X - 4th Of July (Live at Farm Aid 1986)

X performs "4th of July" live at the Farm Aid concert in Austin, Texas on July 4, 1986. Farm Aid was started by Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp in 1985 to keep family farmers on the land and has worked since then to make sure everyone has access to good food from family farmers. Dave Matthews joined Farm Aid's board of directors in 2001.
For more information about Farm Aid, visit: farmaid.org/you...
Farm Aid's performances are donated by the artists in order to raise funds and raise awareness for family farmers. They've raised their voices to help - what can you do?

[@lynnpeirce3205]

I had this album...I blasted it in my room 🇺🇲🎸🎶! What a great band and a great Farm Aid show!

[@andyinoregon]

On a Sunday night in 2006, I remember the thrill of hearing this song in the closing credits of a "Sopranos" episode.

[@rustyhancock1377]

This would be a refreshing addition to today's country music. This song covers every style of music

[@elmoblatch9787]

Is that Dave Alvin and Tony Gilkyson sharing the stage? Well, hell yes.

[@mlwsf]

I knew it was Dave, since they are singing his song, but I did not know the other fella. Thanks

[@briancurtis7565]

It’s not his song,Robert Earl Keen wrote it it’s on a GREAT album Levelland

[@joedimaggio44]

@@briancurtis7565 I don't think that is true. 4th of July was written by Dave Alvin. So says wiki and Dave (every time I've seen him play it)

[@ronluckenbach9492]

yes! and where is the love.. nod of approval.. sharing of the mike? kinda broke my heart

[@leechurchill1965]

I don't think the heartland was ready for X back then.

[@MsMiguel70]

Hard to imagine a better melding than X and Farm Aid. Seems like a tiny America(n) moment, now a memory for a few. This is why we can’t have nice things. ✌🏼

[@robmchugh3948]

“Snap out of it”

[@vegasbeersales]

@@MsMiguel70 I was at that show. This was a great moment.

[@ephraimlessell]

What are you smoking? I want to know to avoid it!

[@scottbelew7044]

This was my first time to see X and I was stunned. What a short, power packed performance. They were on their game at Manor Downs in Austin.

[@Tomguild1]

I have seen them in 83,93,03 and 13. they were great everytime.

[@KOSMICKEN09]

I see a theme here~~3

[@doitnowvideosyeah5841]

@@KOSMICKEN09 If they tour in 2023 I will be there!

[@flowerfarmerscott]

Those early Farm Aid concerts were fantastic. Those were my first years in Austin and they left a great impression.

[@tinfoilraccoon]

The nostalgia...sigh

[@dnk1870]

Dave Alvin's jump at the 53 second mark! 😘👍

[@ronluckenbach9492]

Oh yes! how coo was that !

[@ronluckenbach9492]

how cool,was that!

[@cristiandlf6704]

Country punk 👊🏻💥

[@debbycoley]

I was there with my best friend. So many fond memories.

[@davidhuber2076]

Despite the fact their roots lie in the fringes of the greatly misunderstood Los Angeles Punk Scene X, projects the stage image of the Great American Rock Band. It is time for "The Boss" to get his much overdue pink slip. Make way for X, Bodeans, Lone Justice, Social Distortion, Jason and The Scorchers etc.

[@klimtklavier]

Um, no. Don't compare two very different bands. Bruce was and is more prolific, taken more chances, and really ... get back in Bill and Ted's phone booth. Two very different areas of the US ...

[@davidhuber2076]

@@klimtklavier get back to your spec ed class.

[@eggsngritstn]

Great song. The band sounds different with Dave Alvin and Tony Gilkyson versus Billy Zoom, but it still great.

[@Naomi-kf1un]

SO WELL WRITTEN!!!

[@ldgolias]

What a great song...Happy 4th, y'all!

[@vgchitown23]

Why isn't this band in the Rock n Roll HOF

[@lynnpeirce3205]

@@vgchitown23 Agreed 👍

[@lynnpeirce3205]

@@vgchitown23 Agreed 👍

[@dtruell]

This one's for John G. - my adopted brother - R. I. P.

[@arthurkyriazis]

Happy 4th of July!

[@stormbringercoming8105]

Sounds great, but it doesn’t come to Dave’s version on his first solo album. In my humble and biased opinion.

[@nogodbob1]

coming outa nowhere driving like rain

[@johnb7346]

The Sopranos brought me here. Catchy!

[@johnmatthews3289]

I was there.....and the night before I saw them perform at Fitzgeralds in Houston

[@hootsie1229]

I saw them at Fitzgeralds during the mid 80's.....great show....Excene was very pregnant....

