Social Distortion at The Astro Review and Thursday Night Live Music Options
Social Distortion at The Astro-La Vista-May 22nd, 2024
The last time I saw Mike Ness and Social Distortion was at Stir Cove on a package tour. It was a ridiculously hot show, and the performance didn’t do much for me. I had seen them three times prior over the previous decades and was content with having those three fantastic shows remain as my memory of the band live. I didn’t have plans to attend the show last night, but Mike Ness came into Homer’s while I was working and invited me to the show, and so I said, “Why not?" I am very glad I went, as I got another kickass Social Distortion show and can wipe that previous show from my memory.
One thing that Ness mentioned to me was to get to the show early to see his kids band open up. He then told me that “they earned it” and were not being given anything. Later on in his show, Ness went on a little rant about how he makes his kids put their cell phones in a basket when they visit the home so they can be present, and it made me feel that he does make his kid work for these opportunities. Julian Ness is said kid, and his band is The Love Crimes, and the apple does not fall far from the tree in regards to looks, sound, and style. They were good, though, and provided a fun opening set of rock songs that Social Distortion fans would enjoy. I would go see them at a club.
I have to think it is because they are just coming off tour with Bad Religion that we got the set that we did. It was very focused on the earlier punk vibe. They didn’t play a single song off of the popular Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell album that contained some of their best-known songs. Instead, he played “Mommy’s Little Monster” in all its fury and also “The Creeps” from the Mommy’s Little Monster album. He pulled out four songs off the self titled album “Sick Boys," the cover of “Ring of Fire," “Story of My Life” and “Ball and Chain." They played very early songs like “Lude Boy” and what I thought was the highlight of the show, "1945." I also found “Reach for the Sky” off 2004’s Sex Drugs and Rock & Roll album to be a live highlight.
Ness was very engaged with the audience this evening, telling stories, telling them to let loose and not worry about work, and talking about his fight with cancer last year. He also gave some love to 402 Vinyl at Southroads Mall, where he purchased some audio equipment. He talked a lot about an upcoming album and how it was an homage to the musicians he was inspired by and his early punk roots. A couple of the new songs he played tonight were very raw and fit in with the more punk vibe of the show. One song that he said he wrote about his fight with cancer called “Warn Me” was a little more of an epic number, and dare I say it, a bit Springsteen-esque, well, as much as Mike Ness can be. It was a great song. In fact, the new songs played really have me looking forward to a new Social Distortion album. Hell, I am looking forward to another Social Distortion show.
Tonight starts the new series at Granary Green, where they will have some shows this summer on Thursday nights with touring blues bands. Early shows on Thursday evenings are the blues tradition in Omaha, fueled by the Blues Society of Omaha. To have some of these shows outdoors at the spacious Granary Green, on a large stage will be a fresh vibe for long-time attendees and a good opportunity for new fans to become a part of the tradition. The first show tonight is Omar Coleman and Westside Soul, an up-and-coming Chicago blues artist steeped in that city's blues tradition and sound.
Also this evening, area artist Mitch Gettman and his trio at Bar 39 and rap rock band Oxymorrons are at The Waiting Room. Need a chill night out with some good tunes, a nice glass of wine, or a cocktail? Joe McCarthy is at Takeoff Rooftop Bar, John Rogers is at Vino Mas, and it is Jazz Night at The Tavern..
Here is the full lineup for tonight. Did you want to plan your weekend? You can do that HERE
Thursday May 23rd
Omar Coleman and Westside Soul at Granary Green 6PM (Omaha)
Mitch Gettman Trio at Bar 39 8PM (Omaha)
Oxymorrons with Post Profit and Foxpaw at Waiting Room Lounge 7PM (Omaha)
Srt KG, C10, BleezyG, Blak Dahlia, Dei Moreno, Catori, F$M, Self-Made & Tomorows Better at Reverb Lounge 8PM (Omaha)
Joe McCarthy at Takeoff Rooftop Bar in the Peregrine 6PM (Omaha)
Chris Shelton at Dubliner Pub 9:30 PM (Omaha)
John Rogers at Vino Mas 6:30PM (Omaha)
Back2Back at Copacabana Bar 9PM (Omaha)
Fender Bender at The Dock 6PM (Council Bluffs)
All Vinyl Hip-Hop night at 10Forward (Omaha)
Pop Go Shove it at The Drinkery 7PM (Omaha)
Artists Anonymous Open Mic at Beach House Bar 9:30PM (Omaha)
Jazz Night at The Tavern (Omaha)