Great post. Yes, those first four records were one of the great runs of all time. Saw the UTBS tour and they were scary good. I also must say that they were still pretty inspiring when I saw them last year in a sit-down theater!
Great appreciation of a great band (and really good people too) - thanks!
I have two brief remembrances of two different eras: saw X on the 1983 "More Fun" tour play one night in Seattle at an upscale supper club briefly used as a rock venue (Jack somebody's 'Music Hall'), and Exene wore a gorgeous velvet gown. Went up to Bellingham to see them again the next night, playing in a gymnasium (?) on the campus of Western Washington University, and Exene wore - literally - a potato sack! I loved the contrast. Both shows totally kicked my ass, they were GREAT.
Fast forward 12 years later to the Tony era and the "Unclogged" album - I set up an in-store performance at the Seattle record store I was then marketing director for, and got to spend some time hanging with the band. They were some of the nicest musicians I ever had the pleasure to work with in that job (not all my in-stores were sunshine & May pony rides). They played a generous set of music and gamely posed in the big X window display I had set up to promote the album & event. Saw their show later that night (at Moe, as I recall), and it too was great.
As are the new recordings they've done in the last few years - a class act on every count!
Excellent piece. I enjoyed reading it the first time through and have it readied for a second, more attentive read. While X has mostly lived on the periphery of my deeper fandom, rediscovering ‘Under The Big Black Sun’ many years back and an embracing of ‘Alphabet’ and an absolute love of ‘Smoke & Fiction’ have moved me closer to them. I am thankful for that. They play our town of Birmingham Alabama in a few weeks. ✌️
Terrific overview of one of my favorite bands. Was fortunate to interview John Doe and Dave Alvin last year and photograph an X show (bucket list item) as well as Alvin. Thanks for this!
Great post. Yes, those first four records were one of the great runs of all time. Saw the UTBS tour and they were scary good. I also must say that they were still pretty inspiring when I saw them last year in a sit-down theater!
Thanks for reading and commenting, Robert. They have always been, and remain, a damn good live band. Saw ‘em several times, and never disappointed!
Great appreciation of a great band (and really good people too) - thanks!
I have two brief remembrances of two different eras: saw X on the 1983 "More Fun" tour play one night in Seattle at an upscale supper club briefly used as a rock venue (Jack somebody's 'Music Hall'), and Exene wore a gorgeous velvet gown. Went up to Bellingham to see them again the next night, playing in a gymnasium (?) on the campus of Western Washington University, and Exene wore - literally - a potato sack! I loved the contrast. Both shows totally kicked my ass, they were GREAT.
Fast forward 12 years later to the Tony era and the "Unclogged" album - I set up an in-store performance at the Seattle record store I was then marketing director for, and got to spend some time hanging with the band. They were some of the nicest musicians I ever had the pleasure to work with in that job (not all my in-stores were sunshine & May pony rides). They played a generous set of music and gamely posed in the big X window display I had set up to promote the album & event. Saw their show later that night (at Moe, as I recall), and it too was great.
As are the new recordings they've done in the last few years - a class act on every count!
"Not all my in-stores were sunshine & May pony rides."
I'll bet. Can't wait for the movie!
Hi, Hugh
Thanks for reading and for sharing your great stories of the band. A great live band. I saw them several times and was never disappointed.
Just brilliant. Thank you for this.
Excellent piece. I enjoyed reading it the first time through and have it readied for a second, more attentive read. While X has mostly lived on the periphery of my deeper fandom, rediscovering ‘Under The Big Black Sun’ many years back and an embracing of ‘Alphabet’ and an absolute love of ‘Smoke & Fiction’ have moved me closer to them. I am thankful for that. They play our town of Birmingham Alabama in a few weeks. ✌️
Terrific overview of one of my favorite bands. Was fortunate to interview John Doe and Dave Alvin last year and photograph an X show (bucket list item) as well as Alvin. Thanks for this!