Shepherds Bush is awash with punks from all over the UK and beyond tonight as fans have been gathering for the final and lone UK date on a European jaunt from American punk rock heavyweights Social Distortion. Having stopped off in the pub next door for some pre-show refreshments following our long trip up to the Smoke, the Uber Rock massive managed to miss support band Crazy Arm but left plenty of time to check out the merch and get ready to rock with Mr Ness and co. 

The Empire is a grand theatre and it's not the first foray into this side of olde London for the band, but I can't help but feel they'd be better suited to a venue like the sadly now gone Astoria rather than this three tiered venue more suited for panto and such like, but I guess the size of hall a band like Social Distortion demands is diminishing by the day even in a city steeped in such rock 'n' roll tradition as London, perhaps Camden's Electric Ballroom would have got my choice but that's by the by anyway and maybe a debate for another day.  Tonight was all about the music and how much of the new album was going to be slotted into the set and more importantly what Social Distortion classics would make way for them in the 90 minute set that was about to unfold before us lucky ticket holders.

As the band gather on the side of the stage, the lights go out, the muzak fades and 'Road Zombie' kicks in reminding me of what 'Pipeline' was to a Johnny Thunders show. 'Road Zombie' makes perfect sense here in a live environment and already people down the front are losing their minds. A rather dapper looking Mike Ness takes to the centre stage, tonight sporting a trilby hat, black shirt, slacks and brogues finished off with some fetching white braces looking like he's just fallen out of some speakeasy after an all day session with Bugsy Malone with his now familiar Les Paul strapped to his midriff.  'Bad Luck', 'Story Of My Life' get dispatched in the first four songs and it then becomes obvious with this being the last night of the European tour that a hefty chunk of the new album will get an airing with 'Nickels And Dimes' being sandwiched between the two previously mentioned SD classics. Jonny Wickersham is playing like a man possessed and a mighty fine six string slinger he is too and the perfect foil for Ness. Tonight fans were treated to the already mentioned 'Road Zombies', 'Nickels And Dimes', 'Machine Gun Blues', 'Gimme The Sweet And Lowdown' and the encore of 'California (Hustle And Flow)', complete with the gospel ladies on stage right adding some variety to the backing vocals on one of the stronger tracks off 'Hard Times And Nursery Rhymes' and it's on these songs you notice how damned slick and tight this band is right now.

Being dogged by the curse of in-ear monitors Ness never misses a note or lets it get in the way of the music even if it is becoming an increasing irritation to the frontman. Old classic 'Dear Lover' was a personal highlight tonight and such a great song as with pretty much all of them is delivered with passion and gusto a plenty. The same can be said for 'Don't Drag Me Down', and perhaps my only slight gripe is the band could have played a few more of the more uptempo oldies but that might just be me being greedy and wanting more. If I had my way I'd have demanded the band stay on stage for at least three hours and just about cover every album, but we all know that isn't going to happen, so I make do with 'Prison Bound' and 'Mommies Little Monster' both sounding superb and as fresh as the day they were written.  

Before the band end the main section of their set they managed to get a little crowd participation going on Hank Williams' 'Six More Miles' then off they trooped. For the encore Ness pulled out two younger looking lads and applauded them for being there down the front and hopefully carrying the torch for the next generation and he seemed totally sincere in thanking them for getting into the band and as a reward he then handed them both a tenner each and told them to go buy something cold which made me laugh because I don't think they were selling ice cream in the foyer tonight (I jest of course, they were). Anyway after 'Don't Drag Me Down' it was curfew time and only the now familiar 'Ring Of Fire' was left to be played before the band exited the stage to rapturous applause and the sweat soaked audience filed out into the bootleg t-shirt strewn street, hoping that it won't be too long before Mr Ness returns to these shores and maybe for more than just a one off, eh? 

With a punk rock beating heart and plenty of attitude still coursing through their veins, an hour and a half spent in the company of such a good band isn't just a joy it's a goddamn privilege. Long live Social Distortion!