X, Fireballs of Freedom, No Tomorrow Boys

[PUNK ROOTS, ROOTS PUNK] To celebrate its 13th anniversary, Dante’s went out and booked the greatest American rock band of the last 30 years. Sure, X hasn’t recorded any new music in two decades—which probably means it’s mostly been playing shows for the money since reuniting in the late ’90s—but the superlative stands. With Los Angeles, the group’s 1980 debut, L.A. punk finally had its definitive document, a record perfectly capturing the time and, crucially, the place in which it was made. From there, the blazing foursome went on to make three more flawless albums, and by the time of 1983’s More Fun in the New World, X had transcended both the City of Angels and punk itself to become the nation’s little band that could—or should have, at least. Although it’s coasted on cult legend for a while now, and some fresh material would actually be welcome, the fact is, the quartet hasn’t played a club this small since it was tearing up the Sunset Strip in the ’80s, and that makes this show simply unmissable—if you can get a ticket.

Where: Dante's
Phone: 226-6630
Address: 350 W Burnside St.
Website: www.danteslive.com