FILED UNDER: Uncategorized,
Late Night OTB
About Dodd Harris
Dodd, who used to run a blog named
ipse dixit, is an attorney, a veteran of the United States Navy, and a fairly good poker player. He contributed over 650 pieces to OTB between May 2007 and September 2013. Follow him on Twitter
@Amuk3.
Thank goodness. I was beginning to wonder if anybody else even knew about X.
This is one of my favorite bands of all time. It’s strange that they used to call this “punk rock” but if you listen to them, it’s nothing but rock and roll. Hard core Rock and Roll. I’ve probably seen them 25 times, most recently last year here in Portland OR and they are better than ever. Nobody makes playing a guitar look so easy as Billie does. Combine that with the heart and soul of DJ on drums and John on bass. If you never seen them live, i recommend it highly especially in a nice cozy auditorium or club.
Well they were just great. They were part of the LA punk explosion, but in hindsight they weren’t that much like the others: Germs, Black Flag, etc. X had one foot in that scene, but another in the burgeoning cowpunk scene also featuring the Blasters, as well as incubating the mixed blessing that was Dwight Yoakum.
Off the top of my head they remind me a lot of the Velvet Underground: similar themes, similarly eclectic, hugely influential, yet idiosyncratic and hard to peg. Even their opposite approaches to roots music (the Velvets eschewed the blues when all the other bands were playing it, X was alone among punk bands in embracing country/roots) show both bands sailing against the prevailing winds.
Great, Great band. JD’s gone full-bore country now, fronting the Sadies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU74nIs_4Ag