X

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no, that is all out of date, she is back in the realm of the sane now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