MxPx pleases crowd with high-energy act

Magnified Plaid. 

For those unfamiliar with the term, it is the original name of the veteran Christian-punk band MxPx.  

MxPx has been a fixture in the punk music world for more than a decade, yet most people do not know who they are. 

The band is comprised of high school friends Mike Herrera (bassist/lead vocalist) Tom Wisniewski (guitar/vocals) and Yuri Ruley (drums). 

MxPx, best known for its playful, fast and furious songs, was the headlining act at Bogart's Friday night, where the band was as exuberant and professional as ever. 

The band played a few new songs, which the crowd seemed to already know by heart, including the catchy "Well Adjusted," "First Day of the Rest of our Lives" and "Play it Loud."  

Nevertheless, the majority of the show was comprised of classic MxPx crowd-pleasers such as "Tomorrow is Another Day" and the opening number "Under Lock and Key."  

The crowd went wild when it heard the familiar sounds of MxPx's "Chick Magnet" and the band's punk cover of "Summer of '69." 

Mixing things up, MxPx played an acoustic version of "Buildings Tumble," and guitarist Wisniewski showed off his vocal talents by singing the lead in a cover of The Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" 

After MxPx left the stage and the lights went out, the crowd went into the requisite chant of "One more song! One more song!"  

MxPx eventually returned on stage to perform an encore including the feverish "The Theme Fiasco" and finishing up with the punk-rocker anthem "Punk Rawk Show." 

Throughout the night, the performance was high-energy, with the band stopping only briefly in between songs for Herrera to change guitars or the guys to drink water.  

Ruley, however, played virtually non-stop while Herrera and Wisniewski jumped around the stage, with Herrera spinning and throwing his guitar around fueling the crowd's excitement.  

At one point Herrera switched guitars by tossing his across the stage while catching one being tossed to him, causing the crowd to go crazy. 

MxPx, Herrera especially, put on quite an interactive show, speaking to the audience between almost every song.  

Herrera asked the audience to help out by singing parts of songs.  

He also had the crowd charge at one another and asked them give it up for the two opening acts several times. 

At one point Wisniewski had a chat with a female fan in the audience who claimed her love, causing Herrera to jokingly ask whom she loved, Wisniewski or him. 

Herrera also humbly thanked the audience for coming out to support MxPx, saying it is especially hard for punk bands to survive because "the radio won't play your music" and that the reason MxPx is still around today is the fans. 

That statement is not far from the truth.  

MxPx just released its eleventh album, Before Everything and After, Sept. 16, 2003.  

Despite the lack of radio play, the band has been together since its high school days. MxPx remains a well-respected, but seemingly underground, punk band. 

That could very well be changing however.  

Since its switch from the Christian label, Tooth and Nail Records, to the mainstream label, A & M Records, MxPx has received a modicum of radio time and even popped up in a Diet Pepsi ad. 

But don't think the switch from a Christian label to a mainstream label means that MxPx has abandoned its Christian roots.  

While MxPx has never been explicit in its message of faith, it still shows subtle elements of spirituality in its new album. 

So whether mainstream stardom is in MxPx's future or not, it will most likely always be the same down-to-earth, friendly band showing the same stage presence as seen here in the Queen City. 

For more information about MxPx, its current tour or the new album, check out its Web site, www.MxPx.com.