X AND DEAD ROCK WEST AT THE RIDGEFIELD PLAYHO– USE – July 17, 2015

Photos & Review by Frank Piercy

The Ridgefield Playhouse
Ridgefield CT
July 17, 2015

Back in the 80s I had a friend who was big into the punk scene and one of the bands he introduced me to was a band called X. A bit different then a lot of the other bands he was listening to at the time. When I saw they were going to be playing The Ridgefield playhouse, I had to go and see them.

The Ridgefield Playhouse is a small venue in a small postcard type town here in Connecticut,a far cry from the venues I had been to in the past to see a punk show, it wasn’t smoke filled or crowded with sweaty bodies. Nice seats where you can drink the wine you purchased in the lobby while reading the program they hand you as you walk in. A nice place.

Opening for X this evening was another LA band, Dead Rock West. This was interesting. Dead Rock West is a duo that performs a folk, country rock and what feels like 50s or 60s rock. This duo which consists of Cindy Wasserman singing and Frank Lee Drennen on guitar and also singing. I didn’t know what to expect from this, but I have to admit that I liked it, and judging from the crowd there at the Playhouse that night, they definitely picked up a few new fans here in New England.

I will only admit to this once, I bought a CD of theirs at the show, an album of Everly Brothers covers. Hearing Cindy’s voice with a full band behind her is fantastic, complimented very well by Frank’s and his playing. I thought I was listening to something I missed a kid growing up to my fathers music, it brought back memories and a feeling nostalgia that was actually peaceful.

The reception they received from the crowd, makes me think they also felt it to.

It was now time to go back a few decades and see a band I had only read about or listened to records of. It was not easy being into the music I was and living in the midwest. I did not like country music and that was all over the place.

X took the stage, vocalist Exene Cervenka, vocalist/bassist John Doe, guitarist Billy Zoom wasnt with them this evening, due to a health issue (cancer sucks) there was a fill in guitarist, Jesse Dayton (who has played for Waylon Jennings and Supersuckers), and drummer DJ Bonebrake.

Exene’s voice was as haunting as I remembered it, you couldn’t tell it has been what 35, 40 years since the start of the band. They sounded great, you could hear history. Listening to X play and the crowd react and interact, kids (yes kids like 8 or 9 years old) dancing in the aisles, a crowd standing up and singing or dancing along to the music. A lot different then the days in the dark halls, with kids with 3 foot tall mohawks and safety pins in their ears.

I seem to be recommending a lot of bands these days, a lot of the bands I go to shoot and review I seem to be heading ya all to go and see. This is no different, X is THE punk band from LA, and a part of our music history.

Check out the photos below… and then go see them