When X dropped their final studio album Smoke & Fiction this past August, I was immediately enthralled by the band’s ode to their original sound that had skyrocketed them to popularity in the early ‘80s LA Punk scene. Smoke & Fiction serves as a summary of X’s four decade career, and the mingling of Exene Cervenka and John Doe’s vocals in combination with lively guitar and drum performances from Billy Zoom and D.J. Bonebrake brings an air of excitement to the listener.
I was lucky to attend their performance at The Majestic on October 22, and the energy of the audience was electric. Opening for X was country artist Jimbo Mathus, who hosted an incredible honky-tonk performance incorporating a variety of less commonly used instruments, such as the double bass and harmonica. Mathus’ performance set off a vibrant tone that would last into the rest of the night.
Once X came on stage, the crowd gathered closer, eager to receive the best live listening experience possible. X delivered on this promise and the audience—filled mostly with mildly intoxicated, middle-aged ex-punks—couldn’t help but smile and dance throughout the concert. I ended up chatting with several women during the performance and noticed how kind and welcoming the attendees were, which added to the already amazing experience.
Cervenka and the rest of her band performed many songs off Smoke & Fiction, including numbers like “Struggle” and title hit “Smoke & Fiction,” as well as classics such as “Los Angeles” and “In This House That I Call Home” from their earlier albums. The lyrics in each song reflect the natural progression of human emotion and the importance of self-expression. As most punk bands do, X tends to focus on the darker side of life, singing about topics ranging from mental health problems to feeling stuck within one’s own environment. The moody lighting of The Granada stage paired with the lyrics quite nicely, and if I were to describe the night in one word, it would be: captivating.
After each new song, the crowd became more amplified. With fast-paced guitar riffs and wailing vocals, X delivered a sound that was powerful and defiant. Simplicity and rawness are defining features of the punk genre, and X executed this perfectly through gritty quality and their ability to stir up an audience. Smoke & Fiction references nostalgia and aging often, which is something that many audience members, myself included, could relate to on a personal level. These subjects also allude to the fact that the band is retiring after several decades.
X’s open expression of rather taboo themes is what makes them so prominent within the industry, and one of the many reasons why I am such a fan of their music. Other audience members held the same sentiment, connecting each of us in an amazing way. The band’s aptitude for bringing people from all backgrounds together through a celebration of rebellion, social change, and sentiment was magical and, following the end of the concert, left me feeling strangely blissful. X was a truly wonderful experience—one that left the crowd reminiscing about the good old days.
