning, after i called my booking agent and gave her the news, i sat down with kevin seconds and explained to him that i was too sick to continue, and would only be going as far as memphis. i apologized. my friend flew into memphis and drove me home, where i am now. i wouldn't have made it as far as i did without the help of my friends and the kindness of fans strangers along the way. i am not an invincible road warrior anymore. the easiest part of touring is the hour on stage. the driving and staying with friends and finding hotels and advancing the shows and hauling around merch and guitars is the hard part. i've never cancelled a tour before but it is more important for me to regain my health than continue. i never know when my ms will strike, and this was certainly bad timing for an attack. my apologies to the clubs, the fans, my label, and mr. seconds for this unfortunate event. ~Exene~

I had heard about some health problems but man oh man that's awful news. Crossed fingers and best wishes.

^^^This. Been really obsessing over the X lately. Spending pretty pennies on the now OOP Elektra remasters.

Dig the dude crushing on Exene in this clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwSuUV4kM8Q

Anyone else been catching them on this "play 'Los Angeles'" tour?? Saw 'em on Wednesday, and it was godlike. True childhood heroes of mine, onstage right in front of me, totally ripping it up. Exene looked and sounded great -- I know abt the health issues, and I truly hope she wasn't just hiding any pain in the interest of the performance, but she really did look ok. What a band

Wished I saw the local gig but had a conflict. Sounds great

I've seen them a couple times since their reunited in ... '96? '98? And they've always killed it. What a tight band.

"X"-tra "X"-tra: i'm listening to x for the first time right now. these guys rule.

you bet! what album?

los angeles. goin reverse chrono on the spotify

err regular chrono duh

this was fun. thanks e veryone for tuning in.

Wild Gift rulez!!!!

Spent most of last week listening to Under the Big Black Sun.

Live at the Whiskey is my favorite album of theirs...I dunno why but I've listened to that so many times that the regular studio album tracks feel kinda flat now.

but looooooooooooooove X.

Sometimes I feel bad but the song ”los angeles” is so great but it's racist

Spent most of last week listening to Under the Big Black Sun.

^^That was me a few weeks prior.

If any of you haven't already, check out that Bandstand interview I posted upthread.

I highly recommend the widely available Cat's Cradle 1982-07-23 live boot, they just kill it on track after track.

"Sometimes I feel bad but the song ”los angeles” is so great but it's racist"

If it makes you feel any better, the song is written from the point of view of real person (someone Exene knew from Florida) who is not John or Exene. The reporting is neutral, but I get the vibe that the song does not approve.

oops I meant the 1982-07-23 show from Clutch Cargo, Detroit.

goddamn I love this band. I know this isn't saying anything new but John Doe + Exene is like my favorite vocal harmony combo.

Oh god yes.

"Some people give me the creeps!"

It was better before, before they voted for whatshisname
This was supposed to be the new wooooooorld

listening to live at the Whiskey, falling in love with them all over again
so great

i have a renewed crush on DJ Bonebrake

For me those first couple X albums make virtually the only rock music as good (or almost as good) as salsa for driving around to.

when I first met Mr Veg we roadtripped from SF to LA listening to the Whisky album and it still sounds like the grapevine on I-5 to me

Seen this band so many times and in so many configurations I've lost count.

Anyway, you know what's a lot better than the Live At The Whisky album (which I basically disown on the basis that Billy Zoom isn't involved) is that FM broadcast of them playing in Boston with a two guitar lineup (Dave Alvin lead, Tony rhythm I think). Highlights include Exene dominating the meanest cover of Positively 4th Street you'll ever hear - forget the studio version happened - and a brilliant medley of Devil Doll and Long White Cadillac. And they take away all that hair metal sheen from the Ain't Love Grand songs.

As a complete X junkie, here's a few recommendations/preferences:
-Don't have the lineage, but an FM broadcast of a NY show from 83. My Father's Place maybe? Features a version of True Love Pt. 2 that is just beyond demented. The mix on that bootleg is perfect. Giant guitar and bass, and unlike some of the other FM stuff circulating from the era, Exene's very lucid and pissed off.

-Wild Gift has a horrid mix that makes everything sound like it's coming out of my grandpa's radio. Find bootlegs and live albums instead. Particularly Live In Los Angeles, from the reunion tour. Definitive versions of the Wild Gift-era songs.

-Go to dime or whatever and find the Winters 2009 bootleg of The Knitters. That band is its own thing live. Dave Alvin's way louder than on record and he's given a lot of leeway to take some mean solos. Very fond of how he's given about two minutes at the end of New World to turn it into the Battle Hymn of the Republic. And Walkin' Cane live is just something else. Highlight is their fantastic cover of "Wreck On The Highway," as yet unreleased.

-Also, seek out their medley of Wild Side of Life/Honky Tonk Angels and the fiddle demo of Someone Like You. Classic, straight-faced Bakersfield country that sound like lost 45s. No proof they were recorded in 85 at all.

-Solo stuff. Exene: Alone In Arizona, Already In Love, Dirty Snow, Lonesome War. John: Hwy 5, Golden State, Lean Out Yr Window, Pressing On, Cottage In The Dale. (He also does a killer version of Ballad of a Thin Man if you can find that.)

I clearly remember this being the coolest thing I had ever seen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu2DPFBcHBA

Yup. Was a regular on MTV.

pretty cool show this past saturday in santa ana, at a benefit for phil alvin: x and the knitters both on the bill, along with the blasters and los lobos. it was very very 1982, and i'm guessing a good number of people in the room were in fact there in 1982 if not earlier. lots of flannel shirts and white t-shirts. bummed that dave alvin didn't play with x. but he played with the blasters, which was much more important, obviously, and oh so great. knitters were endearingly sloppy (i've seen them a lot tighter) and jovial (and a bit too electric for my taste, which is to say dave alvin was really loud relative to everyone else). x stuck to the first four albums and avoided anything the knitters had just played. the knitters' "the new world" was about halfway between the knitters and x versions anyway. john and exene were hamming it up big-time. billy stood stage right, about 500 yards from the rest of the band. old people moshed. i thought exene sounded particuarly good, except when she joined the blasters for a duet of "jackson" and the soundman forgot to turn up her mic for the first half of the song. oops.

Also, seek out their medley of Wild Side of Life/Honky Tonk Angels

yes! it's on the excellent "radio tokyo tapes vol. 3" comp if you can find it.

Wild Gift has a horrid mix that makes everything sound like it's coming out of my grandpa's radio.
Really? I think it sounds great, like they're right in the room with you. Certainly an upgrade over Los Angeles.

I just had an X revival a few weeks ago after reading We Got the Neutron Bomb. I hadn't really given them much of a spin in about 5 years. They're such a great band, I have no idea why I was ignoring them.

But it might have been Billy Zoom's hair.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5251/5472606939_87ec9ef003.jpg

Sorry guy, you can't come out of my speakers today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzkNdOY03Q4

charisma

I was thinking today that Billy Zoom is the perfect guitarist for X, because he's such a conventional guy. Here's John/Exene doing their Bukowski-goes-to-hell-and-look-at-all-these-Bakersfield-country-45s-we-bought thing, and then over in this corner is Billy Zoom, seemingly oblivious to it all. Christian, blond, seemingly unaware of any guitarists who came to prominence after the death of Eddie Cochran. It's hilarious. I can't get enough of it.

Also, when I've taken pics at X shows, he's always noticed, and mugged for every shot I take with that fake smile. I just love him to death. He's both batshit and completely devoid of pretension.

