Social Distortion, Tiger Army & The Explosion

Anyone who was on the Reno Hilton Casino floor the Thursday before Thanksgiving could tell that there was one hell of a punk show going on that night. The line of greasers and punk rockers started at the far side of the casino at the theater door and went all the way around to the opposite corner by the front desk. By the time we got in the door of the sold-out, nearly 2,000-person theater, The Explosion had just walked off the stage, so we decided to go back out the front door and to the small portable bar they had set up out front.
Soon after we returned, the lights went down; and after a few minutes, the "New" Tiger Army ran out onstage and started off with "We Come From Nowhere." While the kids were excited, we were all kind of sad to not see the familiar face of Fred Telles beating away on the drums. So after a couple new songs, including "Wander Alone," we decided to go get some fresh casino air and run for some more strong drinks. As we returned we could hear Nick 13 belting out the lines to "FTW," followed by "Cupid's Victim," so we new the set was coming to the end.
As the crowd shuffled out, we claimed our spot down in front for the reason any of us were really there - to see Social Distortion. With everything that Social Distortion has been through since they started in 1979, we were thinking this was probably going to be the last time we would have the privilege to see them play. With the death of Dennis Danell in 2000 and the departure of John Mauer in August of this year, the lineup has changed a bit. With Johnny "Two Bags" Wickersham (Cadillac Tramps) on guitar and Matt Freeman (Rancid) on bass, we knew we were in for a surprise. They opened with a song that we thought they might not play at all, "Don't Drag Me Down," and the crowd erupted in cheers and started to bounce and sway with the loud guitar riffs of the original OC punk band. After a couple more classics and an always rockin' version of "Under my Thumb" by The Rolling Stones, they played the new single "Reach for the Sky" followed by "Highway 101." It was back to the legendary stuff the rest of the night.
This was turning out to be a really kick ass set - they played a little of everything from staples like "Mommy's Little Monster" and "Sick Boy" to more obscure songs like "When She Begins" and "Makin' Believe" and then ended with the next single, "Nickels and Dimes." But what would a show be if there wasn't an encore, so of course they came back and played a couple more classics to please the crowd and told a couple of stories, like losing $400 the night before in the casino and gaining a '64 Gretsch from the local guitar shop.
I do have to say that this was probably the best show I have seen Social D put on. I don't know if there will ever be another Social Distortion album or tour ever again, but I believe everyone in attendance is now satisfied and can die happy.
- John Tauchman
- Photo by Alyssa Starkey

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