X
There aren’t many bands that can claim to have been around for 41 years, even less with all original members. John Doe, Exene Cervenka, Bill Zoom, and DJ Bonebrake are X, and they’ve been tearing up stages this summer with The Psychedelic Furs.
Thursday night found them at the SOMO Village Events Center, an odd location in Rohnert Park that resembles a courtyard in the middle of an office park. Coming from the local Sonoma Country towns, the fans seemed to know the drill and showed up early to settle into the low-key yet comfortable venue for an evening of music. With the temperature dropping as the sun set, the fire pit became an especially popular spot to view the action.
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X finally strolled on stage at 7PM in front of fans eager for the show to start. Launching right into to “Beyond & Back” got the crowd bouncing and singing but nowhere near moshing … the crowd appeared old enough to have enjoyed X during their early years and clearly saw no need to stir things up when there was music to be enjoyed.
In spite of not having released a studio album in 25 years, X’s music is timeless and those trademark Doe/Cervenka harmonies frankly can’t be beat. Zoom has since traded his signature wide stance for a stool but remains all smiles as he interacts with the front row while DJ locks it in and pounds it out behind the kit. This is a band that is tight from touring and still playing at the top of their game … X simply doesn’t know how to phone in a performance.
Mid-set, X mixed things up, bringing out Craig Packham of the Palominos to fill in on drums so Bonebrake and Zoom could take up the vibes and saxophone, respectively, for “Come Back to Me” and “The Unheard Music.” Lulled by the vibes, the crowd was shocked awake when Doe quipped, “It’s not dark enough out here!” before launching into a powerfully raucous version of “The Hungry Wolf” that teed up the remainder of the set which pulled mostly from Los Angeles, the band’s 1980 full length debut.
An hour set by X no doubt more than just covers the bases, but always leaves the diehards wanting more.
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SETLIST
Beyond and Back
In This House That I Call Home
Because I Do
Sugarlight
Breathless
White Girl
Year 1
True Love
Come Back to Me
The Unheard Music
The Hungry Wolf
The World’s a Mess, It’s in My Kiss
Los Angeles
Your Phone’s Off the Hook, But You’re Not
Nausea
Johnny Hit and Run Paulene
Motel Room in My Bed
Soul Kitchen (The Doors cover)
