LIVE: Social Distortion at Kool Haus

by Keith Carman

October 25, 2010

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Legendary Southern Californians Social Distortion have never been about frills. Straight-shooting and unmoved by trends, their country-influenced, Ramones-inspired punk rock has stood the test of time because it doesn't give a rat's ass for anything other than simplicity and sincerity. Therefore, witnessing the punk rock progenitors stroll onstage with an absolute lack of fanfare was exactly what would expect from a bunch of dudes who let the music do the talking. Taking their requisite places, the quartet dove straight into “The Creeps,” “Another State Of Mind” and “Mommy's Little Monster,” tracks which set the pace for a night of retrospective glory.

Photo by Heather Carman Ostrander

Legendary Southern Californians Social Distortion have never been about frills. Straight-shooting and unmoved by trends, their country-influenced, Ramones-inspired punk rock has stood the test of time because it doesn’t give a rat’s ass for anything other than simplicity and sincerity.

Therefore, witnessing the punk rock progenitors stroll onstage with an absolute lack of fanfare was exactly what would expect from a bunch of dudes who let the music do the talking. Taking their requisite places, the quartet dove straight into “The Creeps,” “Another State Of Mind” and “Mommy’s Little Monster,” tracks which set the pace for a night of retrospective glory.

Keeping banter to a minimum, vocalist/guitarist/linchpin Mike Ness led the charge through a set comprised mainly of older fare, showcasing many stronger tracks wisely selected from their stable of early material spanning 1983’s Mommy’s Little Monster debut through to 1996’s White Light, White Heat, White Trash. Dropping a new tune ostensibly prepped for forthcoming seventh affair/Epitaph Records debut Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes due early next year, only 2004’s pristine Sex, Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll was strangely unrepresented.

Oh well. When enthralled with how the band’s performance unfolded as smooth, streamlined and lacking any glitches whatsoever, graces can be made. Then again, such a situation was to be expected with tunes as road-worn and legendary as these. Ripping through encores “So Far Away,” “Prison Bound” and their infamous version of Cash’s “Ring Of Fire,” the only sore point could be the night’s overall brevity.

Not that many seemed to notice. Soaking up the experience, even those wallflowers afraid to let their pompadours down were clearly engaged, if reservedly giddy. Thankfully, they were kept to a minimum as the packed Kool Haus ensured a raucous reception welcomed the band after an approximately five years absence. Stoic yet compelling, with their pragmatic set and tangible honesty, Social Distortion once again proved that sometimes less truly is more.

Tags: Music, News, Kool Haus, social distortion

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