Is it possible for a punk rocker to age gracefully?
Mike Ness, founder and sole original member of Social Distortion, is 45 years old. The band was formed 29 years ago. That's the equivalent of several lifetimes in the world of rock and roll. Yet Sunday night at the Beaumont Club, Ness proved that he's more vital than ever.
A blue bandanna concealed Ness' face as he hit the stage to the sound of blaring sirens. For the next 80 minutes, he and his band acted as if they had something to prove.
Even though the Orange County-based band hasn't released an album of new material since 2004, approximately 1,000 loyal fans filled the Westport club to pay tribute to their heroes.
"We ain't going nowhere," Ness said about Social Distortion's status. Ness' admirers have a powerful affinity with his anti-establishment persona. Part James Dean and part Joe Strummer, Ness writes songs about trying to find solace in a world in which he feels increasingly marginalized.
It's not nihilism Ness and his fans embrace. It's hope. Underneath the tattoos and angry snarls, there's something sweet and innocent about Social Distortion. Volume level aside, Ness' songs are not much different than fellow street poet Bruce Springsteen's. Both men cling to an old-fashioned belief in the redemptive power of rock and roll.
As Ness leaped across the stage, many of his fans moshed and crowd surfed. "Prison Bound," "When She Begins" and "Nickels and Dimes" confirmed the band's grittiness, while tough readings of Hank Williams' "Six More Miles (To the Graveyard)" and Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" revealed their allegiance to previous American rebels. Social Distortion isn't going down without a fight.
The most convincing thing the Black Halos did during their 30-minute set was send a shout-out to The Mercy Seat tattoo parlor. Otherwise, the Vancouver-based trash rock band fell flat. I Hate Kate, a California pop-punk band, fared slightly better. Their cover of Peter Schilling's "Major Tom (Coming Home)" is indicative of I Hate Kate's fixation on the sound of mid-80s new wave.
| Review and photo by Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star
Awesome performance by Social D. Loved the different set list (When She Begins, Six More Miles, Gotta Know the Rules, Far Behind); while waiting outside, we heard them sound check Wildwood Flower, which would have been cool.
A pox on the staff of the Beaumont Club--not for having us wait outside in the rain, but for having a leaky roof that dripped on its customers all concert long! Not a good way to treat the guests of your establishment.
Posted by: David | May 07, 2007 at 05:08 PM
anyone have the full set list?
Posted by: Mike | June 06, 2007 at 09:24 PM