As for their other guitarists, well, Dave Alvin turns them into a roots-rock band that's not as ironic as you'd think, and Tony Gilkyson turns them into, well, an LA band in 1988.

i like X so that means they suck?

otm

I was always convinced he had to be deranged or kicked in the head. But he fucking rules up there with that guitar, goddamn

How is Exene doing these days?

Wish they'd play the UK, the last time they were supposed to play in London was 5 years ago and it was cancelled. It looks like they did play the UK last year supporting Pearl Jam but only in Manchester?

Demo version of one of the great forgotten songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbUsNeyNDJ0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_tyWt_9Bfs

Hey baby, was just playing that.

Going to see X tonite! And Blondie (who are headlining), but still--X!

Just saw that bill a week or so ago. X was very good, but Blondie only gave 'em 50 minutes so John Doe announced that they had little time and would do little chit-chat between songs and just play. Which they did. I could nitpick song choices but they sounded great. Exene did say how excited she was to be opening for Blondie, and Billy Zoom just did his creepy smile thing while effortlessly sounding great on guitar.

They were awesome! Despite time limitations, they delivered a nice balance of 'hits' and album stuff (we got "Year 1" and they closed with "Devil Doll"). All the comments upthread about Billy Zoom live are otm. So great that they are still around doing their thing.

Yes!

Exene is having an estate sale.

http://www.estatesales.net/estate-sales/CA/Santa-Ana/92701/560715

Uh oh. I know her health's been an issue, I wonder if this is to cover medical costs or worse?

Oh, I hope not.

betty crocker punk rockers! keep on, exene.

i went today. it was like being at a yard sale with a bunch of record fair people. i bought the vintage print at the upper right here...

http://pictures.estatesales.net/560715/11822300/1.jpg

...along with one of exene's dresses and some jewelry as gifts. she has some pretty great stuff. there were two particular original exene artworks i really wanted but those were long gone by the time i got there. apparently someone from ucla came super early and bought an X setlist, posters and other memorabilia for ucla's music school, which was really nice to hear.

the auctioneer posted this note about exene:

"She is downsizing and plans on relocating soon. This is a multi family sale but the vast majority of the items are from Exene's life long antique and vintage collection. Exene is alive and well and excited about recycling her treasures."

Awww man, Exene has become a libertarian knucklehead and is moving to Texas

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/xs-exene-cervenka-cleans-out-her-closet-20140213

Explaining her potential move to Texas, Cervenka says, "I have tons of close friends in Austin, I love the music, I always have a magical time there." She continues, "The other reason I'm moving, if the creek don't rise, is that when I moved to California in 1976, Jerry Brown was governor. It was barefoot hippie girls, Hell's Angels on the Sunset Strip, East L.A. lowriders, the ocean and nature. It was this fabulous incredible place about freedom. Now when I think about California, I think of a liberal oppressive police state and regulations and taxes and fees. I'd rather go someplace and have my own little place out on the edge of town. I'm a country girl at heart. It makes me happy when I see people in Texas open-carrying. It makes me feel safe. I'm not even a gun owner, but I'd like to see a gun rack in every pickup truck, like my boyfriend had when I was fifteen years old in Florida. An armed society is a polite society."

Where is she seeing genuine open carry in Texas? Because it probably isn't Austin.

She seems to have drunk the kool-aid that allows her to see such things.

"Now Jerry Brown's governor again. He's done some great things, like balancing the budget and libraries are open on Sundays. But things are getting to the point in this country where people are going to have to fight to survive and fight for their rights. I think not so much about where I want to live, but where I want to die."

"when I moved to California in 1976, Jerry Brown was governor."

guess what HE IS GOVERNOR NOW

oh didn't read the whole thing obv

jerry brown being governor has nothing to do with libraries being open on sundays, I don't think? are libraries open on sundays? I don't think ours are.

Only central branch libraries are open on Sunday in Texas.

ahe's been readin' the rong adult books

x-p I don't understand.

She goes from specific good things (balanced budget, libraries open) to vague right-wing scare talk. Fight *who* to *survive* what? Which rights? Did California have open carry rights in 1976? (Answer: No.)

And the last part of the quote above sounds like she wants to die in a gunfight on main street.

Is there a specific age at which you become afraid of everything? 'Cause I'm in my 40s already, so if it's creeping up on me I'd like to know.

it was better before, before they voted for what's-his-name.

She had to leave...Los Angeles!

when I was fifteen years old in Florida

mmhmm

Aging X fans outraged at a x-punk expressing love for freedoms of various sorts.

(No I'm not a libertarian but the erosion of liberties and rights I care about in the U.S. in general has me more than a little angry.)

Number of Deaths Due to Injury by Firearms per 100,000 Population:

California 7.7
Texas 11.0

welp, at least they die politely

I'm 56 and still not afraid, but I understand the desire to left alone by the gov't and strangers in general.

x fans alarmed by exene's positions on certain matters had best avoid reading about billy zoom's positions on certain matters.

Best avoid Exene's YouTube channel of conspiracy videos too: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5jzBhmqPI2n62s2-dyf1bw

Is there a specific age at which you become afraid of everything? 'Cause I'm in my 40s already, so if it's creeping up on me I'd like to know.

Going by my nearest and dearest, it's 57. (sorry nickn)

Is there a specific age at which you become afraid of everything? 'Cause I'm in my 40s already, so if it's creeping up on me I'd like to know.

i'll let you know for sure after february 19, but i'm guessing 46.

it was better before, before they voted for what's-his-name.

A+ lol, fcc!

Nah not 46 afaict.

then i've got at least another year before i go from "afraid of 94% of everything" to "afraid of 100% of everything."

this is a relief.

Noooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!

Aging X fans outraged at a x-punk expressing love for freedoms of various sorts.

― _Rudipherous_, Friday, February 14, 2014 11:05 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

(No I'm not a libertarian but the erosion of liberties and rights I care about in the U.S. in general has me more than a little angry.)

― _Rudipherous_, Fri

Exene only cares for freedom in a Rand Paul kind of way. Gun rights have not exactly been restricted much in the US. Exene doesn't seem to care about women's rights in Texas

Hey! FCC! This must be the first time you have encountered someone saying that l.a. isn't as good as it used to be, right?

i heard johnny hit and run paulene earlier today. it's lost none of it's power, or power to shock.

great band. i've never bought the follow up to los angeles, which i think is wild gift. worth it?

Everything from Los Angeles through More Fun in the New World is worth your time. The third album, Under the Big Black Sun, is particularly underrated IMO. More Fun is where diminishing returns start to set in—the energy level dips a lot (though the cover of Jerry Lee Lewis's "Breathless" is fantastic) and there are too many weird/arty songs. Then they try to go radio-friendly hard rock on Ain't Love Grand (which was also recorded while John and Exene were splitting, so it's a love/hate album) and get rootsy & dull on See How We Are.

x-p

Wild Gift is very good too, and I like Under the Big Black Sun. It was the ones after that I was less and less thrilled with.

^last two posts are so otm

Yeah, See How We Are was the first one I was actually disapponted with, made worse by the fact that it was the first CD I ever bought.

I was a total wide eyed fanboy and man the 1-2 punch of the Wild Thing 12" followed by Ain't Love Grand just broke my heart, fortunately the Knitters record happened a few years later.

I just saw them back in December, they were very good and Billy Zoom was loud as fuck.

The Knitters record actually happened during the ALG-era.

haha that's what I get for guessing at my age

I only remember it from later on, cuz it was all we had to listen to that wasn't classic X until See How We Are came out

I picked up the Knitters album last year, great fun!

