Recorded in late 1987 at a hometown venue, Live At The Whiskey A Go-Go On The Fabulous Sunset Strip finds X with a new guitar player in Tony Gilkyson, a bigger live sound, and an undiminished fire in thier hearts. After the disappointing Ain't Love Grand album and the subsequent return to form album See How We Are, X hit the road with a somewhat new sound to go along with thier somewhat eclectic punk rock brew, and the resulting tour and shows were nothing short of what had become expected of this band. Which is to say outstanding.
Covering everything from Los Angeles to thier very latest, the album kicks off with a blistering version of that track and never let's up. New guitarist Tony Gilkyson gives the band a thick, twangy edge that wasn't present before, and the band sounds as polished and accomplished as any band you can name. Three songs are included from the dismal Ain't Love Grand album, and even these songs come to full life in a live setting. Many X standards are included as well, and the band performs them with a fury and passion most bands could only hope to shoot for. Musicianship is top notch here, as this band is not your average rant and rave punk band, and the whole show sounds uniform and consistent. Also of interest are the acoustic/folk numbers Skin Deep Town and So Long, where X let their hair down and let their folk music roots show. Which adds a nice change up toward albums end.
A great live album by any standard and a glimpse at one of rocks great bands in a slightly different mode then before, X: Live At The Whiskey is a big, bold, rock n roll record. And it is worthy of inclusion in any live rock n roll album collection. Including yours.
