Seminal Punk Group X Bring Farewell Tour to Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl Tonight, Oct. 25

Formed in 1977 in Los Angeles, seminal rockers X are lauded as one of the most important acts in the first wave of American punk, with their debut album, 1980’s Los Angeles, and legendary followup, 1981’s Wild Gift, frequently counted among the best records of all time. The later, in fact, was praised as album of the year by many influential outlets at the time of its release, despite X never breaking through to ubiquitous mainstream recognition (their influence, however, remains indisputable). Founded by vocalist/bassist John Doe and guitarist Billy Zoom, the band really found its voice when it added poet/vocalist Exene Cervenka, who married Doe in the early ’80s (the couple have since divorced), and solidified its original lineup with drummer D.J. Bonebrake. The foursome would go on to release several groundbreaking albums, rooted in punk but always harboring an affinity for rockabilly, country, folk, and roots music, which would transform their sound as time progressed (and would further inform offshoot project The Knitters). X saw the departure of Zoom and some rotating new members in the late ’80s and early ’90s, before effectively slowing down their output and entering on again off again periods of hiatus. Thankfully, for the past 15 years or so, X have gotten back to touring, once again joined by Zoom, and have been embraced for their legacy, especially for their early contributions to punk, while also crafting some new music in the form of 2020’s Alphabetland (their first album in 27 years, and first with the original lineup in 35) and recent ninth album Smoke & Fiction, which the X announced to be their final release.

After nearly 50 years together, and in honor both of their latest release (itself a deliberately reflective callback to the band’s early days) and their vibrant legacy, X have decided to say goodbye with one lengthy final tour, returning them to Nashville to headline Brooklyn Bowl tonight, Oct. 25 with Squirrel Nut Zippers’ Jimbo Mathus. One of the best, most important bands in history, and certainly one of the most criminally underrated, X’s genre-defying, poetic, unparalleled sound is something that deserves to be experienced live, and tickets are still available here for one last chance to do so in Music City.

X and Jimbo Mathus will perform tonight, Oct. 25 at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville. The show is 18+, begins at 8 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.), and tickets are available for $53.70.