Post-Punkers Gather for a Night of X-citement

X’s reunion show at the Hollywood Palladium Saturday felt like a post-punk prom of sorts, with old fans (and a surprising number of young whippersnappers) gussied up to witness guitar god Billy Zoom take the stage one mo’ time with old pals Exene, John Doe and D.J. Bonebrake. People actually wept during the powerful performance. Among those who made this mecca-istic pilgrimage were Rodney Bingenheimer, who introduced the band (but of course), as well as members of the Circle Jerks, Youth Brigade, the Go-Go’s, Rancid, No Doubt, the Offspring, the Vandals, Social Distortion, 22 Jacks and Pennywise. Former Circle Jerks front man Keith Morris even had a star sighting of a more celestial nature. “I saw the ghost of Darby Crash,” he says. “He was sitting on the side of the stage and drinking a chilled Budweiser.” Hope he didn’t have to wait in line to score it. . . . For Sugar Ray guitarist Rodney Sheppard, it’s the best of times and the worst. The band is wrapping up its tour with a headlining show Saturday at the Hollywood Palladium--a dream come true for the group, says Sheppard. The bad news? He’s been sick as a dog all week, and singer Mark McGrath’s voice is shot from eight months of nonstop touring. Well, at least it’s the Palladium--which isn’t exactly known for its fab-o acoustics.