Legendary Los Angeles punk rock band X, its original 1977 lineup intact, plays Gateway City Arts in Holyoke on Saturday, May 25, at 8 p.m. Skating Polly opens.
The amped-up rockabilly rush of vocalist Exene Cervenka, vocalist/bassist John Doe, guitarist Billy Zoom and drummer DJ Bonebrake remains mighty, and their recent setlists show the band focusing on their first four albums from the early-‘80s.
X was one of the bands featured in the cult classic 1982 underground live concert film “Urgh: A Music War,” and their song in the movie, “Beyond and Back,” has been opening most of their shows. Built on a swinging train rhythm from Bonebrake and a timeless rock-and-roll riff from smiling guitarist Zoom, Exene wails with John Doe latching on to some lines for harmonizing: “Now it’s five to twelve / shut up and smoke / and I’ll go somewhere else.”
The band (which in January recorded its first new songs together since the mid-‘80s, possibly for release later this year) is still passionate about playing for crowds, which is good news for longtime fans or curious newcomers alike, especially if they want to hear the early stuff.
Recent shows have included “The World’s a Mess; It’s In My Kiss,” “We’re Desperate,” “Your Phone’s Off the Hook, But You’re Not,” “The New World” (“Honest to goodness / the tears have been falling / all over this country’s face / it was better before / before they voted for what’s-his-name”), “I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts,” the bruising swing of “The Hungry Wolf,” the pounding “Nausea,” and their covers of Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Breathless” and The Doors’ “Soul Kitchen.”
Guitarist Johnny A brings his “Just Me … and My Guitars: A Celebration of the British Song Book” show to Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield on Friday, May 24, at 6:30 p.m.
Your Diary, Tiffy and Tuft (left) make up the Boston pop-punk triple-bill at the Root Cellar in Greenfield on Friday, May, 24, at 8 p.m.
Mark Sherry’s Valley Music Showcase continues its fourth season of local-ish bands battling for prizes. This time out features Amber Belle and the Bottoms (Northampton folk), Quincy (North Adams blues/rock/folk), Snack Pack (Northampton cosmic hippie rock and swingin’ roots country), Among the Acres (Americana from Hartford, CT), and Bad Tenants (Northampton pop/soul). Who will win and have the chance to return to battle again for the grand prize? Find out at New City Brewery in Easthampton on Friday, May 24, at 8 p.m. All this plus a special guest appearance by Peter J. Newland and RadioX, who will begin and end the night.
Ray Mason, his great original pop songs, and his trusty Silvertone electric guitar return to Bread Euphoria in Haydenville on Saturday, May 25, at 6 p.m.
Danny Klein, bassist of the J. Geils Band, brings his “Full House: Celebrating the Music of J. Geils Band” show to the Iron Horse in Northampton on Saturday, May 25, at 7 p.m.
Detroit hip hop group Slum Village (left) appears at Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center on Saturday, May 25,
at 8 p.m.
Folk-rock singer/songwriter Jonatha Brooke (bottom left) returns to the Iron Horse on Sunday, May 26, at 7 p.m.
Tenor saxophonist Houston Person (right) plays two full sets with the Green Street Trio at this week’s Northampton Jazz Workshop at City Sports Grille inside Spare Time Northampton on Tuesday, May 28, at 7:30 and 9 p.m. (The usual open jazz jam will not be happening, but returns next week.)
Australian bassist/singer/songwriter Tal Wilkenfeld (Jeff Beck, Prince, Eric Clapton, Herbie Hancock, Mick Jagger and more) plays Gateway City Arts on Wednesday, May 29, at 8 p.m.
Genesis had its share of pop hits — and you’ll hear none of them at the show by Montreal-based Genesis tribute band The Musical Box, which focuses on the band’s most progressive early work, with accompanying old-school spectacle. They play the Calvin Theater in Northampton on Thursday, May 30, at 8 p.m.
Mica (local folky pop), Lunch (Philadelphia pop-punk), Glambat (Connecticut indie-rock) and Bobbie (local solo pop) team up at Flywheel in Easthampton on Thursday, May 30, at 8 p.m.
Ken Maiuri can be reached at tunedincolumn@gmail.com.