Social Distortion triumphantly returned to Las Vegas this month, with a co-headling tour with Bad Religion, and added support from Lovecrimes, at the Virgin Theater LV. What started as an added 2nd Vegas date on April 6th (also played April 13), became the tour kick off to a very emotional and inspirational show, with reflections on Mike Ness’ recent cancer battle, real passion about their new music, and grabbing at life and making every moment count.
The tour was touted as a 40th anniversary of Mommy’s Little Monster, and was to feature the entirety of the album in the set, but Ness cancer diagnosis suspended the 2023 dates as he underwent surgery and chemo. SD set out on a 2024 tour this month, a faster return to touring than we could have ever hoped for, with an hour and a half show that did featured most of Monster, but added several new songs, some of which Ness penned during his recovery for a new album that could be out this year, and some classics in the mix.
“Bad Luck” ironically kicked off their show on the 13th, and Ness was full of piss and vinegar, sounding as strong as ever and not missing a beat. “Bye Bye Baby” upped the pace even more, the crowd was already on fire. With “I Wasn’t Born to Follow”, Ness made sure everyone knew he was back, and here to kick cancer, and us, in the teeth.
Ness took a moment and spoke of the upcoming record, “It’s a very reflective album, paying a lot of respects to the first wave of punk music of the late 70’s New York, London, Paris… Las Vegas…(laughs and cheers)… But we love the glitter stuff, David Bowie, T-Rex, NYDolls…” before introducing “Over You”, a fast paced ‘get over it’ sing-a-long that debuted live in 2022 and kept the fever pitch going.
“Mommy’s Little Monster”, “1945”, and “Reach for the Sky” were highlights, but the entire show was so good, it’s hard to even pick a high point. "Ball and Chain" made the cut, but "Story of my Life" was missing, saved for another day.
There were teary moments too.
Ness talked a lot throughout the show, some touching on his hell year and how he got through it, about his family and about the fans. “We all got issues to deal with, but I’m trying to say, that I guess the most valuable lessons of life don’t come in pretty packages… Thank you to the fans, because on those days when I was doubting everything and not feeling it, and I read something that says ‘you got this Mike, we need you around, were not done listening to SD records’…”
Ness then called "c’mon out shorty", to his son Julien James Ness, (whose band LoveCrimes opened the night) to help out on acoustic guitar on new tune, “Warn Me”, a song whose verses wind around fear and uncertainty, life and death, and not taking anything for granted. “I can’t tell you the overwhelming gratitude that I have… whatever you’re going through or whatever you will face, this is a song about walking through it and trying to make sense out of it”.
“Ashes to ashes and dust to dust, find a god that you can trust
Don’t let your memories wither away, ‘Cause all we really have is today
Warn me the end is coming soon….”
I was NOT crying. There was just something in my eye, maybe beer.
"Warn Me" concluded with massive, massive love from the crowd, a big hug between Ness and Julien, and then the band pumped everyone back up to the sky again with their classic cover “Ring of Fire”, leaving the crowd on a blazing high point to end a phenomenal night.
This co-headlining tour with Bad Religion continues through the end of May, before picking up again with a tour in September with Social D and the BelRays. More on tour dates and tickets HERE. The merch choices were insane, I suggest you take LOTS OF MONEY CAUSE YOU WILL WANT EVERYTHING. I think I tapped out at $400. Make haste and all that.
If in Vegas, check out the Punk Rock Museum's new Social Distortion exhibit, Ness was on hand and lent some personal studio furniture and handwritten notes for the songwriting display - you can sit on his couch, read and take it all in. Johnny Two Bags gave some guided tours, and Ness' son Johnny Rios Ness was on hand while SD was in town as guest tattoo artist in the shop upstairs. There's is always special guests tours and great things and goings on at the Punk Rock Museum, tickets and info on the museum HERE.
And FUCK CANCER.