Social Distortion – The Tossers – Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Congress Theatre – Neutron Bombs – Banner Pilot – The Pavers -All – Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL

Thursday we made our way to the Congress Theatre to check out Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band. They opened night two and got the crowd going with their cover of "Mama's Fried Tomatoes". This three-piece band was the perfect start for this line up. At the end of their set, the woman playing the washboard lit it on fire. FIRE! That's what I call a riot.
Next up was the Chicago-native Irish folk-punk band, The Tossers. I like them because they do it without sounding like every other Irish folk-punk band out there. "Dirty Old Town" seems to be mandatory for any band hanging their banner on the Irish folk-punk style, but their rendition is solid in the traditional with a Windy City flair that this LA girl liked. Their sound is true to traditional Irish-folk without the kitschy themes, and with just enough punk thrown in to keep the crowd sated, it was a refreshing tribute to the genre.

It seems no matter in what city Social Distortion plays, their fans flock in from near and far. Tonight was is no different. The stage is set, and as Social Distortion makes their entrance, the Congress Theatre shakes with applause. They play all the crowd favorites like "Ball and Chain", "Ring of Fire"  and new material from their latest album, "Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes", like "Machine Gun Blues" . While Johnny "Two Bags" Wickersham makes his guitar scream and squeal out a solo, Mike Ness has the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand (especially when he fist-bumped the 3-year-old who was sitting on the steps at the side of the stage).


     
As security helps a crowd-surfing fan make his way safely over the throngs of people against the barricade, he gives the fan a pat on the back. We have no trouble getting through the big crowd and make the assessment that everybody is nice in Chicago (Chicago natives may disagree, but hey! We can only compare this to LA). The crowd maintains a considerate distance from each other. Even the obligatory excited, sweaty, shirtless guy that is at every show feels no need to graze you with his sweatiness.  Meanwhile, a few feet forward, a police officer (working as security) pours water into the mouths of sweat-drenched fans who have, for hours, been holding their spot at the front. These are almost unseen acts of kindness that are a rare, if not never seen, sight back home in LA.  After the show, the Lobby of the Congress Theatre is filled with smiles and joy as each fan replays their experience to another fan.

Though the night is over for some, for us it has just started. We make our way across town to the Bottom Lounge to catch All. Although we miss Neutron Bombs who opened, we make it just in time to watch Banner Pilots last song. As The Pavers set up, we make our way to the front. The Pavers set is a delectable appetizer for the main course of All. When Pavers finish, the crowd moves in a little closer to the front, as All (tonight with Chad Price) is about take the stage. Many fans from within the crowd push their way to the front to sing their hearts out along with Chad. As the set continues the energy only grows; higher and higher until the humid room can no longer contain the electric energy that has been building. The front of the venue becomes a flow of movement. As the set ends the crowd calms and their faces, flushed red from activity, are serene and in a state of glee.

 

Social D set-list:


Road Zombie

Bad Luck

Nickels and Dimes

Story of My Life

Mommy's Little Monster

1945

Machine Gun Blues

Ball and Chain

So Far Away

Reach for the Sky

Gimme the Sweet and Lowdown

Don't Drag Me Down

Prison Bound

California (Hustle and Flow)

Can't Take It With You

Ring of Fire

 
 

                   More photos of the show can be seen HERE


      -Desire G.-
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter

 

 

 

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