X

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.