THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York City, Feb. 25, 1986

* Social Distortion - hardcore punk rock band
* Lead vocalist Mike Ness - cowpunk music
* Ritz nightclub concert advertisement 

Page 100 has a 7 x 5 inch advertisement for a upcoming "SOCIAL DISTORTION" concert at the Ritz nightclub in Manhattan. (see images)
Background: The February 22, 1986 show at The Ritz serves as a vital bridge between first-wave hardcore punk and the roots-driven "cowpunk" sound that defined Social Distortion's later career. Coming immediately after frontman Mike Ness's recovery from severe drug addiction and the band’s mid-80s hiatus, this concert signaled a triumphant resurrection on one of New York City's premier underground stages. Surrounded by iconic hardcore peers like Murphy's Law and Scream, Social Distortion used this specific gig to road-test a slower, grittier musical direction influenced by country and rockabilly. This transitional set would ultimately lay the groundwork for their 1988 album Prison Bound, effectively saving the band from obscurity and reshaping the trajectory of alternative rock by proving that punk could evolve past raw speed into mature, storytelling rock 'n' roll.
I suspect this to be an extremely rare item because there was really no reason to save it at the time.
The Village Voice was an American counterculture newspaper known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. It introduced free-form, high-spirited, and passionate journalism into the public discourse - a tradition it maintained throughout its 60+ year history. It is quite common to find great political cartoons, satirical cartoons and articles, thought-provoking editorials, and ads and reviews for both concerts and theater productions - both on and off Broadway. Many iconic writers and musicians credit their appearance in The Village Voice for at least a portion of their success.
Complete in 136 pages, one fold across the center, nice condition.

Provenance: This issue comes from The Village Voice's own archives, part of their in-house collection used to create their digital archive.

 Alert: Many issues of The Village Voice contain articles and/or photos which some consider offensive, and are certainly inappropriate for children. If purchasing, please do so with discretion.