Vincent Matthew Franco
Social Media Editor
Aged punks in worn-out leather jackets, Pendleton flannels, along with the aroma of booze filled up the Glass House the night of April 7 in Pomona to catch one of Los Angeles’ most treasured bands, X. The paint from the Black Flag tags still decorated the bathroom walls from their show the night before.
Opening up the show was musician James Intveld, whose rock-a-billy music is synonymous with X’s whole aesthetic, from the sound to the way they dress. A demeanor reflecting actor James Dean, from the leather jacket to the tight white shirt with rolled-up short sleeves.
Singer Exene Cervenka, guitarist Billy Zoom, drummer D.J. Bonebrake and bassist John Doe hit the stage. Unlike some of their musical comrades from those early punk days, it is clear that they refuse to slow down. Playing a loaded set full of all the crowd favorites, some new songs off their 2020 record “ALPHABETLAND,” along with some newer unreleased tracks.
When X came crashing into the late 1970s punk scene, they were surrounded by dozens of other celebrated acts in Los Angeles. But none captured the true essence of the city’s underbelly in a beautifully poetic way as they did.
With a career spanning nearly 50 years, their show might have been only their second in town since their 1986 one at the infamous Pomona Valley Auditorium with opening act, the Red Hot Chili Peppers. A venue that left a mark in punk rock history due to shows with bands like The Ramones, The Descendants and Black Flag playing there throughout the 1980s.
While watching X, I can not help but think of how they have aged like fine wine. It can be a cliché to label them with that, but it is an undeniable truth. Their set was as electrifying as one could imagine for a band that has been around for as long as they have. With respect to their attitude, it is only right to replace wine with whiskey, a cheap one too.
Zoom still looks as fierce as ever sitting on his beer stool with his big red Epiphone hollow body and thick-rimmed sunglasses combination, shooting the crowd with a smirk every once and a while.
Cervenka floated to her mic in a dream like trance with her black notebook, filled with god knows what in it. Of course, there was Doe up there howling into his mic while Bonebrake held the backbeat, sporting the most expressive drum face in punk.
After giving the crowd what they wanted with classics like “House That I Call Home” or “We’re Desperate,” they debuted a new song titled “Sweet to the Better End.” Cervenka sang about drinking their potions while Zoom’s guitar kept cutting out. Playing it off, Cervenka simply said, “Obviously, we don’t know that song.”
It was here where Doe thanked the crowd, assured them they had only one more new song, then after that, “It’s all punk.” Having been familiar with the city of Pomona, he guaranteed them that he knew exactly where they were.
Even after saying all that, he rejected any requests shouted out by the crowd saying, “We’re gonna do what we want.” This was no problem as they went right into ‘sugar light,’ perfectly ending their set.
Of course, it was only a matter of time till the encore chants got them back onto the stage. Playing both “Soul Kitchen” and “Nausea” to officially end off the night.
Tripping over the words of “Nausea,” Cervenka may have had one too many potions herself. Bringing the lyrics “You’re talking out of harmony, you can’t remember what you said” from the song to life. In any other type of music, this might not be the ideal way to perform, but with punk, it feels just right.
Vincent Matthew Franco can be reached at vincent.franco@laverne.edu.
Vincent Matthew Franco is a senior journalism major with a concentration in print and online journalism. He has been involved in journalism and print media in high school, community college and is now at the social media editor of the Campus Times and a staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. He previously served as arts editor.
