© 2026 All Rights reserved WUSF
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Our daily newsletter, delivered first thing weekdays, keeps you connected to your community with news, culture, national NPR headlines, and more.

The Knitters Put the 'X' Back Into Country

The alt-country band the Knitters is led by John Doe and Exene Cervenka -- who also front X, the legendary punk band.

A new album, The Modern Sounds of the Knitters, is the first music the alter-ego band has released in 20 years. The songs range from country-fried versions of X songs -- such as "In This House That I Call Home" and "I'll Go Down Swinging" -- to classics popularized by Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Stanley Brothers.

One notable exception: Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild." According to Cervenka, it's all part of a plan to show that "our sound is always up-to-date, no matter how far back it reaches."

Copyright 2005 XPN

Tags
David Dye
David Dye is a longtime Philadelphia radio personality whose music enthusiasm has captivated listeners of World Cafe® since 1991. World Cafe is produced by WXPN, the public radio service of the University of Pennsylvania.
Thanks to you, WUSF is here — delivering fact-based news and stories that reflect our community.⁠ Your support powers everything we do.