Exclusive: Social Distortion premieres new song, 'California (Hustle and Flow)'

 
This winter marks the long-gestating return of O.C. punk stalwarts Social Distortion, which begins 2011 with a string of shows around the Southwest and Southern California that will culminate in a three-night stint at the Palladium in Hollywood on Jan. 27-29. The shows come alongside the band's first studio album in six years, "Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes," its debut full-length for equally sturdy punk label Epitaph.

Times music writer Randy Lewis spent time with Distortion founder Mike Ness and the band while they were making the new record, and Ness spoke openly about the challenges of harnessing hardened emotions to create new sounds.  

“Changing the old anger is the challenge for me,” he said. “When I was 17, it was perfect, because I needed it. I needed it to defend myself against the attacking world, and I had plenty of it. Even in my 20s, it was great. Anger’s great for writing. Like everything, some of these things that were survival skills turn into a double-edged sword in your adult life -- they can affect your marriage, affect your relationship with your children, affect your relationships period. …

“It’s been a little turbulent,” he said, adding with a twisted smile: “It’s an interesting -- and stressful -- period in life, and that always does create a good record.”

Ness also spoke with Lewis about his feelings on stepping into the Epitaph Records family. The label, launched in the early 1980s by Bad Religion’s Brett Gurewitz, has, over the last three decades, built a sizable stable of punk, alternative, rock and even country acts.

“I have a feeling it’s the beginning of a very long relationship,” Ness said.

The full story of Social Distortion's return will go online later in the week, and appear in Sunday's print edition. For now, here's an exclusive track from the new album. The song is called "California (Hustle and Flow)," something that Ness and company know something about.

-- Randall Roberts

Photo: Mike Ness, center, performs with Social Distortion during KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas on Dec. 12 at the Gibson Amphitheatre. Credit: Luis Cinco / Los Angeles Times.

Comments

[milky]

Yeah very Stone's vibe too it..But man it's Social D,there doin something alittle Diffrent cool..It still sounds great..

[milky]

Very Stone's vibe but hey this is afterall Social Distorion..Im digging it...PLus i love the Stones...

[Kalle Ek]

Hey, I like it! Miss some "distortion" though, it's a bit to clean.
Something in between Bruce Springsteen and Rolling Stones.

ROCKING SWEDEN!!

[JC]

I grew up with the Stones and Social D and this song sounds like a really good stones song ( something they haven't done in a few years )Don't hate cuz itz not balls to the wall Punk.There's plenty of punk and country blues on this record. SocialD still makes me want to jump in the Pit.One thing to note - I can see this song being a killer live track with Mike and Johnny riffin with eachother.

[Kevin]

This song is a TRUE masterpiece, I like it a lot.
This a diffrent path for sur,e but it's perfect, flawless use of the gospel singers, perfecyt rhytm,, exile on main street vibe, double solo greasy...
PERFECT song !

[Theodore Jackson]

I second the props for the Cinderella comment. Folks..quit calling this punk rock. It's not! Does not mean its bad.. (its average)..but a lot closer to classic rock than punk rock.Is everyone ignoring the fact that Dennis Danell is missing..a chief component of the SD sound? Perhaps a much greater component of the songwriting than ever credited for. SD has been a guilty pleasure since 1945/Mommy's Little Monster..probably will remain so..but not punk rock in years.

[El Tiger 11]

Now let me start that I have been a huge fan for 20+ years. I have followed every record release eagerly. I have seen the band live and met the band a couple of times. I love the band.

Having said that. That song california hustle and flow is probably the lamest song they have ever done. Now I really like when they have done a song that wasn't regretful or angry. Highway 101 is a classic, because of the positive tone. This song is so weak. Black crowes crap! The good thing about this record is its 100 percent Ness produced. So he is the only one to blame for this stinker...I hope the rest of the record is better...

[Trever Towne]

Jgreens is an idiot and has no idea about anything,and is obviously too young to understand anything. you should just really learn to be silent instead of speak when you have no idea about anything,talking without knowledge makes you sound really unintelligent.

[Trever Towne]

Jgreens,

Obviously your very young and ignorant and i dont hold you against your dumb comment about ness burying punk rock. With age you will learn and grow and evolve as a person, or you just die. You should learn to not speak when you dont have any knowledge or life experience in your mind or heart,because it makes you sound like an idiot.

p.s. i love the new songs that i have heard fellas. i absolutely love them and cant wait to buy the album.yes i am goign to buy it instead of pirating it,because you deserve it.

[Jean-Louis Brunet]

Can't wait for SD concert in SF in Feb! Thanks for that great song!!

[German kraut]

Toller Song. Die Backing vocals sind ein Traum. So kanns weitergehen.

[Ken B.]

