Thank you, Skank

I first heard who X was when I was 16 and someone burned me Punk-o-Rama VI (the best Punk-o-Rama compilation to date). The album contained a version of X’s song “We’re Desperate,” covered by Pennywise, and upon hearing it, I remember thinking, “This is the worst Pennywise song I’ve ever heard.” Some crusty-ass punk kid named Skank (I’m not kidding), who was sitting nearby, informed me that it was actually an X song and that X was, in fact, one of the longest-running and most-respected punk bands to come out of Los Angeles. I was a teenage punk wannabe at the time, and Skank had a leather jacket and neck tattoos. Holy shit, I wanted to be him so bad. So, I went out and bought an X album. It’s now 2009: I still love Punk-o-Rama VI; X is still touring after 30 years; and I think Skank hit rock bottom, became a born-again Christian and is now building homes for needy kids in the Philippines. Or he’s dead. I’m not sure. Tuesday, December 29, 8 p.m., $30. Harlow’s, 2708 J Street; www.xtheband.com.