telligent, with verses that read 35th anniversary, ranges from more like poetry than punk arena concerts with Pearl Jam doggerel.” to an intimate show for 300 or Their edgy brand of protoso fans at the Sweetwater Music Americana was rich in counHall in Mill Valley. try-inflected harmonies and “I think the reason X worked, melodic vocals, unafraid to aside from documenting some explore the nation’s seamy unof the Los Angeles scene, was derbelly, and inviting comparithat we persevered,” Doe says. sons to film noir and the work “We were dedicated and had of Bowery bum-cum-Beat poet ambition and wrote songs Charles Bukowski. that writers like to write. We Over the years, and especialgot signed to Elektra Records ly in the solo works of singer/ because we had songs that songwriter Doe and ex-wife were poetic and that had some Cervenka, the band members accessibility. And we weren’t have continued to produce completely self-destructive as a intelligent underground rock, band—we were just personally spoken-word albums and altself-destructive.” country songs that never panIn recent years, X’s influence der to the audience and always has been felt in a new generarespect the maturing voice of tion of post-punk bands drawn the songwriters. to its music, as well as dozens In 1987, the band released of alt-country and insurgent its last album, See How We Are, country bands. Doe himself has with ex-Blasters guitarist Dave been associated with cowpunk Allen replacing Billy Zoom, and rockabilly bands, including and then released two more Dave Alvin and the BlastFrom top, ‘See How We Are,’ ‘Los ers (he co-wrote two of their studio albums with guitarist Tony Gilkyson replacing Alvin Angeles’ and ‘Wild Gift’ are the X best-known songs), and such albums that most often crop up on before disbanding in 1993. insurgent country acts as the Sagreatest-albums-of-all-time lists. During the past 15 years, dies and the X alt-country side X has reunited for occasional concert tours. project the Knitters. Last week, he performed, Their upcoming 50-city tour of the United along with fellow Marin residents Ramblin’ States and Europe, which marks the band’s Jack Elliott and Rob Wasserman, at an L.A.
in-store appearance at Amoeba Records to promote seven or eight songs on a CD that we sell at the few performances that we do together. She was onstage talking about some political thing, about how we had all felt that Ronald Reagan was going to be the end of the world and realizing now that that was such a naive time [in comparison to today]. If you project 15 or 20 years into the future, you realize that we’re going to think of this as being a very naive time. “And I’m thinking, holy crap, what’s that going to be like? “We’re definitely getting toward the top of the hill, where there are going to be even more serious crises. And you have to try to act responsibly and alleviate that. That’s one of the reasons I love living Coming Soon in this area. People do O O O O X-35 performs Wednesday, May try to eat better food and 9, at 9pm, at the Sweetwater THESE DAYS,DOE appears recycling isn’t requested, Music Hall, 19 Corte Madera to be comfortable in his own it’s mandatory—it’s part Ave., Mill Valley. The show is skin, able to express artfully of the price of living. After sold out. the sentiments of a middleall, in some parts of the aged family man and his recountry, people are acting sponsibility as a troubadour like it’s 1950 or something at a time when anarchy has gone mainstream and burying their heads in the sand. with the ongoing Occupy Wall Street protests. “I think our music should speak to everyThat’s no easy task. one as much or more than it ever did,” he says “Struggling with the fears of the present of X at 35. “There’s a universal feeling of angst day is more of a challenge now than it was and I feel really lucky that X still translates 10 or 15 years ago, just because the world that and can bring it to the stage. has ramped up its intensity,” he says. “I had “I’m totally fucking grateful for that.” < a thought the other day: Exene and I did an Identify yourself to Greg at gcahill51@gmail.com.
concert celebrating the 100th birthday of folk legend Woody Guthrie. “[The attraction to roots music] was part of the return to two-and-a-half-minute songs. The musical ethic of punk rock is no more five-minute solos, no more fucking jamming and may God not strike me down right here in Fairfax, no more Grateful Dead,” he says with hint of a laugh. “It was all part of the revolution, the return to the notion that rock ’n’ roll was dangerous, the return to rock ’n’ roll as freedom. It’s a return to the thrust that rock ’n’ roll is youth and short songs and maybe the lyrics are dumb, or maybe not, but it’s to the point. “Our heroes were Eddie Cochran and Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis because they did embrace that kind of rebellion.”
WE’RE TAKING A STRIKE AT STROKE. OUR PRIMARY STROKE CENTER IS THE ONLY PLACE IN MARIN THAT CAN TREAT ALL TYPES OF STROKE ON SITE.
May is National Stroke Awareness Month.
If you suspect you or a loved one is suffering a stroke, every minute counts. And you can count on the expertise of Marin General Hospital. While all stroke centers can treat common ischemic strokes (using venous tPA), we go beyond the basics. We have neurosurgeons and interventional neuroradiologists available 24/7 to treat hemorrhagic strokes and other more complex cases. Other hospitals have to transfer these patients for lifesaving treatment.
Our comprehensive program includes followup care; physical, speech, and occupational therapy; rehab; and medical management. Our exceptional care has earned us the American Stroke Association’s Gold Plus Award for 2011 and 2012. If you are experiencing stroke symptoms, call 911 immediately.
What’s more, we have a dedicated stroke team available to our Emergency Department 24/7, and a neurologist is always on call.
OUR HOME. OUR HEALTH. OUR HOSPITAL. APRIL 27 - MAY 3, 2012 PACIFIC SUN 15