The enduring godfathers of L.A. punk, Social Distortion have developed an uncompromising sound all their own – 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 1982, 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 said. “And I just say, ‘Me too.’”

Now in their fourth decade, Ness and Social Distortion have officially done of the most non-punk things possible: they’ve failed to burn out. Social Distortion is a mix of potent power, appeal across all age brackets, and a genuine satisfaction at reaching as many people as possible. These days, the band is rarely off the road for long. They continue to grip fans who have been around since “Mommy’s Little Monster,” while still drawing new ones who’ve discovered the band through bootleg YouTube clips.