By: Jen Paulson
The sign of a truly satisfying rock show is when you leave the venue exhausted, half-deaf, and soaked in sweat. It gives you perspective on how the other half lives. I went to the X concert at First Avenue on Tuesday night with about three months worth of knowledge of the legendary punk band's first two albums, Los Angeles and Wild Gift. And when they came out and the first song was "Your Phone's Off The Hook, But You're Not," I knew that I was in for one hell of a show.
The place was totally packed before the opening band, The Fags, even started their 30-plus minute set. I ended up standing on the floor, just feet away from Billy Zoom, who during the entire show made eyes at all the ladies and was generally sleazy in an absurdly charming way. I'd have to say that one of the highpoints of the show was just after "Jonny Hit and Run Paulene" when Dave Wolfe from the Vibrochamps explained to a friend of his standing nearby that Zoom, and how that specific song was the reason he wanted to play the guitar. (This isn't a direct quote. There is only so much that a person can pick up while dancing and eavesdropping at the same time.) But Wolfe has it right, he plays that sparkly Gretsch with extreme precision, keeping the same collected air about him as he played. Exene's eternally youthful spirit shown through in her babydoll dress, messy curls, and at times, her almost childlike stage presence. You close your eyes and you might has well have been at the Whiskey in 1981. I almost regret not standing next to John Doe, who is still nice and dreamy-old, while accompanying with his going-steady bass lines and his crooner's voice. He made the most conversation with the crowd, cracking some jokes and lamenting sympathetically about the temperature. The air conditioning at First Ave wasn't working so during the entire show I laid down my punk rock groove while sweat poured down my face and into my eyes. You'd think I'd have found it irritating, but it just added so much more to the experience. I was jammed into the corner and I could not see drummer D.J. Bonebrake, but he was definitely there. What would punk rock be without drums? I'd have to stand there without being able to tap my foot hard against the floor and I wouldn't be able to assault people accidentally with my flying hair.
This "review" is limited to me gushing, as usual. They played all the songs I wanted to hear, except "Adult Books" which I wanted to hear most. But this happens to me on a regular basis. I saw Yo La Tengo a month ago and they didn't play "Stockholm Syndrome." Whenever I see locals Friends Like These, they don't play "Whiskey Pie." But X played the rest of my favorites, like "White Girl," "We're Desperate," "The World's a Mess," "I'm Coming Over," their cover of The Doors' "Soul Kitchen," and another one of my superfavorites, 'The Once Over Twice." I couldn't have stored the whole two hour setlist in my brain if tried.
Basically, to summarize my feelings here through the magic of profanity, I'm so fucking glad that I got to see X in their beautiful, aging punk rock glory. It totally killed me.
Location Info:
First Avenue
Artist Info: X
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