Social Distortion- San Francisco- Feb 3, 2011

Social Distortion

The Warfield- San Francisco

Feb 3, 2011

This was my second time seeing Social Distortion, although I first heard the life altering Mommy’s Little Monster my sophomore year of high school.  The album had already been around awhile then, and I remember trying to express how much Another State of Mind and The Creeps affected me to the gang of skaters I hung out with while we were listening to a tape of a tape of a tape of the album in my station wagon.  Dave Bender laughed at me and told me he had been listening to that album for years.  I dropped him off and drove myself straight to Replay Records to buy a used copy of the album on vinyl.  After that for months and months, it only came off of my record player to be flipped over.

For some reason I never had the chance to see Social D live for years.  Poor luck on my part?  Maybe.  Maybe the Gig Gods were just holding out on me so that I would enjoy the show that much more when they actually came to Stockton, and played the Civic Theatre in 2007.  That was a great show, especially for Stockton.

So, when Mike Ness and the boys rolled out onto the stage at the Warfield last night it had been awhile since I had seen them.  The show was sold out, and packed.  We managed to shove in on the second tier of the floor just left of the stage.  A stone’s throw from the band.

Mike came out dressed like a businessman from the 1920s in his high waisted suit, tie, suspenders and matching fedora.  Before I knew it they were crashing into Mommy’s Little Monster.  

After that, I didn’t keep a very accurate track of the set list since my buddy Jason made it his personal responsibility to make sure the beer kept flowing freely all night.  Still Social D. they gave the crowd just what they wanted.  A solid mix of all my favorite tunes (there wasn’t a song all night I didn’t sing along to- there is some personal satisfaction in knowing a band that well- Social Distortion belongs to me the way The Beatles belong to the generation before mine who followed them from the first album to the last) with a nice dusting of the new songs over the top.   Down Here and Through These Eyes, are always personal favorites, and of course Ring of Fire and Ball and Chain got my wife and I dancing and singing along at the top of our lungs. 

Mike really poured his guts out on the stage in front of us last night.  He presented his music to the crowd as if to say, “Look at the fantastic thing I brought you!” like a cat who leaves a dead prize on your doorstep.  The crowd grabbed at his gift appreciatively and asked for more.

And what an eclectic crowd it was.  For the most part it consisted of the same Rockabilly/Car Club Teddy Boys you would expect to see at a Social D show, but there were young kids, hipsters, and punk rockers representing as well.  I even saw a crew of young mean looking traditional skinheads stroll through the lobby in their Ben Sherman’s and spit shined DMs.  Just like old times.

At one point during I Was Wrong I looked out over a fairly substantial mosh pit (one that intimidated this 38 year old body) and was amazed at the number of grey haired gentlemen dancing fiercely.  That was something I hadn’t seen before at a punk rock show.  I guess I have to admit that none of us are getting any younger. 

After the first set when Mike and the boys walked off the stage we all knew they would be back.  It’s funny, I was just thinking to myself how cool it would have been if Mike had brought a couple of Orange County Sisters along on the tour for some of the bad ass backing vocals that give Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes that bluesy Stonsey vibe.  I was figuring it must be costly to bring back up singers on the road, when Social D retook the stage with two thin, awkward, and prettily braided Nubian princesses sporting punk rockish garb that looked like it had been hastily thrown together.  They then proceeded to blow up energetic renditions of Hustle and Flow and Can’t Take It With You.  Those Sisters can really sing.  That was a highlight of the show for me.

After the sisters bowed out, Social D. flew into a rousing second set and ended with a spirited Story of My Life from right out of 1990.  It was one of those shows that nobody wanted to see end, and I have to say I got a bit morose when it was all over and we all headed back out into Market Street to be accosted by the smelly crowds of San Francisco’s homeless. 

Still when I woke up hung over this morning after three hours of sleep to head to work, I found comfort in the knowledge that some good things never change and that Social Distortion will be back on stage blowing minds tonight, and the night after, and the night after.  Long may they rock!

Short youtube videos of the show:     http://www.youtube.com/user/guardo77?feature=mhum