I became familiar with this band from Max’s articles at Powerpop and I wrote about one song from them recently – 4th of July (1987). I’m not sure how I came across today’s featured song Burning House of Love, but it was probably recommended by Max. Their live concert performance below at Farm Aid really does it for me. It’s just so raw, brash and quintessential hard 80’s rock. Sometimes it’s out of tune and just bizarre, but that’s what I like about it. If you want to hear them in the same concert hit the ball out of the park listen to ‘Breathless‘ which will also feature here.
Drive by my house late at night
You can see from the freeway above
No silhouette, but a light left on
Burning there for love
Smoke is rising from the fire
Coming out my back door
I’m inside, sound asleep
Cigarette on the floor
Burning there for love
You were the one who imagined it all
All those years ago
I just love Cervenka’s back – up voice in this live version. The original track doesn’t have that same input from Cervenka and I replaced that with this one. X – the band is an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles, but I don’t hear Punk here (apart from being out of tune and f&ckin weird), just brute 80’s rock’n roll. Burning House of Love, the first single from Ain’t Love Grand, was a minor hit on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart, where it peaked at #26.
X- Is still out and about in 2022. They achieved limited mainstream success but influenced various genres of music, including punk rock, Americana. In 2003, X’s first two studio albums, Los Angeles and Wild Gift, were ranked by Rolling Stone as being among the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Reference:
1. X (American Band) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I agree that the tinges of bizarre-ness make it interesting. The gyrating tiara made me smile!
Hey Bruce, I’m glad you found it interesting too. I didn’t notice the tiara haha
Bruce, check out Breathless at Farm Aid by X https://youtu.be/90T8sdfhpl8
Thank goodness she didn’t sing in the first video you posted. She’s the pits. Sorry. The guy was quite good in the first.
Umm what. She sang back-up Singer in the post and lead here. Didn’t you like breathless?
Ouch
Thanks Matt…I like this band. They play great music that is down to earth.
I love when each time they launch into, ‘Oh I can still remember…’ Also, there is some nice guitar here. Down to earth is a good description.
The Blasters and X come from the same tree so to speak… I can hear a little of The Band in them feeling wise.
Watching Blasters from same concert lol More old school rockabilly sound. Nice.
Bands like The Blasters and Replacements…it’s sad that they didn’t make it big in the 80s. They beat the hell out of a lot that did.
That Marie, Marie is a great song.
Yes!!!! I love that song. I also like Long White Cadillac about Hank Williams
They know their stuff. No nonsense. Great sound. Very professional.
Phillies in deep shite now
Yea…they aren’t doing well right now for sure…and it’s about to be worse. This series may go to 7 games.
How good is Breathless by X at Farm Aid?!!!
How good is this song! lol FM
bases loaded no outs..ouch