I concur with the comments about the first 4. The "Beyond And Back" anthology is also worth having for alt/live versions and the best bits from the weak albums.

Under the Big Black Sun is the one I reach for the most. But the first three (ish) are all pretty ace.

the first three, and three-quarters of the fourth, are all fab. the first knitters album is fab (there was a followup like 20 years later, which i don't think i've heard). i heard "burning house of love" on the radio today and it was kinda meh. speaking of meh, i also heard "i'll be you" on the radio today, same station obvi. kind of a meh day for '80s amerindie on the radio.

Hey! FCC! This must be the first time you have encountered someone saying that l.a. isn't as good as it used to be, right?

yes! though maybe now that the nbc universal building in studio city is becoming the comcast building, more such complaints will follow.

(i also quite like the single "country at war," from their 1993 attempt at a comeback album, hey zeus, though i recall the rest of the album not being very good.

I saw them on tour supporting Hey Zeus. Tony Gilkyson on guitar instead of Billy Zoom, which was disappointing. But they opened with "The Hungry Wolf," which fucking ruled.

The "Beyond And Back" anthology is also worth having for alt/live versions and the best bits from the weak albums.

OTM. The first albums pack the hardest punch but I'm also partial to the demo versions of some of their later tunes, 4th of July and See How We Are in particular, on the Beyond & Back anthology.

Beyond And Back also has that live track prefaced by Exene telling a story about Debbie Harry giving her the cold shoulder when they met earlier in the day.

She had nothing but love onstage for Harry & Blondie when I saw X open for them recently

Great documentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8AHW4I_WO0

Hey thanks for posting that, I'd never seen it before and it's great. The sequence where they're moving the building through LA streets on a flatbed truck while "The Unheard Music" (the song) plays is amazing.

Also wish there was a full hour of John and Exene singing old country songs in their living room.

That sequence with the building moving through the streets of LA is insane. Some of it appears to have been filmed from inside the building ... had to know someone to get those shots.

The original lineup is playing the first four albums over four nights in Chicago this week, anyone seen them recently? They're playing "More Fun in the New World" tonight, wish I could go but it seems to be sold out.

Was going to go last night but didn't. I'm sure it's fine. Sad to hear Exene has been doubling down on her conspiracy theories and rants, at least online.

BigO has the "More Fun" show from NYC posted.

We saw them last week. Strongly suggest seeing them in their current pseudo-acoustic configuration. At least one-third of the set were songs I've never seen them play live ever - think the dive into the back catalog has reinvigorated them. John/Exene sounding great. No black helicopters.

My X story...I was never really into them that much, I liked some of the songs but the albums never did much for me. I certainly didn't hate them or anything but I was always a bit confused when people would talk about how they're such a great band, etc, etc. I always thought John Doe was cool, Exene was cool, but X, I just did not get. At all.

My wife, however, was (remains) a huge fan. So in 2009 she bought us tickets to the see Knitters and I was all "eh, ok I'll go".

About three notes into the first song, I got it. Completely. All of sudden everything about them made sense. I went for being "whatever" to fan boy in an instant. It just took me forever to get to that point.

Those first three records are fucking perfect. I listen to them all the time. We saw X a few yrs ago, totally awesome live. I would go see them again in a heartbeat.

It's Billy Zoom that turns X from a good to a great band, one of the best of the era.

Shared by the band page on FB: Beach Party X!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=SJuirtVUHW4&app=desktop

I saw Penelope S. stating somewhere that all the Decline of Western Civilization movies are gonna be released on dvd, blue-ray, etc

Yeah, Shout! Factory is putting out a box with all three movies, bonus interviews and performances, commentary track from Dave Grohl, etc., etc., at the end of June.

I guess Grohl comments will help sell it

Ah shit--didn't bring the following just to bum yall out, see support Billy info, with more to come on shows, but some of it's already in the shows section: http://xtheband.com/2015/07/09/x-guitarist-billy-zoom-diagnosed-with-bladder-cancer/

X GUITARIST – BILLY ZOOM – DIAGNOSED WITH BLADDER CANCER
Posted on July 9, 2015 by x

IMMEDIATE TREATMENT TO CONTINUE – ZOOM WILL STILL PERFORM AT ORANGE COUNTY ALBUM PLAY SHOWS THIS WEEKEND

REPLACEMENT TO BE NAMED FOR JULY-AUGUST DATES SO X CAN CONTINUE WITH THE TOUR IN SUPPORT OF ZOOM

(Los Angeles, CA – July 9, 2015) Legendary guitarist, punk legend, and all-around nice guy, Billy Zoom, has been diagnosed with cancer. Yesterday, Zoom was given the news that he has an aggressive form of bladder cancer and immediate treatment is necessary to fight the disease. The 67-year-old musician/producer/electronics wiz will begin chemo treatment next week.

In early 2010, Zoom revealed that he had been successfully treated for prostate cancer.

X and Zoom are committed to this weekend’s 4-album play shows at Orange County’s The Observatory. Joining X for these shows will be The Blasters and Mike Watt.

X will continue with their previously announced July and August mid-west and east coast tour dates as planned in support of Billy and his family. A replacement for Zoom will be announced shortly.

X and manager, Mike Rouse, have begun a fund to help Zoom with his upcoming medical costs.

Statement from X:

In the music community, we all take turns helping each other & have since the beginning. Punk rock and benefits always went hand in hand: you name the cause, and the bands and fans will be there.
Now it’s our turn to help Billy Zoom,
the wittiest, smartest, nicest, best guitar player & friend I know. I would do anything to help him get better, help take care of his family, and lessen his woes. Billy has begun chemo treatment at Cedars Sinai for Bladder cancer. He has a long road ahead of him but we are confident he’s beat cancer once and he’ll do it again!

Please keep Billy in your prayers and send some positive energy his way!
Donating a few bucks will help take away some of his financial stress and worry.
It’s the punk rock thing to do.

Exene, John, DJ, and Mike

Please donate to Support Billy Zoom’s Kick Cancer Fight by visiting:

http://www.gofundme.com/yx66a4

Just came here to post that. Bummer.

$43,360 of $50k
Raised by 845 people in 1 day

Almost completely funded though.

Blew past $50k in one day. That's a lot of love, renews my faith in people.

God I loved to watch Billy splay his legs and wail on his guitar.

X ANNOUNCE TEMPORARY STAND-IN FOR GUITARIST BILLY ZOOM
by x
Zoom Undergoing Chemo for Cancer Will Miss Summer Dates

Texas Guitarist – JESSE DAYTON – To Sit-In for Zoom

(Los Angeles – July 10, 2015) It was announced yesterday, Billy Zoom - the legendary guitarist for the seminal punk band X will not be joining his bandmates on their July and August dates as he seeks immediate medical treatment for bladder cancer.

Texas guitar player, Jesse Dayton (Waylon Jennings, Supersuckers) will be sitting in for the iconic guitarist temporarily.

Dates beginning on July 17th in Ridgefield, CT and continuing through August 3 in NY at City Winery will feature Dayton stepping in for Billy. Remaining festival dates in August and September are yet to be determined.

As was previously announced, X, the long-time leaders of the L.A. Punk Scene, will perform at the KCRW “Sound in Focus” Annenberg Live Series on August 8th with Dwight Yoakam. The concert is free for all ages; those interested in attending need to RSVP at KCRW.com. X have also been confirmed to perform at this year’s Hopscotch festival on September 12th in Raleigh, NC as well as September 19th at the Kaaboo Festival held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, CA.

