Social Distortion performs at the Fillmore in San Francisco on Dec. 13, 2024. Photos: Ammar Chishty.

SAN FRANCISCO — Social Distortion’s run at the legendary Fillmore just seemed to keep getting longer. First announced as a pair of shows on the band’s holiday tour, new gigs kept getting added on, growing to a five-show Bay Area residency. Each night’s set has brought a different setlist and opening act. Friday’s sold-out show was a testament to Mike Ness and company’s four decades of material.

After a barrage of opening tracks, Ness took on the role of a punk rock storyteller, offering up a few quips about the origins of the songs or where his headspace was around the time he wrote them.

“It’s great to be anywhere; it’s good to be alive,” Ness said. “We’re gonna go gonna back in time a little bit.”

Guitarist Jonny Wickersham, bassist Brent Harding, drummer David Hidalgo Jr. and touring keyboard player David Kalish were was tight and focused, churning out riff after riff over punchy punk-rock rhythms. “Born to Kill” and “So Far Away” ignited the show’s energetic start.

“We used to come to San Francisco and play anywhere that would have us,” Ness recalled. “I see some old-timers out there that have been following us for 40 years.”

There was a diverse generational split in the crowd, from the more seasoned fans to a decidedly younger set just starting their journey in punk rock. Regardless, everyone came together around the band and its beloved material.

“Thanks for coming out tonight; you could’ve stayed home and watched reruns,” Ness said leading into “Machine Gun Blues.”

Social Distortion performs at the Fillmore in San Francisco on Dec. 13, 2024.

Ness is the focal point of the band’s performance, from his distinct gravely vocal to stepping away from the mic to rip a bluesy guitar solo. The vocalist and guitarist kept the mood light and maintained a healthy banter with the crowd throughout the show.

“Not every song has to be deep and dark and full of pain and misery. There’s plenty of life to celebrate,” Ness said before “Far Side of Nowhere.”

The 18-song set included a little bit of everything across the Social Distortion discography, fusing deeper cuts with more well-known tracks. Ness spoke to his upbringing as a musician in the ’70s and ’80s, and how things back then were much more about rock and roll than about technology. Social D brought up BellRays guitarist Bob Vennum a few times to play additional layers of guitar, often acoustic, into the mix.

While the audience was engaged throughout, the real magic came during the band’s final third of its set. Many of the band’s bigger songs came toward the end. When the band broke into the anthemic “I Was Wrong,” the pit started to move, and the voices of the crowd singing along got even louder. Attendees bounced along and sang just as much for the punk sway of “Ball and Chain.”

Social Distortion went off for the quickest of encore breaks, offering a “thank you” on the way out.

Then, the band laid down a crowd-pleasing three-song encore sequence. Ness began with a tale about seminal cut “Story of My Life,” for which he said he initially received pushback because it wasn’t written in the original punk style. Then there was a stellar cover of “Ring of Fire,” the band’s typical closer. Finally, it was “Bad Luck” that closed the show and sent fans outside into the storm.

After 40 years leading a band and more than 60 on the planet, Mike Ness is still getting it done as a frontman on the stage and in the studio.

The BellRays perform at the Fillmore in San Francisco on Dec. 13, 2024.

The opening slot for the night was awarded to SoCal garage punk band The BellRays. Vocalist Lisa Kekaula was a presence unto herself onstage. The band’s sound is a fascinating mix of old-school punk rock and Motown soul, with four-part harmonies. Kekaula was rarely without some sort of percussive instrument in her hands, from shakers to tambourines—and even a fold-out fan.

“This is your show; we just happen to be playing it,” said Kekaula, who spent the majority of her talking time on positivity and lifting people up in the crowd.

The band dipped into some extra material: a pair of Christmas originals. Kekaula was part Tina Turner or James Brown, with a healthy dose of rock and roll.

Social Distortion will be back at it this weekend with a couple more shows.