X: Stage 48, New York, NY (9/21/2017)

I've always liked X. I was first exposed to them in the late 80's via their appearance in Urgh! A Music War! I wasn't sure what to make of the cross-eyed harmonies of John and Exene. Over time, they made perfect sense. However, I'd missed the opportunity to see them as they broke up shortly after 1993's Hey Zeus. And the following reunions didn't see many, if any, visits to New York.

I have to say, it was completely worth the wait. The band was in completely top form. John Doe had far more energy that I expected him to have. Guitarist (and saxophone player, apparently) Billy Zoom, who is still recovering from a 2015 bladder cancer diagnosis, played guitar in a chair and played sax on a few songs standing up (the sax was bolted to a stand). He seemed virtually unaffected by anything and was giving it 100% all night. Drummer DJ Bonebrake came armed with a marimba which he played for a few songs. Vocalist Exene was in fine form as well. Making herself very available; chatting with the audience when she wasn't singing and signing autographs for whomever wanted one.

The songs. With the glaring omissions of "The New World" and "White Girl" (which were in the set virtually every night leading up to this night's show...sigh) the band played virtually every song I wanted to hear by them. The awesome singe "Blue Spark", the anthemic "Los Angeles", their debut single "Adult Books", the punky rockabilly of  "Beyond & Back" (from both Urgh! and The Decline Of Western Civilization), the brooding "Nausea", their cover of Jerry Lee Lewis' "Breathless" (from the forgotten Richard Gere film Breathless) and the classics "The World's A Mess It's In My Kiss", "Motel Room In My Bed" and "Johny Hit And Run Paulene".

The highlight of the evening was easily "The Hungry Wolf". It featured an extended section with a long drum solo in the center (think the Buzzcocks' "Moving Away from the Pulsebeat"). It seemed to somehow pick up momentum by the time it came back to the vocal part. Amazing. The band performed twenty-three songs in all and had the audience captivated for the entire set. John Doe even muttered something about putting on the disco ball during the retro slow-dance song "Come Back To Me", and withing seconds, his wish was granted. It was a special night and the band was on.

I was lucky to see X in such excellent form. I seriously hope they'll start touring regularly so I won't have to wait so long to see them again.

Social Distortion: Demo '81 7" EP (Bootleg/2011)

Social Distortion is one of few bands from the late 70's/early 80's Los Angeles punk scene that is still actively releasing new music and touring. Their debut album Mommy's Little Monster and their early compilation album Mainliner (Wreckage From The Past) are two of my favorite albums punk rock albums to come out of Los Angeles. Both of those are jam-packed with riff-driven emotionally-alive material. Lead singer and guitarist Mike Ness's sneering vocals have always resonated with me.

So it should come as no surprise that I really like this bootleg 7" EP artlessly titled Demo '81. It features material to later appear on early compilation albums Hell Comes To Your House  and Someone Got Their Head Kicked In. In fact, it's basically the recordings that later appeared legitimately on the Mainliner (Wreckage From The Past) compilation in 33 1/3 RPM on a seven-inch single. The sound quality is fairly good and I'd highly recommended fans of this band's early material so seek it out. My personal favorites are "Moral Threat", "All The Answers" and their blazing cover of The Rolling Stones' "Under My Thumb"(which later appeared as the B-Side to their "1945" single).

Here's The Video Review: