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Social Distortion

live in Chicago (2002)
Social Distortion

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Contributed by: TheOneTrueBill
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on June 25th 2002

First off, let me get the obvious out of the way... This show was the legendary Social Distortion's triumphunt return to the midwest after a 5 year absence. This was the third of three sold out nights at the House Of Blues. Now onto the actual review.

The time on the ticket said the show started at 6:30. Unfortunatly, it didn't start untill at least 7:35. The opening band, Lost City Angels, came on. They seemed OK at first, but as their 30 minute set wore on, they grew tiring, never deviating from the same, mid-tempo pop-punkish songs. Not very impressive, but I wasn't there to see them... I was there to see Mike Ness and crew.

One thing I noticed during the wait for Social D to play was that I (being 16 years old) was one of the youngest people there. There were many people drinking on the floor, and this lead to some idiots, some fun people, and overall a good vibe. Finally, the curtain seperated and Social D took the stage. Charlie Quintana (drummer) first, then John Maurer (bassist), then Johnny Twobags Wickersham (rhythm guitar), and finally Mike Ness (everything). All the drinking going on before led to the floor being very slippery, with all the old guys trying to slam with a beer still in hand... needless to say this didnt work and all the beer was spilled right away.

They started off playing a block of all old school songs, from Mommy's Little Monster and the various compilations. After about 5 of the old school songs, 3 new songs right in a row were played. "Don't Take me for Granted" a tribute to the late great Dennis Danell, "Angel's Wings" a song about how anyone can bring a child onto this earth, but only a few can raise him/her the right way, and "I Wasn't Born To Follow". Before "Angel's Wings," Mike looked for the youngest kid there. I thought I had a chance for this, but he ended up pulling a very shy 7 year old named Peter. He talked to Peter for awhile on stage, about how kids like him were the future and we need to look out for them. The kid even got a free hat, some CDs, and his picture taken with the band. One lucky bastard that kid is. After this, the band concentrated on material from their Self-Titled album and Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell. This is where the majority of the set list came from, with only one song each from Prison Bound and White Light, White Heat, White Trash. "Story of My Life" was the final song of the first set, and the band left the stage for about 2 minutes. A chant of "SOCIAL D! SOCIAL D!" went on solidly the entire time, only growing stronger with time. The band came back, thanked us, played an encore, then left the stage for good.

This was a strange show for me... almost every other show I've ever been to was dominated by kids my age, or around my age. This was not the case at all. I was slamming, singing along, and in pogo lines with guys twice my age. There was a very unifed vibe going around. It didn't matter how old you were, or how big you were (some of these guys had obviously let go and gotten a beer belly), we were all united in our love for the music. All in all it was one of, if not the best, show of my life.

Here's the set list... I remebered the order as best I could, but it might not be completely accurate.

Mommy's Little Monster
1945
Lude Boy
Mass Hysteria
Telling Them
I Wasn't Born to Follow
Angel's Wings
Don't Take Me for Granted
Prison Bound
Cold Feelings
Bad Luck
Sick Boys
Story Of My Life

Encore:
99 to Life
Don't Drag Me Down
Ball and Chain
Ring of Fire

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Anonymous (July 7, 2002)

EchoOfDarkness189@yahoo.com

TheOneTrueBill (July 7, 2002)

Charlie Quintana is pretty good... he handled the intro to "Don't Drag Me Down" really well, which i was impressed and overjoyed by since its my favorite social D song ever

if i ever find your email in this dark world, i'll be sure to use it

Anonymous (July 7, 2002)

cool, e-mail me sometime u sexay than u

CallingLondon (July 7, 2002)

i really liked Chuck Biscuits' drumming actually. it was real powerful and had a lot of balls. sad to see that he's not in the band anymore. is the current drummer good?

