NXNE - X

A live show from OG L.A. punks X is a rare sight, so it's no wonder they were greeted by a more than enthusiastic crowd. The band, whose members are well into their 50s, were in top form, displaying the virtuosity that set them apart from their contemporaries. Concerned about the short amount of time the quartet had (they were only allotted a 50-minute set), singer-bass player John Doe played band leader as the group blasted through classics like "True Love" and "Johnny Hit and Run Pauline." Singer Exene Cervenka, recently diagnosed with MS, was particularly magnetic on the big, distracting open-air stage. Guitarist Billy Zoom wore a shit-eating grin the entire set, and while he nailed each guitar lyric with panache, looked slightly distant. And X drummer DJ Bonebreaker was in particularly top form, putting most of the drummers at the fest who are half his age to shame.