Concert Review: X and Hatfield - Make the Music Go Bang!

And what about Billy Zoom? Ah, Bostonist was constantly charmed and amused by Billy’s understated antics. Standing motionless, feet spread wide, Zoom effortlessly ripped lightening fast riffs off his glittery guitar while mugging for the crowd. Billy struck pose after pose, as if the gig was an extended photo shoot directed by the audience. “Dude, raise the guitar up a bit and give us that trademark sh*t eating grin. That’s it! Now hold it. Now hit it!!” Zoom caught Bostonist pointing our camera in his direction several times and always broke out an extra goofy, exaggerated smile. Thanks Billy!

Getting on in age and holding the aforementioned (and expensive) camera, Bostonist was a bit concerned that we had positioned ourselves right up against the stage in mosh pit ground zero. But no problem. Except for sporadic pogoing, a true mosh pit did not develop until late in the show, when it was easy for Bostonist to step to out of harms way as the youngsters got to jumpin’ jumpin.’

For this Avalon show, X mostly stuck with material from their critically acclaimed first four albums, released in rapid succession between 1980 and 1983 (Los Angeles, Wild Gift, Under the Big Black Sun, and More Fun in the New World). Opening with the high energy rave up “Beyond and Back,” the band did not let the energy drop once as they ripped through crowd favorites “Hungry Wolf,” The Once Over Twice,” and “White Girl.” Then the place practically exploded as the opening chords to “Los Angeles” rang out. Pressing closer to the stage, the crowd continued to sing along as X dug into spirited renditions of “In this House that I Call Home,” and “We’re Desperate.” No one in the audience, which included a well balanced mix of twenty somethings, thirtyish hipsters, and oldster fans in their forties, had time or inclination to reflect on the irony of a couple of well off fifty year olds singing:

every other week we need a new address
Landlord, landlord, landlord pick up the mess
My whole fucking life is a wreck
We’re desperate. Get used to it.

X performed two encores, the first of which included the title track from More Fun in the New World. That song, as covered by Pearl Jam and Tim Robbins, became an anthem of sorts during last year’s Vote for Change concert tour. X always sang from a populist or working class perspective, tuned into the trials and joys of the down-and-out. Yet 1983’s New World album upped the ante on the band’s political commentary. Bostonist’s only disappointment Saturday was the band’s failure to sing that album’s standout track “I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts.” Bostonist thinks some of the band’s fans might find new meaning in that song’s Reagan-Bush era lyrics:

I’m guilty of murder of innocent men
innocent women, innocent children
thousands of ‘em
my planes, my guns, my money, my soldiers
my blood on my hands
it’s all my fault
I must not think bad thoughts

X polished of the second encore with their rousing cover of “Breathless.” Which left Bostonist, uh, breathless.

To Bostonist’s delight, hometown darling Juliana Hatfieldopened the show. The former Blake Baby performed material from her new album Made in China. Which is a very strong work, perhaps her best since 1992’s Hey Babe. Juliana’s new songs are raw and confessional, but relatively hard rocking. And hook laden. And lots of fun. Bostonist recommends that you check out Julian’s recent output. And read Bostonist’s review of her show this August at the Paradise. Oh, and in case you lost track of Juliana after Only Everything, here’s a great review of her mid-late 1990s work from the Boston Phoenix.

Late in X’s set, Juliana returned to join the band on a couple numbers.

Even though X failed to play “Make the Music Go Bang,” they made a helluva joyful racket on Saturday.

This post contributed by Matthew Durutti. More photos in this set available here