Beginning yesterday and continuing through the weekend, X bring their 4-Album Show plays to The Observatory in Orange County with Billy in his original position, trademark Cheshire grin and all.

Formed in 1977, X quickly established themselves as one of the best bands in LA's flourishing first wave punk scene. Featuring vocalist Exene Cervenka, vocalist/bassist John Doe, guitarist Billy Zoom, and drummer DJ Bonebrake, their debut 45 was released on the seminal Dangerhouse label in 1978. While these songs were later re-recorded for their second album, the versions on Adult Books / We're Desperate reveal X's raw talent for totally sincere songwriting and stripped-down rock n' roll. This past April, the band re-issued that first single, in its original 7-inch format, as limited edition colored vinyl.

The original line-up of X remains John Doe, Exene Cervenka, Billy Zoom, and D.J. Bonebrake. Jesse Dayton fills in for Billy Zoom from July 17 – August 3.

X Summer 2015 “How I Learned My Lesson Tour”

July 17 Ridgefield Playhouse Ridgefield, CT

July 18 Underground Arts Philadelphia, PA

July 19 The State Theatre Falls Church, VA

July 22 Music Box Supper Club Cleveland, OH

July 24 The Magic Bag Ferndale, MI

July 26 City Winery Chicago, IL

July 27 City Winery Chicago, IL

July 28 City Winery Chicago, IL

July 30 The Sinclair Cambridge, MA

Aug 1 City Winery New York City, NY

Aug 2 City Winery New York City, NY

Aug 3 City Winery New York City, NY

Aug 8 Annenberg Space for Photography Los Angeles, CA

(KCRW sponsored show)

Aug 28 Shank Hall Milwaukee, WI

Sep 12 Hopscotch Fest Raleigh, NC

Sep 19 KAABOO Fest Del Mar, CA

Please donate to Support “Billy Zoom’s Kick Cancer’s Butt” Fight by visiting:

http://www.gofundme.com/yx66a4

x

Statement from Billy Zoom:

My family and I are overwhelmed and deeply humbled by the outpouring of money, love, and support that we’ve received over past 24 hours. Facing months of cancer treatment is tough, but not as tough as worrying about taking care of my family through it all. We still hadn’t completely recovered financially from my last bout with cancer and I really wasn’t sure, aside from lots of prayer, how I was going to manage to keep our home and family together through this. Our twins turned nine years old last week, and I’ll be missing our entire touring season this year because of my treatments.

Our most heartfelt thanks go out to those of you who have contributed to our wellbeing so that our energies may be concentrated on beating this and reassuring our children that their daddy is going to be ok.

Again, heartfelt thanks to all of you from myself and my family.
BZ

So great to see that kind of outpouring if support

We went to the Wild Gift show on Friday night and, well DUH, it was tremendous. Hard not to focus in on Billy - the electric/acoustic format of the shows these days lets him go all-out Carl Perkins/Chet Atkins in ways he can't when they're in punk onslaught configuration. Recent all-electric shows had a weird spooky apocalypse going on - angry violent crowd at House of Blues Anaheim, Exene ranting about chemtrails in Pershing Square and just how even more desperate Los Angeles is. I got bit on the arm at that show. I've never been bit at a show before ever.

Wow, that's crazy(the biting that is; Exene's paranoid ranting is no longer unexpected, sadly).

Were you bit by Exene?

No, silly it was an audience member. Somebody who plays in La Liga, no doubt.

yikes, x crowds are energetic but i never would have banked on biting esp these days

I'll be sure to wear a long sleeve shirt and pants when I see them in Mpls!

OC Register show review, quoted and linked on xtheband.com:

X Goes Back To The Beginning At The Observatory

BY ROBERT KINSLER / CONTRIBUTING WRITER

X

With: The Blasters, Mike Watt and the Secondmen

Where: The Observatory, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana,

When: July 9

Next: X will perform its "Wild Gift" album at 8 tonight, "Under the Big Black Sun" on Saturday, and "More Fun in the New World" on Sunday.

How much: $25

Call: 714-957-0600

Online: observatoryoc.com

By the time X took the stage at The Observatory around 10 p.m. on Thursday night, the capacity crowd was already fully aware of an announcement that was issued earlier that day that guitarist Billy Zoom has been diagnosed with bladder cancer. And when the long-time Orange County resident was spotted on the stage a few minutes before showtime checking on his guitar and equipment, there was a heartfelt group chant with his name.

Expectations for the concert were obviously high, with Zoom reportedly set to perform on this night and a trio of subsequent nights at the venue with each concert featuring one of X’s seminal albums played in its entirety. Zoom will then take a break from playing to undergo chemotherapy treatments beginning next week.

Thursday's performance was divided in two parts, with the full performance of the band’s Ray Manzarek-produced 1980 debut filling the first act and ultimately serving as the strongest part of the show. Watching the lineup of singer Exene Cervenka, bassist-singer John Doe, drummer D.J. Bonebrake and the aforementioned Zoom tear through one of punk rock's most compelling and essential albums was a thrill, with Cervenka and Doe's distinctive joint harmonies effective from the moment they were heard on the opener “Your Phone's Off the Hook, But You're Not” while a good-sized number of concertgoers participated in a mosh pit to add to the spirit.

While Zoom had to understandably sit on a stool while performing the show, his guitar playing was spot-on, including on a powerful version of The Doors’ 1967 classic “Soul Kitchen” and even more forceful version of the quartet's own “Los Angeles” a few minutes later.

The fast-paced punk rock song “The World's a Mess; It's in My Kiss” ended the first half of the night, with Cervenka acknowledging the appreciative crowd and energy of the night: “Thank you all for coming.”

The band then took an eight-minute break, and that’s when concertgoers (and the band) had to deal with challenges that appeared to affect both of the amplifiers that Zoom was using. His primary amp was suddenly very muddled with no high tones, and a secondary amp would cut out here and there, obviously hampering the power and flow of songs (even seminal tracks such as “The Hungry Wolf,” “White Girl” and “Devil Doll” during the second 50-minute half where there were several long interruptions where Zoom and his guitar tech attempted to improve things).

The highlight of that troubled set was a propulsive and spirited “The New World,” on which Cervenka and Doe again blended their soaring voices, while the band's distinctive rock attack was showcased.

The large crowd remained throughout the night, supporting Zoom and one of Southern California’s most groundbreaking bands ever without complaint.

“Orange County, thank you very much,” Cervenka said with obvious appreciation before leaving the stage.

The technical glitches that marred the 90-minute X outing were thankfully nowhere to be heard during the two openers’ sets.

The Phil Alvin-led Blasters turned in a potent 50-minute set featuring their original blend of roots music, rockabilly, punk, blues rock and more. With the amazing guitarist Keith Wyatt at his side, Alvin and company performed all their best-known tunes (“American Music,” “Marie Marie” and “Border Radio”) with fire, and outdistanced those gems with a haunting “Dark Night,” with that song finding Wyatt tapping into his inner John Fogerty for an extended solo that had the crowd cheering in appreciation.

Opening the night was legendary singer-bassist Mike Watt, who led his small outfit (dubbed the Secondmen) through a 30-minute set of genre-defying rock that might best be described as progressive-punk. The well-known leader of fIREHOSE and the Minutemen impressed those who came early with material that allowed all three of the musicians to showcase virtuoso chops. Nertz to the Stooges! Would like to hear the Secondmen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekCoVrItLy0

Weird -- was listening to Wild Gift while showering this morning.

