Social Distortion

Overview

This show is General Admission: first come, first served.

Pit is Standing Room only.

Here's how you know you've made it in the music business: You've stayed strong for three decades on your own terms, on your own time, by your own rules, and over that time your influence has only grown. Each of your albums has been stronger than your last. You've been brought onstage by Bruce Springsteen, because he wanted to play one of your songs. You've seen high times and low ones, good days and tragic days, but every night you give 100%, and every morning you wake up still swinging.

This is the short version of the Social Distortion bio — the long version could be a 10-part mini- series. But over the past 30 years, the punk godfathers in the band have all but trademarked their sound, a brand of hard rockabilly/punk that's cut with the melodic, road-tested lyrics of frontman Mike Ness. Their searing guitars and a locomotive rhythm section sound as alive today as they did in '82, as do Ness' hard-luck tales of love, loss and lessons learned. "The most common thing I hear is, 'Man, your music got me through some hard times,'" Ness says. "And I just say, 'Me too.'"

Hard Times And Nursery Rhymes (produced, for the first time, by Ness himself) is the band's most recent release. For a band with a career spanning over 40 years, Social Distortion experienced a significant amount of firsts in 2011. For starters, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 and was the highest debut that the band has yet seen. Hard Times was also the #1 Independent Album and the #2 Modern Rock/Alternative Album week of release. The band also made their late night television debut when they performed "Machine Gun Blues" on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and later played for Conan on Hard Times’ release date. Taking their successes to the road, Social Distortion played European festivals including Reading and Leeds for the first time. They also booked their first tours of Australia and South America. And finally, Social Distortion played Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits Festival, and Coachella – all of these for the first time.

A release of new music is forthcoming in 2025.

Social Distortion’s patented mix of punk, bluesy rock n’ roll and outlaw country — while also stretching the boundaries of their signature sound is a blend of potent power that appeals to all ages. They are honored to have been able to reach as many people as they have so far. "I write songs for myself, and I hope that other people will like them too," Ness says. "I think every record you make is showing people what you've learned over the past few years. It's showing people, 'This is what I know.' "

Now in their fifth decade, Ness and Social Distortion have officially achieved one of the most non- punk things possible: They've failed to burn out.

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“Plague Vendor is a graveyard groove. It’s something you can shake it to. It’s a sound and a spirit, and it’s guided by love. Anything can happen if you just keep going.”

Formed in 2008, the band carved a name for themselves in the Los Angeles club scene with their unhinged physical live shows and turbulent flavor of post-punk. Word was out that frontman Brandon Blaine’s enigmatic presence drew parallels with young Iggy Pop and Nick Cave. Their performances caught the attention of Epitaph Records owner Brett Gurewitz. He signed them to the label in 2013.

Their debut album Free To Eat clocked a combustible ten songs at seventeen minutes. It received critical acclaim drawing comparisons to Gun Club, Iggy & The Stooges, The Cramps, and Jesus Lizard.

The two follow up albums BLOODSWEAT and By Night bolstered up their reputation as a heavy hitting rock band who knew their way around a studio. These two albums showed Plague Vendor expanding on their sound by working with producers Stuart Sikes (White Stripes, The Walkmen) and John Congleton (St. Vincent et al.), respectively.

The band’s top-of-the-class live show has secured them spots opening for the likes of Muse, Deftones, The Offspring, Social Distortion, Refused and many others. They have received generous write-ups for their appearances in the US/UK festival and club circuits.

Plague Vendor is continuing to hold up their reputation as one of the hardest working bands on the stage with newly recruited Henri Cash (Starcrawler) on guitar duties. The band has been testing new material on the road.

Doors open: 7 PM

Show starts: 8 PM