Tag: Rockabilly

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Social Distortion — Hidden Gems from the B-Side (Week 35) 🖤

🎧 Making Believe • Born to Lose

As we search for meaning and purpose… some things are inevitable in life, like change.

In the pursuit of connection, some things are instinctual… like trying to bond with others, to feel understood, to love, and to be loved.

Some things have always been so from the beginning… like heartbreak, for example. It’s just as timeless.

“Making Believe” is a country song originally written by Jimmy Work in 1955, and it became a massive hit that same year for Kitty Wells. I love Mike’s version of it… it’s one of my favorite Social D songs.

The second song is “Born to Lose.” Although it shares a title with another country song from the ’40s by Ted Daffan and his Texans… it’s an original Mike Ness song.

I also added two great rare live performances of these songs. Mike has a great stage presence and really connects with the fans at his shows. He’s always seemed like just one of the guys… a fan himself.

Some things we just inherently understand, right? Whether we’ve lived long or are trying to figure it all out today.

Hope you enjoy.

Thanks for listening.

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Kitty Wells
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© 2026 Bryan Loia Hudson. All rights reserved.

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Social Distortion — Hidden Gems from the B-Side (Week 33) 🖤 e̷d̷i̷t̷e̷d̷

🎧 Bakersfield • Can’t Take It With You

Social Distortion’s story is pretty unique. Mike Ness is a unique guy. A lot of his roots are in old country music. He’s also got a solo record where he covers many old country songs.

But when he started the band in 1978, they were full-on punk, rebellious teenagers—completely immersed in that music scene.

Over the years, though, you can see the evolution. The country, rock, and blues slowly made its way into their sound, and it’s just so cool to see them still at it today.

Much respect.

Here are two from the later years.

🎧 Bakersfield

🎧 Can’t Take It With You

From the album Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes 2o11

I’ve also included a recent ½ hour performance from a few months ago for a small audience at a radio station in California promoting their new record, Born to Kill.

Hope you enjoy.

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© 2026 Bryan Loia Hudson. All rights reserved.

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Social Distortion — Hidden Gems from the B-Side (Week 30)

Reach for the Sky 🎶 Far Behind

Back around 2oO4, my baby sister met this guy. He was a punk rock skateboarder dude, not my sister’s normal type. His name was Tony. We became good friends. He hung out with guys in bands. On the weekends I would jam with them all. Tony turned me onto this next band, Mike Ness and the boys, aka Social Distortion, or Social D as their fans call them.

I had heard of them. I was familiar with two of their songs and I liked them, but I had no idea the depth of their music, and little did I know they would become my favorite.

Mike Ness is special. He founded the band in 1978 in Fullerton, California, Orange County, just outside of LA. Their early stuff was just raw rebellious punk rock, but they evolved into something unique. They are a mix of punk, country, rock, and blues, almost like a rockabilly type sound, very melodic but gritty. Mike writes great songs, lyrically and musically.

They are still going strong today, just put out a new record. They are true to themselves, the music, the fans. Mike and the boys are all heart. This is what I love about them. I think it’s why I connect like I do.

I have been deeply influenced by them. Tony died in a motorcycle accident a few years after I met him. I’m reminded of him often as I strum and sing their songs.

Here’s two good ones to start you off…

Reach for the Sky — 2oO4, Sex, Love and Rock ’n’ Roll 🎶

Far Behind — 2oO7, Greatest Hits 🎶

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© 2026 Bryan Loia Hudson. All Rights Reserved.

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