Hilton Head Island offers 12 miles of beautiful beaches, a warm, temperate climate most of the year, and some spectacular golf courses…all great reasons to visit. There’s even a classic red and white striped lighthouse for those infected with terminal nostalgia. But if shell hunting, golfing and tennis don’t float your boat, there’s always the new, state-of-the-art concert venue known as the Shoreline Ballroom to check out. Sitting 300 feet from the ocean, the Shoreline Ballroom located inside the newly renovated Ocean Center is 11,000 square feet of art deco opulence complete with professional lighting and a killer sound system. Table seating and dance floors lend a more personal approach than a traditional concert atmosphere.

Plan a getaway around Sunday, October 25th, and you can catch Social Distortion in concert at the Shoreline Ballroom. Social Distortion has been around since the late ’70s, laying down an earthy, energetic style with roots deeply embedded in punk. They have a mixed-genre style venturing out in all directions, from classic cowpunk to blues, rockabilly and the occasional straight-up country tune. Mike Ness leads the band with an adrenaline fueled, in-your-face guitar performance and throaty vocals. Ness relates a checkered personal history of drug abuse, death, loss and pathos through lyrics that touch on universal truths anyone can relate to. Rolling Stone likens the band’s vocal style to The Clash, circa 1977.

Social Distortion’s appeal is multi-generational, like many bands still performing after 24 years. Fans from the ’70s are still loyal, if a bit more gray, and the band has found a new audience in today’s kids. One reason fans cite for the continued popularity of the band as it evolves is consistency. They have a distinctive, if multi-hued style, and they stick to the program to deliver the sound fans have come to expect. Social Distortion can usually be found in California coast venues, and their concerts invariably sell out. So if you want to attend, get your tickets early before the 1600 seat venue sells out.

Popular Sacramento band Middle Class Rut, a band well known for its loud, raucous style and angst-filled lyrics, will be replacing Tat, the band originally scheduled to open for Social Distortion on this tour. No word on the reason for the switch, but it looks like Tat has jumped on the Warped Tour bus, so maybe that’s the answer. Middle Class Rut is relatively new on the scene, but gaining ground fast. Also performing will be L.A. band The Strangers. Tickets to the show are $27 advance and $20 at the door – if you can get them.

If you need a place to stay, the Shoreline Ballroom sits on a 53-acre oceanfront property shared by the very affordable Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort. Hilton Head Rentals & Golf boasts quite a few rentals in the area. Consider a rental in the Folly Field neighborhood that can accommodate groups from 2 to 12! Our Rentals at the Beach and Tennis Resort afford all of the amenities you’ve come to expect from a Hilton Head SC Vacation.

So… what are you doing on October 25?