Any reports on the current line-up with Jesse Dayton filling in? I'm going to see them in Mpls on Saturday

I saw 'em in Chicago and they were awesome (but I still hate City Winery - weird place to see a show). Jesse Dayton is a great guitarist and has the chops big time - he's played off and on w/ Doe for a while. I get comments about my Support Billy Zoom shirt all the time whenever I wear it since the show. Hope he's doing better.

Cool, they place they are playing in Mpls, Mill City Nights, is also a terrible place to see a show

What did you think, chr1sb3singer? I was at the Mpls show and thought they sounded great. Was quite taken aback actually -- didn't really know what to expect.

I saw them in MPLS too. Had never been to Mill City Nights, and honestly didn't hate it. The show was surprisingly uncrowded so I could get up close, and they sounded incredibly vigorous. Jesse was as good a Billy stand-in as one could hope for. I was happy!

Outstanding interview with DJ Bonebrake on The Trap Set podcast:
http://www.thetrapset.net/dj-bonebrake-x-orchestra-superstring-bonebrake-syncopaters/

"What did you think, chr1sb3singer? I was at the Mpls show and thought they sounded great. Was quite taken aback actually -- didn't really know what to expect.

― Ys Man a.k.a. Have One on G (geoffreyess), Saturday, 5 September 2015 20:13 (1 month ago) Permalink"

Oh hey I didn't see this...I thought they were good, for whatever reason though I don't feel like the show really took off, at least to me. I don't think they played badly, everyone sounded great and was in fine form, just it seemed to be missing a little something.

It certainly wasn't bad show by any stretch, I have seen them in the past be unbelievably great so it is possible I'm setting the bar a little high.

I thought that Jesse Dayton did an amazing job filing in for Billy Zoom.

They're starting up a leg of their ongoing 40th anniversary tour this coming week. I'm seeing them on May 9th in North Carolina. Billy Zoom is back in the band. At this point I've only seen them with Jesse Dayton, and I thought that was really good, so I'm intrigued to see the original lineup.

if it's anything like last time, it'll be worth it

At one point they didn't mean much, now they mean all.

White Girl at #1 - OTM.

nice - I would have cut the covers on principle, but the covers are also great so yeah. my mom loved the Leadbelly cut when I was in high school, I think I bought all the records new starting with Big Black Sun. "Blue Spark" is a great deep cut.

They're baaaaaaack! With Billy Zoom in the fold again. I'm going tonight.

The Mpls Doghouse Crew (UMS & myself) will also be there, pumped.

It was a last minute decision, but I'm excited too!

A good show I bet

Venue was packed, so my proximity to the stage and the sound weren't as good when I saw them 2 years ago, but yeah they always bring the goods (even with Billy playing sitting down now.) I was telling my friend there aren't many punk bands from that era, with all original members, still able to make me that happy. (My hometown heroes The Hypstrz excepted.)

The night was made extra poignant as Husker Du's "Love is All Around" video was playing on the big screen as I entered, and I was reminiscing about the "savage young Du," only to find out about Grant's passing this morning.

Yeah holy shit there were a ton of people there! Which is great, but it was hard to get a good spot/sound. But so they were good! God Billy is such a great guitar player, Exene & John were ragged but right as you would expect and DJ Bonebrake was great. they had some extra help on guitar & drums so DJ moved over to the marimba few times, Billy played the sax...they played "Come Back to Me" which in the wake of Grant's passing feels especially poignant.

xp are there any other 70s punk bands with all original members? I'm struggling to think of any. I saw Cock Sparrer last week but they've had a few rhythm guitarists go through the line-up over the years, all originals apart from that.

Recording (and reissuing the "Classic 4") Again:

https://variety.com/2019/music/news/original-lineup-punk-band-x-new-record-1203109031/

I mis-scanned that as the band heading into the studio and re-recording their first four albums. But sure, I'll take a new X album, hell yes.

I'd really like to hear that live album recorded in 2011, but it doesn't even seem like you can buy it from them through Kickstarter anymore.

Exene is still a Trumpist gun nut, right?

New studio album, the first with the original lineup since 1985. It's...decent. Eleven songs in 30 minutes, live-sounding and raggedy. The vocals are a little too clean, though, lacking that unhinged white-trash howl they had on the first three albums. But, you know, they're all in their 60s (or older - Billy Zoom is 72!).

it sounds pretty solid to me. both doe and exene's voices have weakened, but doe less so than cervenka, so the ones where he sings lead feel stronger

whoa I had no idea they were doing this!

Interesting that they re-recorded "Cyrano de Berger's Back" - there's a version on the Flesh Eaters reunion album from last year, too.

IMO this record is better than "decent", edging into "very good" territory, I think I like this more than See How We Are!

it really feels like they just stepped right back in to "whatever we planned to do after More Fun In The New World", the effortlessness of their retro sound is really quite amazing

i compared it to the feeling I got from superchunk’s last one— not a restyling or reboot at all, but a band going back and doing the things they know best. and doing it very well.

holy shit i dint know zoom is 72.

zoom played with gene vincent! who died in 1971!

1it really feels like they just stepped right back in to "whatever we planned to do after More Fun In The New World",

i attribute a lot of that to billy. first album they've made with him since 1985. and first album they've made him that wasn't produced by michael wagener since 1983 :)

Listened to a bit of this when it came out and it seemed solid. Nice to hear them recorded with modern sound quality as I feel like the production on most of their previous albums doesn't measure up to their performances.

It's solid imo.

just played Water & Wine on the good old FM radio a few minutes ago, the highlight for me

still remember the excitement of discovering this band (way after their time) - was obsessed about them for months at a point in my life where I thought I just didn't get that excited about rock bands any more

good list, I reckon The Have Nots is right up there with their best tho

The L.A. equivalent of Fleetwood Mac! Oooh, good 'un, Alfred!
Been listening on bandcamp, but must confess to not yet giving it my undivided attention--=but it keeps pushing at me---would prob be good car music---and if I start to wonder if actually about to wander, Exene's the one who keeps pulling me back in.

Glad to see See How We Are and even Hey Zeus represented.

(Isn't the L.A. equivalent of Fleetwood Mac, Fleetwood Mac?)

yeah, was gonna say - can't think of a more LA vibe band than the Mac

I am way behind and finally checked the album from earlier this year out.
This is way better than I ever expected, to be honest!
Do Exene's derpy views show up in the lyrics at all?

I am way behind and finally checked the album from earlier this year out.
This is way better than I ever expected, to be honest!

I was skeptical, even after twin raves from Greil Marcus and Robert Christgau, but I finally checked out Alphabetland and this is some damn good shit, close to great. A total surprise given how much time has past. I actually like See How We Are, which is a fine collection of songs and good, solid roots-rock performances if a bit polished and softer, but this is closer to the high standard set by their first four albums. Now I'm especially sad that their 2020 shows got cancelled - had my ticket and everything.

Short - less than half an hour! - but also damn cheap if you still get CD's as most places have it for less than $10.

It's a really good album - much better than I would've expected.

I would like to see them live sometime, even despite their conservative politics, but I think the last time they played the UK in the last century it was as a support to Pearl Jam, so that's probably not happening

Is there some reason why their early records left certain streaming services in the last year or so?

Rights reverted back to the band, iirc.

xxp - John Doe's no conservative!

Yeah, I thought only Exene was kind of kook-right. Billy is Christian but I haven't heard any right wingish stuff about him.

