Where They Cut Their Teeth, Social Distortion Brings Born to Kill to the Hollywood Palladium
Mike Ness led a sold-out Palladium through new songs and old anthems on the first of two Hollywood nights.
Social Distortion was born in Orange County in 1978, but Mike Ness wanted the Hollywood Palladium to know where the band grew up. “Social Distortion cut their teeth in Hollywood,” he told the sold-out room on Thursday, October 1, the first of two nights there, the Los Angeles Daily News reported.
This tour comes with something new. Born to Kill is the band’s first studio album in 15 years, recorded mostly at producer Dave Sardy’s studio in Los Angeles and released on Brett Gurewitz’s Epitaph label, the Los Angeles Times reported. It features guest spots by Lucinda Williams and Benmont Tench, and a cover of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game.”
The title track opened the night, after a recording of David Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel” brought the band to the stage. Over 17 songs and 90 minutes, the new material sat beside the classics. “Ring of Fire” had the crowd singing early, and “The Creeps” and “Mommy’s Little Monster” reached back to the 1983 debut. Ness and guitarist Jonny “2 Bags” Wickersham traded riffs on “Ball and Chain,” and the main set closed with “Story of My Life.” Ness introduced it with a thought about his trade. “Musicians are kind of like reporters,” he said.
He also thanked fans for coming out on a weeknight. “I realize you could have stayed at home on your couch watching back-to-back episodes of ‘Judge Judy,’” he said. The encore opened with “Reach for the Sky” and “Bad Luck.”
The openers brought their own history. The Descendents, formed in Manhattan Beach at the end of the 1970s, blazed through about 25 songs in 50 minutes, and the Australian band the Chats opened with a 30-minute set.
Ness, the band’s last founding member, told the Times this spring that he is not surprised to still be doing it. “Maybe it’s arrested development. Or maybe youth and rebellion are just part of my personality. They’re never gonna go away.”
Another night of rock history is on the way in Los Angeles, with the Rock Hall inductions at the Peacock Theater in November.
