Audio-Visuals

X: LIVE IN LOS ANGELES
Directed by Amber Cordero
(Shout! Factory)
The significance of X in rock & roll history boils down mostly to its place in time. The L.A. quartet was one of the first American bands after the Ramones to take punk rock into the 80s, adding a social conscience without crossing over into generic hardcore. One could also argue that the quartet was the first band to apply a genuine American aesthetic to punk through its dedication to rockabilly and American roots music. Stars in Los Angeles, the band never quite found the huge success outside its hometown its proponents predicted. None of this has much to do with the quality of the music itself, of course. Mass popularity and talent don't always go hand-in-hand, and on the latter front X has proven itself worthy of more than a footnote in the books. But those unfamiliar with the roots of American punk rock and/or the pre-flash metal L.A. scene may not think of the release of X: Live in Los Angeles as any big deal. And that's too bad, because this DVD is an excellent X primer.

Performing what's essentially a 25th anniversary show, the band romps through 21 tunes drawn almost entirely from its first four albums, an era (1980-1984) when it was at its peak. X is a bit slicker now than it was back then—how could it not be after 25 years?—but the fire and frenzy are still there. John Doe pounds away at his bass, soulfully bawling his tales of back alley lovers and low rent criminality, while songwriting partner Exene Cervenka provides caterwauling counterpoint and a hard luck cynicism. A seemingly bemused Billy Zoom calmly tears rippling punkabilly and amphetaminized blues licks from his snazzy Gretsch Silverjet, mugging for the camera in between riffs. Drummer D.J. Bonebrake ensures that the energy never flags and the songs never veer off course. An audience consisting mostly of 30- and 40-somethings consistently lets the band know how much it loves hearing hits like "Johnny Hit and Run Paulene," "Beyond & Back" and "Los Angeles," while giving equal adoration to less infamous tunes like "Blue Spark," "True Love" and the B-side "Your Phone's Off the Hook, But You're Not." X may not have the wild abandon it once possessed, but it can still whip up a surfeit of passion and provide a strong performance. X: Live in Los Angeles is aimed at X fanatics, but neophytes and the curious would do just as well to check it out. Michael Toland [buy it]