It was a big deal that Social Distortion played Jannus Live last Friday, Nov. 13. Add to that, two top-notch openers — rootsy troubadour Frank Turner from England and Tennessee rustic favorite Lucero — and you had the formula for a sell-out show.

Social Distortion has attracted fans of, I dunno, at least three generations and doesn't resort to being too gimmicky with their old-fashioned approach to what you could loosely call a mix of punk rock and rockabilly styles. While so many bands that sport a vintage cachet can tend to be predictable, Social Distortion has managed to transcend the trappings of both the greaser and punk scenes with their rousing harmonies, tight musicianship and unapologetic lyrics.

All three acts delivered rocking, spirited sets, giving the crowd more than their ticket price-worth of all-out concert experience — despite the pesky hassles of sound issues, weird odors and bustle of a sold-out standing-room-only show.

This article appears in Nov 11-17, 2010.