Zoom was a libertarian conservative once upon a time which I just assume means full MAGA now. I assume DJ Bonebrake is cool like Doe.

Live, Billy just smiles and plays hot licks all night, then at the end of the night he takes a picture of the audience.

The Unheard Music is available on YouTube. Well worth watching. Some of the advertising and other footage from the 50s that’s interspersed for contrast is o_O.

Will need to listen to that recent one.

XP I love that interview in the film with the MCA executive who didn't sign X because they weren't commercial enough, and then later missed his shot when they became more commercial, but it's okay now because everyone at MCA is excited about their new marquee
Rock act ...Texas Butt Rock also-rans Point Blank.

I was really bummed that I didn't get to see X due to the pandemic, but they're apparently touring with the Psychedelic Furs and presales just started. I think they're opening for them, but I love both bands and I think the Furs' new album is supposed to be surprisingly good. (Like X, it was their first in well over a decade.) I imagine the new stuff will be heavy in their setlists, but as I mentioned upthread, I was surprised how good X's album turned out to be - it sits well with their first four great LP's.

Code is RAIN if you want to buy today.

I completely slept on the new album. Listening to it now. It is surprisingly good.

Billy Zoom now has a serious dad rock vibe going.

The Furs' new album was also surprisingly good.

Oh hadn't noticed that Furs were touring with X . Thanks

Excene going crazy has taken some of the luster off the band for me, I'm afraid.

Both albums work, the P-Furs album is better than that.

xp oh yeah, I'm bracing for some awkwardness to say the least. For example, reportedly she tried to claim, onstage in BOSTON, that the Boston marathon bombing was a fake. The rest of band immediately cut her off by slamming into the next song.

I miss the days of the tiara and the potato sack dress.

And the white vinyl coat.

I'm bracing for some awkwardness to say the least. For example, reportedly she tried to claim, onstage in BOSTON, that the Boston marathon bombing was a fake. The rest of band immediately cut her off by slamming into the next song.

is she still doing this or was that like a decade ago? not that it was a cool a decade ago, but i was under the impression her conspiracy theory days were behind her. but maybe not?

https://crisismusicblog.com/2018/12/14/x-why-i-finally-decided-it-was-time-to-bid-farewell-to-a-favorite-band-2/

see the 2022 addendum added to the bottom here . She has not changed

well that answers that. oy.

ugh. Reminds me of a fellow Ramones fan in December 2016 who said "thank God Johnny died years ago."

no, that is all out of date, she is back in the realm of the sane now

don't have time to look up the source but that is my understanding

OK I didn't see the update in that link above, I stand corrected :(

Good interview with John Doe.

Also, they do not talk about the politics and conspiracies Exene has gotten into, but I think it gives some clarity into how the band handles it, which is pretty much the simplest answer. He compares the band to being in a family, with all the complexities that come with that. Then later on in the show, they talk about the polarized state of the country and about finding some kind of peaceful co-existence even though it feels more daunting than ever. They don't talk about the band in that context, but John does mention he's chosen to live in Texas now where he clearly has neighbors who have very different politics than him (using a Trump flag to symbolize that).

I guess I should check out his new folk album. Missed he and his folk band’s recent gig near me. I think he has been in Austin for 5 years now

https://www.clevescene.com/music/john-doe-to-perform-this-month-with-trio-at-music-box-supper-club-next-month-with-x-at-mgm-northfield-park-center-stage-39105057

Saw X open for Psychedelic Furs last night . John Doe encouraged people to slow dance together to their re-arranged version of "Come Back to Me" and he made a point of saying that people should be able to dance with and love whomever they wanted. Exene mostly just said hello and the most extensive thing she said was sorta garbled (so I didn't hear any crazy stuff from her). Billy Zoom sat on a stool for much of the set, but stood for a few songs. He also played sax on 2 songs. DJ Bonebrake switched to marimba/vibes for a few cuts. An unmentioned guy played drums on cuts where Bonebrake switched instruments. The guy also played backing second guitar on a few songs .

They did "Los Angeles" and she sang "started to hate every Christian and Jew" rather than the original lyric

It's been nice following their social media accounts on the tour. They actually stopped at a popular diner in Ottawa, and just the idea of seeing X walk in while eating a reuben at Al's seems pretty awesome.

Anyway, I saw the NY stop of that tour, and it was better than I expected. Those extended improvisations on two songs were pleasant surprises, so much that I could see them doing a pretty good jazz set if they wanted to. It was also hilarious to see Zoom stick his guitar pick on his forehead every time he switched to sax. I had no idea he did that, or that it would even work - he was able to leave it on for almost an entire song. And it was great to see him standing for the last few numbers - he was pretty much beaming the whole time and he looked tan and healthy. Also, it was amazing to watch him play - his guitar sounded absolutely ferocious but his fingers simply danced around his strings like a ballet, just tiny little graceful movements. The contrast was very amusing.

John Doe was wonderful, he really loved the crowd and he loved the camera! At one point he went to the edge of the stage, leaned back and smiled for a few including my phone, but I was actually taking a video of Zoom and didn't notice Doe until it was too late. Ah well, I did take some videos where he seemed to grin directly at me. (I was at the edge of the stage.)

Last night's show was good too. Yeah, I like the older stuff better than the latest one (but it's pretty good too). John and Exene's voices still sound strong together, and Zoom and Bonebrake are still musically good too

Forgot one of my favorite remarks at the show was after "I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts" - John Doe says when they first released it, it was meant to be sarcastic, but now it's become a prayer, like PLEASE don't let me think bad thoughts, about doing bad things to anyone! Very cute.

First four are still my favorites, but the new one's gravy, I'm glad to have it. It's like, we're still together and playing well, why not put one out while we still can? No worrying about making the charts and let's fix up a few old songs we didn't get down on record, or at least the way we would have liked.

but now it's become a prayer, like PLEASE don't let me think bad thoughts Word to Exene!

LOL, yeah I thought that too. Like inside, it's "please for love of god Exene..."

Posted by someone in Austin in another forum:

Bumped into John Doe at a movie theatre last night and asked about the new record. He confirmed that X will be playing some of the new, as yet unreleased tunes, when the tour begins later this month. Also said the follow up to "Alphabetland" will be the final X record and also mentioned that it's better than Alphabetland. I know that's the sort of thing people say about their work but he offered up that tidbit without prompting.

They were supposed to play at a street festival in Chicago this weekend but canceled because of an "emergency medical procedure."

They did "Los Angeles" and she sang "started to hate every Christian and Jew" rather than the original lyric

― curmudgeon, Monday, July 18, 2022

Lost opportunity not to put "Scieno" in there instead.