TheOneTrueBill (July 7, 2002)

yes i will Ms. Anymous... yes i will

Anonymous (July 6, 2002)

Why the $25 cover? The answer was in your question. They haven't put out much in the last few years. He is running out of money. Plus Mike lost all his bandmates, Social Distortion are not the same band they once were. Things are different and things are harder. Though Mike still kicked down the wall, he is getting old to do what he does. This is a rare, once in a lifetime event. See them while you can, because Social Distortion won't be around forever. And fuck, he can charge $25 a head and sell out every show. The REAL fans will pay, considering this is one of the only good punk bands still around.

Anonymous (July 6, 2002)

TheOneTrueBill will you go out with me?

SixteenBlue (July 6, 2002)

Social D live is not a band, but a force of fucking nature. Which is why it made me so sad that they had the nuts to charge 25 bucks a head on this tour. I've seen Social D seven or eight times over the last 10 years, and each time they were amazing, but a big fucking BOOOOO to them for having the nerve to charge $25 to go see them. I really wanted to go when they rolled through St. Louis, but there was no way I would pay that kind of money. And where do they get off charging that? They have'nt made a record in seven years, it's not like they have some hit single and all the kids should go ga-ga and pay this outlandish price. I think it stinks. I love you SD, but fuck you for the $25 cover...

TheOneTrueBill (July 6, 2002)

why not learn how to type and/or speak?

dumbass

Anonymous (July 5, 2002)

why would anyone play 25 bucks for them is a dumb ass.

Anonymous (June 28, 2002)

hey kids, i'll let you in a little secret.

what happens when you grow up and try to remain a true punk: you become white trash.

sell out and make some money, its much more respectable.

Mr. Kingpin

TheOneTrueBill (June 28, 2002)

i remeber reading somewhere that he was sick of the schedule, or lack thereof, of being in Social D... it was around the time when Mike Ness was doing his solo records

Anonymous (June 28, 2002)

Anyone know why Chuck Biscuits left/was kicked out of Social D? It's not that he is the greatest drummer in the world, I just like saying his name.(go ahead say it, it will bring a smile to your face)

Anonymous (June 27, 2002)

fuck Carson Daly

Anonymous (June 27, 2002)

That kid wrote a pretty good review. However, he left out the fact that not only was most of the audience older than 16 (as one would expect)....but a good 50% of them were also white trash. This is tolerable only to a certain degree....sad as it is to say, there was almost as much trash at the HOB that night as there is at most metallica shows-- very sad. Other than that....show was metal!

And...yes, I DO hate wearing pants!

Anonymous (June 27, 2002)

Carson Daly likes Social D... does that make them cool to hate?

waste_elite (June 27, 2002)

everyone needs to drop everything and go buy SD live at the roxy. easily the best live album i've ever heard.

mike ness can do no wrong

sickboi (June 26, 2002)

Social D own every one of you.

QGJREVIVED (June 26, 2002)

Good to know that social D kick ass still. Ive never seen em b4 but i definetley will

Anonymous (June 26, 2002)

Mike Ness is King

waste_elite (June 25, 2002)

Social D still kicks ass after all these years. one of the best bands around.

Anonymous (June 25, 2002)

excellent review, this kid now knows how us old folks feel when we go to a show - out of place!

kingpin

Anonymous (June 25, 2002)

This gets me stoked for the new cd,finally a review of a real punk show,
once again social d gives us hope that all is not lost-oldpunker-

Anonymous (June 25, 2002)

Good review of a sexcellent show!! Does anyone else hate the H.O.B. That place sux!! It was nutz to butts in there and I have a phobia of smelly people (crapnaphobia). They should of played the Riv but who am I to aruge?? Mike Ness also informed the crowd that they will be heading into the studio this summer and hopefully we'll see something in album form come next summer. Man, you think they would kinda speed it up a little...

Don't you hate pants?????

TheOneTrueBill (June 25, 2002)

um... i'm the guy who wrote the review, and i just signed up for an account, so here i am... just thought i'd let everyone know

Fuzzy (June 25, 2002)

I saw them in columbus with the Hangmen. Great show. The only complaint is that Mike Ness needs to NOT thrust his crotch at the crowd. He's like 40. And no one likes 40 year old crotch.