Archive Review: Mike Ness's Under The Influences (1999)

Completing the creative circle that he began earlier this year with the release of his first solo disc, Cheating At Solitaire, Mike Ness delivers his late ‘90s version of Bowie’s Pin-Ups with Under the Influences. Country and rockabilly influences were much in evidence on Cheating At Solitaire, and really seem to provide a comfortable fit for Ness. Although firmly identified with his punk persona as the gravel-voiced, guitar-bashing frontman for the twenty-year-old Social Distortion, Ness is, at heart, one of those greasy guys from down the street with his “Born To Lose” tattoo and an oil-dripping, high-powered Mopar muscle car in the yard. Since I grew up with those guys in the rural outskirts of Nashville, as did Ness, I can readily identify with his gradual evolution back to his roots.

Under the Influences focuses on the country, honky-tonk, and rockabilly music that Ness has come to love and throws out inspired covers of folks like Hank Williams (naturally), Harlan Howard, Carl Perkins, and Marty Robbins, among others. The performances are delivered with passion and energy, bridging the musical gap between the natural early rebelliousness of C & W and surly punk attitude. Not that these are punked-up covers, mind you – Ness plays it straight, with reverent readings of such classics as Robbins’ “Big Iron,” Wanda Jackson’s “Funnel of Love” (also covered nicely this year by former punk diva Rosie Flores), and Bobby’s Fuller’s “I Fought the Law.” Under the Influences closes with a cowpunk version of Social D’s own “Ball And Chain.” It’s an overall spirited effort, and if Ness and crew turn one young punk poseur onto Hank or Marty with Under the Influences, then their work here is done. (Time Bomb Recordings)

Review originally published by Alt.Culture.Guide™ zine, 1999