King's X at Stage 48

Greg X. Volz of the Christian rock band Petra brought bassist Doug Pinnick of Joliet, Illinois, and drummer Jerry Gaskill of Bridgeton, New Jersey, to help him in a musical project in 1979 in Springfield, Missouri. The project never happened, but Pinnick and Gaskill continued working together as rhythm section for another Christian rocker, guitarist Phil Keaggy. Gaskill, Pinnick, and local guitarist Ty Tabor, originally of Mississippi, eventually formed the Edge, playing classic rock and Top 40 covers. They changed the name to Sneak Preview in 1983 when they began recording their original songs. By 1985, the group moved to Houston, Texas, changed its name to King's X and transitioned from radio-friendly rock to a heavier, progressive rock by King's X's first album in 1988. The original line-up of King's X has remained together and has released 19 albums. Gaskill suffered a major heart attack and pneumonia in 2012, and King's X released its most recent album, Burning Down Boston: Live at The Channel 6.12.91, to help offset Gaskill's medical expenses.

The relatively small crowd at Stage 48 had to wonder why King's X is not a huge band. The hard rocking power trio tempered hard rock with a taste of progressive rock, metal, funk, soul and British Invasion styled vocal harmonies. Several of the band's lyrics were intriguing, spun on positive, spiritual themes or the members' struggles with faith and self-acceptance. (Tabor and Gaskill are Christian; Pinnick is agnostic and gay.) Pinnick's strong bass-led grooves drove the songs, and his compelling, bluesy lead vocals energized the melodies, even as Tabor ripped into frequent guitar solos and Gaskill pounded the steady and occasionally odd rhythms. As a three-piece, the ensemble playing was stripped to basics, showcasing the three individuals' stellar craftsmanship. Highlights of the 14-song set included 1989's "Over My Head," where towards the end Pinnick sat on a monitor at the edge of the stage and listened to the audience sing along, the set closer of "We Were Born to Be Loved," and the double encore of "Go Tell Somebody" and "Dogman." It was a strong performance by a first class rock band, yet the band's audience tonight was only slightly larger than when the band first performed at New York's Cat Club in the late 1980s.

Visit King's X at www.kingsxrocks.com.