Social Distortion Lollapalooza - Parkways Foundation Stage Chicago, IL August 7, 2010

Since then their songs have become the anthem for punk rockers of all ages. I was lucky enough to get pretty deep into the crowd during their show on Saturday night and I’m glad I did. Lady Gaga claimed that she was champion of the outcasts Friday night, yet those truly angst driven were at the Social Distortion shows. “This song is from our first album,” lead singer and guitarist Mike Ness told the crowd “back in 1983 when it was dangerous to walk the streets as a punk rocker.” He then went on to play a fantastic version of their first single “Mommy’s Little Monster.”

Given their punk rock status it is no surprise a mosh pit broke out early on in the set. Mosh pits are a staple of the punk world and despite the fact that they get bad a rep they’re a way for rockers to show a mutual respect for one another during the show. That being said you meet some of the strangest people inside a pit. Social Distortion somehow attracted a whole mess of surreal characters ranging from Green Man (from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) to the Banana Man (a regular in Chicago’s Lincoln Park community, he goes running around the neighborhood in only the top half of a banana suit to the confusion of many) seeing both in the same pit was surreal.

Although the crowd was several thousand deep, the band was kind enough to take the requests of those close enough to shout out to the band. As if fulfilling the dream of many in the crowd they played all of their standards and more. The surprise of the night was their own punk rock version of the Rolling Stone’s “Under My Thumb.” I’m a huge fan of any cover the band does and this was no exception. I admit the band is wonderful on their own but they should think about pulling a Johnny Cash and releasing a strictly covers album someday, they have done enough over the years.

Social Distortion was a perfect addition to the Lolla lineup. It seems that Farrell was going for more of an old school vibe when he picked the bands this year. Between Cypress Hill, AFI, Soundgarden and Green Day it seems like he was yearning another Gen-X revolution. I have no arguments, he managed to pick bands that I’ve wanted to see for years and put them all in one place.

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