SOCIAL DISTORTION + SPLIT DOGS @ KOKO, CAMDEN, 16TH JUNE 2026

Social Distortion materialise at Camden’s KOKO for what, apart from their appearance at Download Festival, is the only UK date of their tour in support of their Born To Kill album. Support comes from Split Dogs, who I’d seen supporting Gogol Bordello in Brighton last year.

Split Dogs are an old-school punk band. So much so, in fact, that opening song Gutterball sounds a tad like The Damned’s Love Song. Split Dogs hark back to a time when punk bands didn’t necessarily decry the use of blues scales. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that guitarist Mil Martinez looks a little like Tony McPhee from The Groundhogs. Whoever he looks like, there are some right meaty sounds coming from his Gibson SG.

Prison Bitch is dedicated to Social Distortion, whilst Monster Truck starts with a suitably crunching bass riff courtesy of Suez Boyle. Harry Martinez, meanwhile, is a commanding frontperson and owns the stage from the get-go.

Be Somebody boasts a spectacularly high-octane guitar intro. Essentially, this is blues-based rock with punk attitude in spades. Set closer Punch Drunk is very fast and, like the set in general, ends far too soon. Split Dogs are an electrifying live band and are well worth a look.

Tonight’s gig is long sold out, and people have travelled from far and wide to see Social Distortion. I speak to one gentleman who has travelled from Edinburgh specially for this gig. Another, from Chicago, is on holiday in London and can’t believe that Social Distortion are playing. The band excite near-religious fervour, and there is a tangible atmosphere before they are anywhere near due to be onstage.

They rather appropriately walk on to David Bowie’s Rebel Rebel, and with a complete absence of fannying about, crash straight into Born To Kill, the title track of their latest album, released last month. Without wishing to disrespect any of the other members of the band, Mike Ness essentially is Social Distortion. He has been in the band since the very beginning in 1978. He writes the songs, sings the songs and plays most of the lead guitar. Having said that, most of the other band members have been around for at least fifteen years, with guitarist Johnny “2 Bags” Wickersham having been in post for twenty-six years.

Untitled, from 1996’s White Light, White Heat, White Trash album, features the first deployment of touring keyboard player David Kalish on electric piano. I’d always thought of Social Distortion as being primarily a guitar band; it’s only when you see them live that you realise just how many of their songs have keyboard parts. I must confess that, at this stage of the show, the crowd isn’t as energetic or bouncy as I expected them to be. Then again, many of them are gentlemen of a certain age.

Mike Ness tells us that No Way Out is “kind of about arrested development”. He also says that it’s something that applies particularly to touring musicians. Well, I can understand that. Johnny “2 Bags” Wickersham, by this stage, is on a Les Paul Junior and makes one of his occasional forays into playing lead. Mommy’s Little Monster, from 1983, elicits a sea change in the audience’s demeanour, with a pretty riotous mosh pit developing. The old guys clearly still have it.

Far Side Of Nowhere, from Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes, is about escapism. Certainly, the guitar is very Paisley Underground, redolent of The Long Ryders and The Dream Syndicate.

Mike Ness apologises for the activities of the USA in recent times, and particularly for the Trump administration. The desire to apologise is understandable, but it really isn’t your fault, Mike. Large chunks of the crowd sing along with Ball And Chain, which also features a Hammond-sounding keyboard part.

The main set closes with The Story Of My Life. Both Mike Ness and Johnny “2 Bags” Wickersham are on lead, and the mosh pit is well and truly active. The band are gone for a few minutes before returning with a cover of Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game. They cover this on the current Born To Kill album, and it’s a creditable version.

Reach For The Sky sounds utterly rabid and features a very rock ’n’ roll piano solo. Dear Lover is followed by Don’t Drag Me Down, which Mike Ness dedicates to “the orang-utan who runs our country right now”.

This gig has been truly incendiary. It’s astonishing to think that, in two years’ time, Social Distortion will be celebrating their fiftieth anniversary. I’d like to finish with a direct message to Mike Ness: please do a UK tour. The Brits think you’re amazing, and you would sell out everywhere. Honest.

Words: Mark Kelly Photos: Cris Watkins