THE X FACTOR

Formed in 1977 by singing poet Exene Cervenka, her bassist-soulmate John Doe, enigmatic rockabilly guitarist Billy Zoom, and pile-driving drummer D.J. Bonebrake, X is arguably the greatest punk-rock group still performing with its original membership. Beginning tonight, they’ll perform their four earliest albums – Los Angeles, Wild Gift, Under the Big Black Sun, and More Fun in the New World – in their entirety over as many evenings. Produced by Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek, X’s songs about Californication, jealousy, death, and decay suggested a lineage that cut diagonally through hippie culture back to the Beats and Woody Guthrie’s populist idealism. X also delivered probably the best line to come out of the SoCal punk ethos: “We’ll crawl through your backyard/ And whack your yappin’ dog!”

Aug. 22-24, 6 p.m., 2014