[@sidjacobson3993]

Awww. I miss Fitz.

[@FRATZROCKET]

At the 2:51 mark watch Alvin shout to Gilkyson "she sucks" after blowing him off her mike.

[@sudaev]

No he didn't...

[@FRATZROCKET]

No, he actually did. They hate each other.

[@purplerico]

where'd you hear that?

[@paulmarcdugre]

No he didn't, Dave was telling Tony to take the next solo. I toured with X at this time.

[@FRATZROCKET]

@@paulmarcdugre Ah no he wasn't dude. Lay off the drugs next tour.

[@DrewTownson66]

Dave Alvin on guitar

[@ronluckenbach9492]

yes and writer of this awesome song..

[@Zombywoof92553]

I miss Billy's Smile

[@jeffhamilton2374]

okay, that's dave alvin on guitar (with whom Exene won't share the mike), but who is the other guitarist? Looks familiar (I'm guessing Val McCallum) but I can't make him out.

[@CMarshallD]

I'm pretty sure that it's Tony Gilkyson. He replaced Billy Zoom…The fact that Dave Alvin is playing here is AWESOME!

[@Gentlem1]

Marshall DeMos you're right. Gilkyson and Alvin both played , together , in X , for a short time , after Zoom left to replace Alvin in The Blasters , also very briefly. I met Dave in '85 , he said he was working with The Blasters , Knitters and X. I think Tony joined after him , but , ended up their sole Guitarist until the original band reformed.

[@epicmeade]

+pfordsq Yeah, That'sTony Gilkyson . Tony used to play music with my roommate back to the early 2000s and they used to rehearse every day in our living room. they were all part of the LA Alt Country scene that also includes Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yokam, and Willie Nelsons daughter Amy (Folk Uke). Tony was in X from 1987 to 95 and had previously been in Lone Justice.

[@Gentlem1]

+epicmeade cool. I saw X with Dave Alvin , alone , as Lead Guitarist, still in '85 , I think, maybe '86 , in Dallas , but , they came back in '87 with Tony on Lead Guitarist. I saw him , again , with X , in '93 , in Chicago. IT SEEMS THEY'D BEEN OFF THE SCENE A WHILE , AND STAGED A "COMEBACK" SHOW AT LIBERTY LUNCH , IN AUSTIN , before announcing a tour. The word got out that they were doing a guest spot at an Exene gig , so , the place was packed....

[@Gentlem1]

+pfordsq "on LEAD GUITARIST" - HA HA. I did get a chance to ask Exene , once , if she knew Mike Judge had appropriated "Nausea" on "Beavis and Butthead" a couple of times. She said , yes , they were cool with it. 13~X~69.

[@paulosicne5803]

I never knew Dave Alvin and Tony Gilkyson played in X at the same time.

[@elmoblatch9787]

Briefly...

[@SkeeterNYC]

John Doe is the Hotest! Whooo - Hooo!

[@jcarlovitch]

He was in the movie boogie nights.

[@usefulvidiots7869]

I knew I'd seen him before. Amber's ex in Boogie Nights.

[@robertobrien9706]

@@jcarlovitch He was also in "Road House."

[@johndashnaw-to8if]

Was also drummer in Pure Country

[@stevedavis4513]

This is before Ms. Cervanka went crazy, yes?

[@rachelnewyorktruth2564]

is the Hi-hat not working properly ?

[@garyitzkowitz9992]

wheres Billy Zoom..

[@jpf1997]

He was gone by then..

[@doitnowvideosyeah5841]

He got burnt out on not making any money and he had other things to do. I think taking a break when he did has allowed him to come back in the fold

[@DJPLAYNICE]

7/4/21......✳✳✳

[@jeffcochrane1]

I was there....

[@noreeeeply]

Watching / Listening to X without Billy Zoom is like eating Mexican food with no chile. No Flava

[@ephraimlessell]

What is the 2nd guitar for? to cover up Exene's singing? (Q. what could make her singing sound worse? A. Knowing that she's pro Trump!!!!"

[@ephraimlessell]

Exene's microphone is mixed low because she's alway at least a bit out of key

[@Naomi-kf1un]

i can carcht thuis e=

[@miguelrodriguez4498]

The only thing that would make this better is john/ Dave doing vocals together & tony doing backing exene really has no place in the song its written from a mans stand point. I'm not trying to be sexist

[@pauldenali6367]

Great song but X didn't do it justice. Dave sings and plays it so much better with his own band.

[@Alltypz]

Such a beautiful performance. GOD BLESS AMERICA! VOTE RED.