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We're Having Much More Fun
Posted at 11:52 AM on March 23, 2008
by Bill DeVille
(8 Comments)
Went to the X show last night at the Cabooze. It ended up being the perfect tonic to cure this endless winter...though it's rumored to be spring.
It's amazing to me this band is still around and sound just as vital as when they started out as part of that famed LA punk scene of the late 70's & 80's. They survived John & Exene's divorce & the fact that they never had a hit. Never mind the fact they haven't recorded new material since 1993. This is a band that seems to relish its place in music history as pioneers of their own unique blend of punk rock & American roots music.
What was so cool last night is the fact that band has no new material to promote yet they passionately played a ninety minute set & seemed to simply have fun doing it. Guitarist Billy Zoom (still sporting the blonde pompadour) did his typical mugging it up for the crowd routine while DJ Bonebrake wildly worked the drum kit. Though divorced, Exene & John vocals were tight as ever. X reeled off most of best stuff including: "White Girl," "We're Desperate," "We're Having Much More Fun," & "Hungry Wolf." The best moment was the 1983 Reagonomics anthem, "New World," featuring Zoom's finest Chuck Berry licks.
X seems to be playing for the love & the fun of it. It showed! John Doe promised, "we'll see you again soon." I sure hope so!
Comments (8)
I was there too, and you know what they said, some of it was true. Los angeles Calling.
Spot on bill. I got to the Cabooze about 10:30, just in time to hear the last few songs of the warmup band from australia. The place was packed. I have seen a lot of shows there, and it feels like home away from home to me, and you don't have to pay to park. God Johnson plays every wed, an Donna Jean and the Tricksters will be there soon. A band made up of Big Wu, Space heaters, and God Johnson warming up if you like Dead music. Any how. I always knew X was a great band, but never listened to them much in the 80's. I had one record on a tape somewhere. I listened to the Dead Kennedy's a lot more. I had missed Bob Mould at first Ave recently. So I went. They did put on a great show, Billy Zoom looked around at every one and smiled the whole time, and exene and John Doe belted out the vocals, and DJ bonebreak hammered on the drums, and the crowd in the front danced, and there was a guy with a 12" mohawk. A great time was had by all.
To sum that up. cabooze.com has info on Donna Jean and the Tricksters show fri 4-4-08.
I just listened to Sound Opinions, from NPR chicago. They went to SXSW last week and listened to a lot of "punk" bands. Why reinvent the wheel.
X are legends, one of the first, one of the best, one of the most popular in California. They did not fit on the top 40 or AOR radio, or MTV of the time, and sort of got passed over by the mainstream. They rocked out last night, my ears were ringing as I walked out on the new falled snow. I got to see living legends of real punk rock. There are a lot of bands like Blink 182 walking around making millions, who have a fraction of the talent and energy of X. I have been converted by a live show. To see the whole band was especially great. I would go to see John Doe in a minute, but the whole band, at full volume, speed, and energy was awesome.
Yes, they were great. We saw them in 2006 and, at that time, Exene acted like she had the flu or was drunk or something. Last night, all four were hot.
I also saw them in 1984 and they were just as hot then...only slightly younger.
The club was much smaller than the Fineline, so there wasn't room for slamming, though we got into it a little.
The first warm up band was pretty good, but I wasn't impressed by the Aussie blokes.
My ears are still ringing bad. Just a little souvenir!
For X acolytes such as myself (terrible, I know!) what would is your recommendation for the best place to start in their catalog?
The best place to start is at the beginning, Mac. Los Angeles
Then go get yourself Wild Gift
or you could just get...Beyond & Back: The X Anthology
I would also add More Fun in the New World to that list. Maybe not quite as heavy/dark as the stuff that came before it. But that record is seriously fun! I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts!?
I knew I'd be kicking myself for not going to that show! I was this close, but let the winter blahs get the best of me.
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