“Around My Heart” on the Live at the Whisky album

so fucking goddamn good

X is the kind of music for me where it’s like, the passion inherent makes you want to pick up an instrument & play & sing your heart out but also that simultaneous thing of: how on earth can you ever make what you do sound anything remotely like these unearthly geniuses

magic

Don't have anything to add but hear hear

Is this the new Twitter thread? Jk

yeah something uniquely magical about them

they could incorporate old rock n' roll and roots/country stuff into punk in a way that felt organic and completely special to how they did it...even the best of the cowpunks it always felt a bit "dress up"

also whenever John or Exene sing part of a song solo, part of my enjoyment is that runway of anticipation for the pre chorus or chorus moment when they harmonize

https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/mobile/000/026/155/maxresdefault_(2).jpg

all these posts are otm

i got into them because i wanted to impress a crush who was obsessed with "the world's a mess; it's in my kiss" and the moment i heard it and the rest of los angeles i knew i had no chance because i could never ever be as cool as x

that sounds self-deprecating but i don't intend it as such! x were just the coolest band ever

i first heard them on a mix cd Mr Veg made me before we were married when I was still in Australia … i’d never heard them before & was like WHOA what is this

and then we listened to the Live at the Whisky CD on our first road trip from Sacramento to Vegas

still to my ears New World sounds SO theillingly american in the best possible ways - musically, lyrically, stylistically, vibes - everything

boosting the love, they really are magic when they hit just right

but what about the minutemen, flesh eaters, DOA, big boys, and the black flag?

those are other good bands that have their own threads

ding ding ding

Also a lot of related Wild Wild West action incl. beyond what's mentioned in title:

TS: Lone Justice or Cruzados or Drivin' & Cryin' or Green On Red or Del Fuegos or Jason & The Scorchers or Long Ryders or Bodeans?

also pertaining Dave Alvin C or D

xps

2:58
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iypAEijnq5A

but what about the minutemen, flesh eaters, DOA, big boys, and the black flag?

those are other good bands that have their own threads

lol I love all those bands but yes

yeah something uniquely magical about them

YES. even their bad albums are not awful. Alphabetland is way better than pretty much any reformed punk bands' album. Not including Anthrax (UK) because they rule.

Yeah was really pleasantly surprised by Alphabetland, really great!

I saw them in Florida in ‘87 on that ‘Live at the Whisky’ tour. It was a free outdoor show. I remember that Exene was pregnant and wore a potato sack dress.

are you guys fucking serious

A lotta folks didn't see what you did up there.

lol. in my/our defense those bands get brought up a lot in relation.

am sulking now

I see that Sunset Strip isn't up on Spotify, so that means it's the next one they're reclaiming the rights to. They now own all of the Slash & Elektra studio albums and also the first Knitters set.

lol budo

The rockism in that song though. Even back then it made me wince.

Yep

can you explain what you mean?

"glitter disco synthesizer night school
all this noble savage drum drum drum"

would be my guess, also "b-e-e-t-s not b-e-a-t-s"

(I love this song, to be clear, Exene went on a rant about rock star "whores of Babylon" when I saw them do this live a few years back)

those are definitely lyrics from the song. to me they don't seem to be saying "rock is the best kind of music"

my take is that it's more about the simmering resentment they have re: the new Brit bands, it's low key but def there

my take is that it's more about the simmering resentment they have re: the new Brit bands, it's low key but def there

"Will the last American band to get played on the radio please bring the flag" — yeah, pretty low key, easy to overlook...

There's certainly a thread of complaint though the career of X (and to some extent the Ramones) of "why aren't we one of the biggest bands?" I do recall the press push working the "discovered by Ray Manzarek, they are the new Doors" angle hard. That message got to me, even as a kid who just listened to AOR at that point, not really interested any anything outside of Beatles/Who/AC-DC/Cars etc. But to my kid ears, they were impossibly uncanny looking on TV - not skinny tie cool, not rough and tumble hard rock, and not young for a new band! Billy Zoom shoulda hid behind sunglasses like Ocasek. And they did not sound like The Doors at all. I could sense the were talking about older person things, so wordy. "Lunatic Fringe": now there's a haircut you can set your watch to. I resented stuff like X even being pushed on me. I was still trying to distinguish Billy Squire from Led Zeppelin.

Of course, I loved 'em after I got into punk. But even that took a little while. I've long thought that in their peak era, the problem was that they read as too old for the young and too new for the old.

And too punk for the rockers and not punk enough for the punks.

And right after they gripe about synthesizers, their next album leads with a single - "Burning House of Love" - that has conspicuous synthesizer on it. (It probably would've been better without.) This move did get them on AOR radio for a minute, though still no big hit. The Ramones did the same thing just before on their Too Tough to Die album - also no hit. I was rooting for both those bands, but I agree both of them projected a certain chippiness.

where did they gripe about synthesizers??

I just quoted it! That line is absolutely intended in a disparaging way

idk i think that's a stiflingly narrow reading of that passage

literally two lines after complaining that there are no American bands on the radio, but ok

and "night school" is not a compliment

bodu jeru – how do you read it?

i wouldn't say i have a reading necessarily. i'm not really a lyrics person, but i do bristle when people make bold proclamations about what lyrics must mean. in this instance, it just seems plausible to me that they're being ironic, or that the narrator is a character or a semi-real avatar of the band and they are venting their "bad thoughts," you know? i just wouldn't take it as a given that the official band line is that synthesizer music is somehow not as important or real as punk rock

(I saw what you xxxxpost did budo, just didn't want to laugh---friends warehouse their pain.)

haha, yes. and now look what i've gotten myself into

I mean it could be “in character” (there’s a pretty famous example of the same band doing that, but the distancing is made somewhat clear in that case), but then it’s the character’s rockism making folks wince…

one of many possible readings, but yeah -- i guess at the end of the day, if that's what you and others here, i won't argue about it.

hear*

Possible hot take: I was let down when I heard the studio version of "Nausea" the first time because I was introduced to the track through Decline of Western Civilization and that live crunch - but more importantly, the lack of Ray Manzarek's insufferable key bleats - was way more potent to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2xehSjrzVs

It was announced yesterday that this tour and album will be their farewell - given their age (Billy is 76 and bounced back from cancer), I imagine this will probably be it outside of the occasional one-off.

Signed test pressings of the new album just dropped. It’s much better than Alphabetland

!!

Fat Possum surprise sold them online. All 500 were gone in less than an hour. It includes QR codes and some other goodies

I really liked Alphabetland

There's a video for the first single, "Big Black X." It's not bad. Overtly nostalgic, but that's their audience. Reminds me of "The Have Nots" from Under the Big Black Sun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKIl7EonN-k

I kind of want a signed album (like Los Angeles). Do they usually sell those at shows?

xp I really liked it too!

What a great band. I still regularly get chills when John and Exene’s harmonies collide. I’ll pick this album up for sure, sad I have a conflict that will force me to miss their last gig locally.

Great band & yes to the harmonies and Billy ‘s guitar but yeah that first single is a bit nostalgic and formulaic

exene sounds weirdly like debbie harry on the single

My thought too!

Congrats of finding this thread. Takes talent

Searching for "X" on anything is a tremendous pain in the ass. I usually have to do "X the Band" (which is what they use for social media accounts), but here I just searched "X" and looked for the topic that fell under 'I Love Music.'

(should add, I then picked the only one that was capitalized)

alphabetland was enjoyable. given i think it’s easier for them to do harm than good, i appreciate the decent output

Saw them last tonight Mpls and they were great, despite the venue which always sounds weird to me, mix was all over the place, everything needed to louder and quieter at the same time.

Highlight was a John and Exene acoustic duet on "See How We Are", I know the band (or Billy at the very least) is done after this tour, but I would pay whatever amount of money to see two of them just singing together. Last night it made me think of Alan and Mimi from Low, these two voices that were just made to be together, we are lucky to have them.

Picked up an early copy of the new record and it might be even better than Alphabetland, which I love

I’m very impressed at how good _smoke and fire_ is at la and wild gift era songwriting and delivery.

song wise, what i think of as the side 2 of this lp is very very good. I can imagine bringing the vox forward even a little more at moments? but to me as a LA and WG lover, i think this is great.

oh shit it's out?!?

Yup, released today.