I'm an east coast old skooler in my mid 40's and Social D. continues to excite me with every song they release. Mike Ness epitomizes cool. Seeing Social D. with The Ramones in Boston was a dream come true!!

[BruCo]

Some are gonna love this, some are gonna like it, and some are gonna cry "this ain't punk...". Everybody has a right to their own opinion, but to those who are crying Ness and SxDx have sold out and have 'buried punk' - grow up, wake up, and don't be such idiots! What Ness and SxDx have accomplished is huge and will forever leave a mark on punk/rock/music forever and rightly so! To expect them, as men in their mid/late 40's, to play/write/sing as they did in their late teens is just ridiculous. Mike Ness is the man! Can't wait to see them in S.F., again! If you've never seen him on a solo tour, check it out: he rocks ('Dope Fiend Blues' live is UNBELIEVABLE!!!)! From what I've heard this album is going to be at least 'very good' or possibly great - can't wait for the 18th!!! Social Distortion keeps on rockin'

[Chris]

Being a fan of Social D and hating the Black Crows makes absolutely no since. They're both influenced immensely by The Stones. The musical styles are very closely related.

To the comments in general, and future comments not yet posted. Seriously people. Being open minded isn't an insult to punk rock. Some of the talk in these comments is the same kind of close mindedness punk rockers were rebelling against in the first place. Music is music. End of story. It's all intertwined. I'd love to jam to this song. And if you hate it so much, it's just one freaking song. Skip it. You can hear most of the other harder songs which are on the album played at shows on youtube anyway. They're not like this. If you are this kind of person, be the idiot who only has one mood or likes one tempo , or one amount of distortion and only listens to the songs he absolutely %100 loves upon first listen. Be afraid you may grow to like it after hearing it again.

[altamont kid]

hmmm, I dig what they seem to be going for (f'rinstance, Exile-era Stones is some of the finest music ever). I loved the keyboards added on the last album, I think it was one of their best in fact. so no, I don't necessarily need to have an album that follows any sort of punk template. but, BUT, if it's a Social Distortion record, I do expect the songs to have some teeth. and this, whatever else you wanna say about it, does not.

[Joe from NYC]

Social d is my favorite band of all time BUT........you gotta be kidding me with this CRAP ! Where is the ANGER...the PAIN...the HATE.. Why change..if it isnt broke, dont fix it. For instance the RAMONES.....a three cord barage for over twenty years and they kicked ass till the day they died....R.I.P. guys. Mike you guys are letting all your old school fans down. you talk about the new generation all the time but tell me this....why would they want to listen to this....the whiney love songs are getting OLD !!!!

[Keith Jerszyk]

Different vibe but still cool. Some bands develope a basic template that they follow for their whole careers ( AC/DC, Supersuckers, etc...) and Social D could have easily taken the same approach. They redeveloped their pop sensability on their last album and I like the Americana direction they're moving in. It fits. Ness has always mentioned his large list of influences beyond the punk rock scene and this is almost a nice mix of stones swagger and his country stuff from his solo records. Us true fans will always rush to the front of the stage when the opening bends of "mommies little monster" kick in but it's gonna be nice to hang by the bar and enjoy the new stuff. I'm getting old!

[Robert]

Cool song! Thanks for posting and it definitely has a Stones feel with the backing vocals, but is still decidedly Social D too!

[Jan]

I don´t care if it´s punkrock or not. Do think it´s a bad song that makes me think of bad metal ballads. Macine Gun Blues is way better though so there´s hope for the new album. But i hope the SD are coming to sound more like Ness solo albums than the horrible California Hustle And Flow song.

[brandon brown]

I can't wait for the 18th to roll around! counting down the days. and ill be at the warfield on the 3rd. i dont understand why some people are disappointed with the newest tracks. i loved "somewhere between heaven and hell". i recently got my chick into social d (she just moved here from idaho) and she loves it. mike ness is the only musician that i can honestly say has writen every song to perfection. im stoked hes still in the biz. keep it up!

[GetaLife]

I guess you all have never listed to Mike Ness's other work outside of SD.

Great song guys!

[Jonathan]

I cannot wait for this album.

[mike ohalloran]

wow!!!!,,,reading some /most of the comments ya haters just dont get it and u never will,,,this isnt 1982 the great bands grow and dont care if they are on the radio or have gold albums in their hallway,,,THank you mike for keeping it real otherwise my kids would be stuck on beiber and cyrus,,,,,,my 9 yr old daughter(which your buffalo show last yr was her 1st) asked why all the good bands are dead,,,,,,,

[Tanya]

I love Social D and love the new album! Can't wait to see them again!

[Brian Butcher]

This is a very upbeat and fun tune, way to go guys, be happy, and succeed!