Put away your Docs, Mr. Aging Gen X Rock Fan this almost certainly isnt the X that afforded you so many precious mosh-pit memories back in the day. That X featured the pitch-perfect wailing of John Doe and Exene Cervenka, the V-twin rockabilly guitar of Billy Zoom, and the punishing percussion of DJ Bonebreak. That X gave us Los Angeles, White Girl, The Hungry Wolf and countless underappreciated roots-punk classics. And this X? Well, this X is also an old punk rock band, but its from Australia. And like our X, it was formed all the way back in 1977. Weird, huh? Sort of like discovering a Rolling Stones from India whose lead singer also slept with David Bowie. What makes Aussie Xs current tour of the U.S. even weirder or, at least, commercially dubious is the fact that bassist and lead singer Ian Rilen passed away in 2006. So whats left? Well, guitarist Steve Lucas for sure, and a grungy, pissed-off sound that suggests a cross between Bleach-era Nirvana and Motorhead. Will that comfort the many traditional X enthusiasts who will undoubtedly go to the show without registering the from Aussie fine print? Probably not. Those aging Gen Xers are a cranky bunch.
Mon., May 31, 7 p.m., 2010