By snoadmin
Nearly 12,000 punk and rockabilly fans, young and old, gathered at the Fox Theatre in Pomona on Friday to witness a night filled with booze, jokes and music. Social Distortion headlined to a sold-out crowd, and performed newer songs, as well as older crowd favorites.
The black curtain unveiled the stage, which was dressed with a pinup girl backdrop with the band’s name across it and several signs, including “for your pleasure.” The Orange County-based band kicked off into “So Far Away.” Covered from head to toe in tattoos, Mike Ness (vocals) amped up the crowd, who immediately showed approval by dancing and moshing.
“We’ve got a red hot show for you tonight,” Ness said.
The band continued into “Story of My Life,” which was easily a crowd favorite of the night. Nearly everyone in attendance could be caught singing along and dancing.
“I’m gonna look out in the crowd and find the crazy ones,” Ness announced. “I don’t care how many tattoos you got or if you’ve got your ass pierced. That doesn’t mean you’re crazy. It just means you got a good job.”
Despite most of the audience being clad in tattoos and piercings, they did not seem to take offense as they laughed with Ness.
The band slowed things down a bit when they played “Winners and Losers.” Instead of taking part in the big mosh pit that encompassed most of the back of the crowd, fans sang along to the ballad-like tune.
Ness then made fun of The Fox’s neighboring venue, The Glasshouse.
“It’s more like the ‘Asshouse,'” Ness said. “It sounds like ass!”
Brent Harding (bass) then brought out a stand-up bass to perform a song that Ness said he particularly favored, “Let the Jukebox Keep on Playin” by Carl Perkins.
“This was written during a time when black music and white music were being integrated,” Ness said. “Racism — ain’t no room for that at a Social D show.”
Keeping to the pace of the last two songs, Social Distortion then played a more countrified version of “Reach for the Sky.” The change to the song was welcoming, as fans sang along with Ness, despite it sounding a bit different than usual.
Before playing “Far Behind,” Ness referred to some wrong-doers in his life.
“Everyone has someone in their life who talks shit on them. Behind their back. Never to their face,” Ness said.
Instead of fighting, Ness said he walked away from the fight, which he seldom does.
“I just thought, ‘Why don’t I just write a song about it because everyone’s got someone in their life like that.'”
The crowd roared in approval and agreement.
“He who laughs last laughs best,” Ness said before Social Distortion ended their set with their rendition of “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash.
“You don’t realize how good you got it until you get back home,” Ness said.
