THUNDERS REGAINS LIGHTNING TOUCH

Those who decided that Johnny Thunders’ uneven solo career had bottomed out a few years back may want to reconsider, given his surprisingly strong performance Friday at Fender’s Ballroom.

The former New York Dolls guitarist wasted no time demonstrating that his over-the-edge spirit, irreverent humor and major-league chops are still intact. Not to mention taste: The concert began with a spotlight on a woman dancing bottomless in front of a huge cross, while Thunders deftly reeled off the cascading notes of “Pipeline.”

From there, the show dropped its X rating and gradually picked up momentum and intensity (interrupted only by a winning five-song acoustic segment). Displaying renewed vigor and a crack three-piece backing band, Thunders sounded lean, mean and not too clean on such propulsive rockers as “Too Much Junkie Business” and “Born to Lose.” He closes his two-night stand at the Roxy tonight.