Social Distortion Brings Their Born To Kill Tour To Las Vegas

When it comes to socializing, my plans get distorted quickly when a concert is mentioned. I had the privilege of not only seeing but photographing Social Distortion last week, September 25, 2026, at The Chelsea inside the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, NV. My opinion on this band remains the same.

First, let’s go over the opening acts. Starting with The Chats. This Australian punk rock band was phenomenal! The first song was straight PUNK ROCK. The high energy, the yelling, the mosh pits. It was all there. They sounded great, never letting off the gas. This band is a reminder of why you get to concerts early. So you can discover a new band to throw onto that almost-cemented playlist.

Second band up: The Descendants. A band that has been around for a minute but with a reach that even younger generations can still rock out to. Watching them on stage still playing their music after all these years is so punk rock. No gimmicks, no fancy light show. Just pure music! If you get the chance, go see them. 

Social Distortion. Another band that has been around for almost 4 decades! Until that night, I had only listened to them on the local radio. Which then became our MP3 players, and now our phones. It’s hard when a band you like doesn’t sound the same live. This was not the case! Mike Ness voice sounds amazing! It’s just like the records. Watching them play the songs that introduced me to punk rock music. Just reminded me of the rides to school, listening to them on the radio. Our favorite bands won’t play forever, sadly. So take this as a reminder to get out and go to a show. To think, “Oh, they might not be as good as they used to be,” is dumb. To think, “Oh, we will catch the next one,” is dumb. The show was sold out; the floor was packed. I climbed to the top to take photos from a high angle… I just couldn’t. People were standing in aisles to see them play. After this show, I know why.

Social Distortion Setlist
Born To Kill
Ring of Fire
Untitled
Tonight
No Way Out
The Creeps
Mommy’s Little Monster
The Way Things Were
Lude Boy
Don’t Keep Me Hanging On
Partners In Crime
Prison Bound
Through These Eyes
Story of My Life
— Encore —
Reach for the Sky
Bad Luck
Don’t Drag Me Down