Mike Ness, best known as the lead singer/guitarist of So Cal punk band Social Distortion, has hit the road with a couple of his punk rock band mates Jonny Wickersham and Brent Harding. Along with Chris Lawrence on pedal steel and Dave Raven on drums to round out the band. Mike Ness’ solo work has the same gritty feel as always, but with a country/blues twist. Which is why Jesse Dayton was such a great match as an opener.
I was able to catch the show at The Troc in Philadelphia. It was fantastic from beginning to end. Jesse Dayton went on about 8:30 after most of the crowed had filed in, I really wondered how something like a honky tonk band from Texas was gonna go over in Philly, but the crowed absolutely loved them. The band covered The Cars song “Just what I needed” with a country twist to it. They also played “I’m At Home Getting Hammered (While She’s Out Getting Nailed)” a song from the Spinal Tap of country music, Banjo & Sullivan of which Dayton is part of.
After about a half hour of waiting between the two bands, Mike Ness hit the stage decked out in a cowboy hat, rodeo shirt and all. Of course he was down to a t-shirt and jeans by the third song. He covered songs by such country heroes as Hank Williams and Johnny Cash. I know what your thinking, and Ness didn’t play “Ring of Fire,” rather he played another Johnny Cash tune off Mike Ness’ CD Cheating at Solitaire, “Ballad of a Lonely Man”. Ness also covered a song by Rockabilly legend Carl Perkins, “Let That Jukebox Keep On Playing”. Along with a new original song “I think I’ll Stay” and of course what Mike Ness show would be complete without a honky tonk version of “Ball and Chain.” I’ve never heard a crowd scream “I’m born to lose and destined to fail” with just conviction. The show ended with a cover of “I Fought the Law” by The Clash.
