Walking out of the Double Door last month, the gent leaving behind me told the guy at the door, "That was worth the price of admission!" He was emphatic and maybe a little surprised. What I was not ready for on a Tuesday night in December was the size of the crowd, or better yet, the severe lack of it. Good money says there weren’t 250 people in attendance, if even 200! IN CHICAGO!?!?! But that is par for the course. If you thought the Double Door was going to be overflowing with people packed in like sardines in a can you were very wrong. It’s nearly criminally how under-rated King's X is these days.
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King’s X
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 Entertainment
 Art
Double Door
Chicago, IL
December 9, 2008
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They're old. They don't play a brand of music that is going to make for super huge radio hits. They're pushing 60 old! But surely in a city of almost 3 million people, a thousand have to be a fan of this band and willing to come out and see them play for $20, right? I digress.
King’s X for those who aren’t familiar with them, are an American band that formed in the early 80’s. They are known for their unique way of fusing musical styles of Grunge, metal, with funk and soul. The vocals are equally unique with influences of the blues, gospel with the sound of Brit bands like The Beatles.
Tonight the band played about 17 songs, opening with Groove Machine. They broke out a nice mix of tracks from the new album and songs from the late 80's/ early 90's like Lost in Germany, Black Flag, What is This?, Summerland, Over My Head and Dogman. The set was about half songs from the new album, "XV," of which bassist/ lead singer Doug Pinnick questioned aloud if they had even had 15 proper albums out. Often times a set about 50 percent new material would upset a crowd, especially those going back almost 30 years to the band's beginnings, but not this crowd. They were die-hards and they hung on every bass thump and lyric for the new material as well as the old. The new songs were the best of the night for the most part. “Pray,” “Rocket Ship,” “Move” and “Go Tell Somebody” were excellent additions to the classics that they knocked out.
A dated but crowd favorite, “Over My Head” for some reason has never appealed to me but it was great live and I'm now one of the converted! In fact King's X sound, at minimum, was ten times better live than they do on record. Which is pretty amazing considering they sound great recorded there as well. Pinnick's bass sound is thick and tremendous; some experts think it may be the best they've ever heard on a recording. Ty Tabor's guitar work and sound is borderline legendary and Jerry Gaskill pounds away on the skins while looking as if he's stroking out. This band defines power trio, as they pull the sound of a four or five piece band out of three old dudes.
The band tonight was tight, the vibe was good, the songs were obviously legit....if only the people would show up in groves to support this band they're ignoring and missing out. You're cheating yourselves people- go check them out on album or a concert venue near you.
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Correct in every detail
Written by Guest on 2008-12-31 13:48:34
I'm an Indiana fan who has had to drive miles and miles to see King's X and I've never been disappointed. I most recently saw them at the House of Blues, Chicago, opening for Extreme. I would have been there at the Double Door had it not been for weather that made the trip inadvisable. King's X is, in my opinion, the best live band in existence today. I fear constantly that the poor turnouts will cause them to stop touring. I don't know what it will take to get the message out, but I was happy to have read this article. Perhaps next time (if there is one) they'll get better attendance. Thanks for helping get the word out! |
Has-beens should be opening for legends.
Written by Guest on 2009-01-19 23:03:41
Extreme should be opening for King's X. It makes me want to riot when it comes to how unbelievable impossibly ridiculously underrated and unknown this seminal trio is. I have seen them 4 times and they are truly 'higher than god'. Doug is 60 and is mind-blowing with his charisma, vigor, and uber-presence. He is a bad-ass's bad-ass to end all bad-asses. |
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