A TRL I Can Get Behind
It’s a sad fact that a lot of bands can’t even hold themselves together for a set longer than an hour. Of the many bands I’ve seen, only a few have been able to pull off anything over an hour and forty-five minutes. Some of those bands include Green Day, The Clientele, and of course, California punk legends, X.
The show was part of the “TRL National Tour.” The set list was comprised of fan-voted favorites like “Los Angeles” and “Burning House of Love.” X’s original line-up shredded through hits like “Johnny Hit & Run Pauline,” “Under The Big Black Sun,” “Los Angeles;” hell, pretty much all their classics. I couldn’t help but feel the exhuberance throughout the near two hour set. John Doe’s and D.J. Bonebrake’s energy was awe-inspiring. Billy Zoom, stood to the left of the stage, smiling, nodding and playing perfectly in tune. Exene even broke her usual seeming disinterest for the situation by occasionally bantering with the crowd.
Just before going into “The Have Nots,” John Doe made a comment about the song being responsible for too many DUIs and how he was happy to play it in New York, since the locals don’t drive. A fairly innebreated woman then screamed, “We’re New Yorkers! We don’t fucking drive, we take the train!” With a mix of disdain and a hint mischief, Exene looks the girl dead in the eye and said, “That’s what he just said. You people don’t drive.” She rolled her eyes and X played the song.
This was one of the most high energy show’s I’ve ever been to. There was a symbiosis between the band and the audience. The more excited the crowd became, the more enthused got and vice versa. The crowd, many of whom were well into their forties or older, were more lively than an audience at a grindcore show. There was one gentleman in particular who kept on moshing outside the pit. Despite the best efforts of those on the edge to keep him in, he still found his way into groups of perfectly psyched folks who just wanted to enjoy their beers or waters. Naturally, his flailing prevented such enjoyment. I could have sworn John Doe shook his head when the guy knocked my friend’s beer all over the girl to his right.
Other than that minor incident, the show was fantastic, absolutely fantastic. They’re playing at the World Cafe in Philadelphia on June 4 and making their way west. I highly recommend checking out one of the remaining shows on the tour (you can peep the show dates here).
Fair thee well,
Ian
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