Exene Cervenka of punk legends X is a Missouri girl now — and loving it.

Exene, who who reigned over the L.A. punk kingdom during the 1970s and 1980s, needed a change of pace after living most of her adult life in SoCal.

The artist, poet and punk fashion trailblazer picked rural Missouri after meeting and marrying St. Louis musician Jason Edge (the Honkeys) a few years back. They were married in 2002 by El Vez on a riverboat on the Mississippi River and now live on a farm near Jefferson City.

X – all four original members – visit Pop’s Monday night as part of the band’s 31^st anniversary tour.

I reached her at home as she prepared for the tour.

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RC: How did you come to live in Missouri?

EC: I just wanted to move to the middle of America. I was looking at houses in Kentucky and other places. We just found the right one in Missouri. It’s a really great contrast to living in the city. I have the space to create art and music and I love the feeling of having space. I had spent the summer out here, so I knew what I was getting into.

RC: How did you hook up with the 7 Shot Screamers? (St. Louis’ Screamers back her in another band, the Original Sinners.)

EC: I saw them play eight yrs ago with Los Straitjackets and the Honkeys. I was trying to put a band together and wanted to pick musicians from out here. There is a lot of great talent in the Midwest in towns like Madison and St. Louis. It was good to have a band that was already together, so it worked out well.

RC: Will you be recording this year?

EC: I may record a solo record on Bloodshot this Summer, but I’m not sure.

RC: What themes have you been exploring lately in your lyrics or poetry?

EC: Lately I’ve been trying to do things that are more abstract, esoteric and cosmic than about love/hate relationships — more about life in general. I like including some psychedelic word play as well.

RC: Do you have any favorite bands at the moment?

EC: I don’t listen to a lot of new music. I like the Sadies, but they’re not really that new are they? The Geargrinders (St. Louis) are back together which makes me very happy! I went to the garage festival in St. Louis (Show Me Blowout! at the Off Broadway) which was really fun.

RC: Do you have any views on how punk fashion has evolved and the popularity of Hot Topic?

EC: I don’t think Hot Topic is a bad thing. Punks have been around for thirty years, so if someone wants to go to the mall and buy a plaid skirt thirty years late, it’s O.K. with me. All the kids I know dress like I did, and do it the same way. They go to a thrift store, find something inexpensive like leopard skin pants – those never go out of style — and go out to a show. Being original is everything.

RC: Do you have any art shows coming up?

EC: I have an art show May 24 in New York at the DCKT Contemporary. I do collages and this will be my fifth show. They are personal pieces using found objects. I find a lot out here at thrift stores and antique shops. Old religious items, Jesus and Mary, stenciling. I try to be evocative of a mood. The pieces in the New York show are about spirits and people who have passed on and contain a lot of photos. Most are made up of found Midwest stuff. I’ve found a wealth of great stuff out here. So the art shows are a big deal for me. Then I have X to tour with and hopefully the Knitters again. It’s all fun, I can’t complain about my life right now.

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X

13-31 Tour: The 31st Anniversary Tour

John Doe, Billy Zoom, Exene Cervenka, DJ Bonebrake.

Monday, March 17th

Doors 7 pm, $20/$22, all ages

Website: www.xtheband.com

Biography: www.rollingstone.com/artists/x/biography

Self Portrait, 2007