Four decades after the inception of X, one thing is clear: X was not only one of the most influential bands to crash out of the punk movement of the late ‘70s, but the band’s music continues to be sonically groundbreaking today. Songs written during the group’s inception are as relevant and inventive today as they were in 1977. The band’s early albums, Los Angeles (1980), produced by Ray Manzarek of the Doors, Wild Gift (1981), and Under the Big Black Sun (1982) explored dark love and an even darker L.A. with the unflinching eye of a Raymond Chandler novel. As they released each ensuing album, More Fun in theNew World (1983) and Ain’t Love Grand (1985), the band continued to grow sonically and politically, fearlessly mixing genres without ever losing its center. As each member went on to explore diverse careers—careers that included acting, art, writing, producing and multiple side projects. In 2020 they releaseed Alphabetland, their first album with the original line up since 1985’s Ain’t Love Grand.
Formed in 1979, The (English) Beat blended soul, reggae, pop and punk, creating infectious dance rhythms over three classic albums I Just Can’t Stop It, Wh’appen and Special Beat Service before the original line up disbanded. Consummate showman that he is, Dave Wakeling has continued to keep the beat alive and strong. Wakeling tours the world as The English Beat playing all the hits of The Beat, General Public and his new songs including “Tears Of a Clown,” “Mirror In The Bathroom” and “Tenderness.”
Save Ferris is a ska-punk band formed in Orange County, California circa 1995. Lead by the inimitable front-woman Monique Powell, the band enjoyed mainstream success in the late 1990s with radio hits, constant touring and appearances on a variety of television shows and movies. The band released their debut EP Introducing Save Ferris on Powell’s own Starpool Records, in 1996. The band released their debut full-length album for Epic in 1997. It Means Everything featured several re-recorded tracks from the EP, several new songs, a cover of Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ “Come on Eileen,” which the band released as their first official single, and what was to become their most successful single. After a thunderously successful main stage tour with the Vans Warped Tour, the band began writing their follow-up to It Means Everything, the appropriately-titled Modified. Released in October 1999, the album saw the band mix their ska-punk roots with pop-punk stylings. After almost fifteen years, Save Ferris made their long awaited return to the music scene in 2017. Following a successful PledgeMusic campaign, the band’s released a new EP – Checkered Past produced by Oingo Boingo bassist John Avila.