Photo Credit: Ali SmithI don't know that I can do this in our semi-usual just two paragraphs! X, the band, is a page---as lifetime in itself. That Exene Cervenka emerged, as did John Doe, into the Alt. Country world from THAT band, is a remarkable bit of seeming sociological non sequitur. Punk becomes cowpunk becomes Americana. When X was kicking up the dust in LA, it was a breath of saturated air, tainted with the sweat of writhing bodies dancing in nihilistic abandon. For Exene, X's music was accompanied by side projects with The Knitters, Auntie Christ, and The Original Sinners - not to mention solo projects. She has published four books, starting in 1982 with Adulterers Anonymous in collaboration with Lydia Lunch. There have been appearances in movies, poetry readings; and her journals, and mixed media collages became a one woman exhibition. More recently, Exene Cervenka and Modi Frank have released their short western film from the 80's, Bad Day, as a digital download. Some people just can't help it. The creativity oozes out of their pores, colors their aura. And so it is with Exene.
She floated into the Music Fog studio at the Sheraton. She brought with her the angels: Cindy Wasserman of Dead Rock West, and Cheryl Lyndsey from The Breeders. They resonated to the heavens. Exene's first solo CD since 1991 is Somewhere Gone. She came to Americana Fest to celebrate that, and sit on a very cool panel which explored the punk roots of now Americana artists, which also included Peter Case of The Plimsouls, Jon Langford of The Mekons, Sid Griffin from the Long Ryders, and Handsome Warner Hodges who brought the punk to punk-country with Jason and the Scorchers. Interesting watching the morphing, that's for sure! And wonderful to have her in front of the Music Fog cameras. We won't soon forget!
- Jessie Scott
