X live @ The Wilbur, Boston, MA [09-23-24]

In Penelope Spheeris’ Decline of Western Civilization Part I, X are depicted as the gatekeepers or elder statesmen of LA 70s punk rock. It’s hard to say whether that label really stuck, but whatever the case, they never asked for it. One thing is for sure, X have been a machine always on the move for the past 40 years, and the creative juices of “leaders” John Doe and Exene Cervenka’s never stopped flowing. X’s influence in music over the past decades probably can’t be denied. They did bring something new to the table of old LA punk, with their more poetic lyrics and sophisticated sounding music. Is rockabilly considered fancier than the Germs? Were X what the adults in the scene would listen to?

X are a bucket list band for me, and according to them, this is everyone’s last chance to see them live. I had never seen a punk show at the Wilbur before and was fully expecting the seats and tables on the floor to be removed and allow for a standing room. Nope, the seats and tables remained and the older more seasoned crowd (the audience definitely looked it) politely sat through the PA music. Since the venue had no barricade, I was scouting the floor for where I could take good pictures and not bother the audience. The choices were slim and definitely something more adept to a professional photographer, not a novice like me. So, I politely introduced myself to the sound guy, showed him my photo pass, and lo and behold, he let me stand next to him for the duration of the set.

There go the lights! Billy Zoom came on stage, sat down, and played the rest of the band on. And the crowd roared, and some stood up, and when they looked around and realized no one else was following suite and remained seated, they proceeded to sit back down. Yes, this X show at the Wilbur would be a seated event. Like and opera! Still, a fight almost broke out next to me!

These might be older folks but performance-wise they’re still on the top of heir game. This last tour is a celebration of X’s career, so the setlist focused on songs from Los Angeles, Wild Gift, Under the Big Black Sun, Alphabetland, and of course, their great new album Smoke & Fiction. X’s music has always sounded deceptively simple, probably because it borrows so much from Americana, but you could tell on stage that these were complex songs. John Doe is a master basemen, Billy Zoom controls the guitar effortlessly with a perfect execution. Exene’s voice still has the live it had in the early records. They were professionals and took their craft seriously. The show was lively, energetic, and powerful.

All good things come to an end. And if X are to be believed, they are as well. With the average age of the band now in its 70s all signs point to the affirmative. It’s too bad seeing a band go that’s still a top of their game and making relevant music, but X has paid their dues. Even when they’re gone you’ll be able to feel like presence, like a large wooden X set ablaze.

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