Yeah, it's a more than solid farewell. 10 tracks in 29 minutes. On a purely sonic level it sounds more like Under the Big Black Sun than the first two, which is fine by me.

did not expect X and Redd Kross to have two of 2024's best albums, it's LA 1982 all over again

I am seeing them 8/30 in den. so stoked to see them. so now my last recent shows as of then are x, blondie, psych furs (who were v v good), spoon (who were great tho brief imo). squeeze and weezer were in there as other acts in there but who idngaf about. actually i like both ok but would not pay to see.

still i am def that guy tryna catch bands cheap not sucking before they die.

I was kinda underwhelmed on first listen by the new album. The John and Exene vocals & harmonies and the sound of Billy's guitar are great, but it feels like they are just using them in way that imitates what they have done in the past.

Maybe listen a second time? Or more?

Will give it a shot .

I mean I don't really X expect to change up their style at this point

yeah i almost posted earlier that expecting novelty here will be fruitless, but like i said before the poetry is effective in its prev defined early style, and it sounds quite good.

Very encouraging---but I shouldn't jump in and be Cap'n Save-an-X, when I haven't even listened yet. I expect it to be a tight performance, at least, as much as they've kept touring all these years.

Apparently these are all-new songs, unlike the previous one which finished or revisited decades-old material (which made that one feel like a final album at the time, like they didn't want to leave any unfinished business). I honestly did not expect any good albums at this point in their career and approached these last two with skepticism, but I like them both. A pretty good way of going out.

ok this is really good, better than Alphabetland I think!

i didnt know alphabetland was deeper legacy stuff. i’m just relieved exene’s contributions aren’t q anon bs. this is obv a v shorthand description of what it seems like she has said— and unfair in the way shorthanding always is.

but as i said to a v pure friend “eh sometimes u get the lyrical poet genius u get.”

"Face In The Moon" is especially great, fate has truly blessed us with this inexplicable return to form

I think the highs on Alphabetland are higher(title track, "Water & Wine, "Free") but the new one is just so solid straight through and both are well served by their relatively short run times, both I want to play right away as soon as they end

yeah they really get in and get out in a good way

i’m just relieved exene’s contributions aren’t q anon bs. this is obv a v shorthand description of what it seems like she has said— and unfair in the way shorthanding always is.things

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC-d-6v7iCs

Saw em last night, they played really really well. long fast barrage of classics for an hour. If stool-seated zoom wasn’t xtra dynamic and granma exene was mid+ energy, doe and dj made up for it and the music was fire. getting dj on vibes and zoom on his sax for a song late in show ruled. encore included duo doe exene acoustic “see how we are,” not a core fave of mine but super effective.

Good. Sounds like a show I saw from them a few years back

I saw them in 2010 and thought they were one of the youngest sounding reunion acts I’d seen.

FWIW, opening acts announced.

If I ever do one of those rock and roll cruises, this one might be it. X, Flamin' Groovies, Bash and Pop, Steve Wynn, ...

https://www.undergroundgaragecruise.com/

The Baseball Project too? That's Peter Buck and Mike Mills (with Scott McCaughey, Steve Wynn and Linda Pitmon). With Tommy Stinson, X et al...very, very tempting. 90% sold out too.

I've never done a cruise, but I was recently on a boat (like a really big tour boat) out in Alaska for the first time ever - I would suggest bringing and taking some Dramamine. Those who didn't clearly didn't enjoy the boat ride I was on.

Also noticed Mark Lindsay on the bill. Is this the Paul Revere and the Raiders Lindsay? (people you thought were dead ...)

I think so! (No surprise if Steve Van Zandt did indeed curate this.) Paul Revere of the Raiders died ten years ago so that may be why people think Mark's dead.

90% sold out too

30-plus bands! i assume the musicians themselves take up 90% of the rooms on the boat.

XP Mark Lindsay has a show on the Underground Garage SiriusXM channel.

X was amazing at Town Hall last night, even better than when I saw them in July 2022 with the Psychedelic Furs, and they were flat out awesome at that show. It probably helps that they were the headlining act this time around and played a longer set.

The title track of See How We Are was a wonderful surprise. I didn't think they'd play anything from that album since Billy wasn't on it, but an acoustic duet between John and Exene was a nice way of including it, a beautiful arrangement for the song. John prefaced it by saying "this goes all to all the folkies who played here," and of course one of Bob Dylan's greatest shows was at Town Hall on April 12, 1963, and I'm sure he was aware of that. Earlier in the main set, he said this might've been the nicest venue they've ever played, but that probably has more to do with the very dignified look of Town Hall, which outside of the auditorium could pass for a government building from colonial times.

Afterwards Billy went into the orchestra aisle and met a long line of fans, making a point to shake everyone's hands. A real class act, even when joking around like pretending to sniff someone's marker, he carries himself like a soft-spoken gentleman with a very relaxed and polite demeanor.

The show ended a little after 11 p.m. We never met the rest of the band before and since this might've been the only practical chance to do so, we walked a few blocks to Joe's Pizza on Broadway (which is open until 3 a.m.) then came back around midnight when the crowd had finally thinned out and the crew was loading out. It may have been late, but when you're in Times Square, it really doesn't feel that way at all. More than any other neighborhood, it earns the city's nickname "the city that never sleeps."

Eventually Exene stepped out, looking for their ride, and she seemed genuinely surprised to see a modest group of fans still waiting. She was very sweet to everyone, and eventually John came out, rolling his luggage and looking ready to go. He also looked surprised and (jokingly) told everyone "you don't have something better to do?" before taking the time to pose for photos, sign stuff and say hi to the fans. He was extremely nice, and after a while Exene did tell everyone, "okay, he really has to leave!" Before he left, Exene said goodbye to him and gave him a really long hug. Bear in mind, the tour picks up in two weeks anyway, which kind of made the moment all the more heartwarming. Not that there was any doubt, but it just showed how close they still are after all these years.

Later Billy came out and again was very sweet to everyone and then DJ came out last and he was extremely nice too. It finally occurred to me to ask someone about Ain't Love Grand! because a fan on social media asked if they would consider remixing it. Turns out they did have that idea a long time ago, but the multitracks couldn't be located. So I asked DJ if the band considered re-recording it since they couldn't remix it, and it sounded like he already suggested that himself but the others weren't up for it. I don't get the impression that was going to change either, but at least he tried.

It's not really the end as they will continue to do shows on the West Coast where they generally reside, and they've already booked a bunch of Christmas shows all through December (from Salem, OR to Tacoma, WA then Petaluma, Fresno, Berkeley, Sacramento, Bakersfield and Santa Ana in CA).

Yeah, when I saw them over the summer, Exene said "we'll be back!" It sounded like a sort of soft farewell, maybe no more long tours but definitely not the end-end. Kind of remarkable that these four are even standing up there together. Or, in Billy case's, close enough.

I asked DJ if the band considered re-recording it since they couldn't remix it, and it sounded like he already suggested that himself but the others weren't up for it. I don't get the impression that was going to change either, but at least he tried.

thank u for yr service <3

i liked the town hall show quite a bit, too, and yeah "see how we are" was a highlight, as was the version of "come back to me" that immediately followed, with dj on vibes and billy adding a little saxophone. i also liked that they played three or four songs from the new album, which is not the kind of thing bands doing farewell tours 45 years down the road are generally prone to do. i don't imagine smoke & fiction is an album i'll come back to very often, but the songs fit right in with the rest of the set and i appreciate that making new music and poetry and art still matters so much to them after all these years.

it's obvious, and beautiful, how much john and exene still love singing with each other. i love their forever bond.