The sudden death last year of bassist Dennis Danell from a brain aneurism threw the band into an extended hiatus, but they’ve regrouped and are ready to reclaim the road with a West Coast club tour.

The outing kicks off July 6 in Ventura, Calif., and hits clubs in Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Tucson and Phoenix before stopping July 13 for a shed gig at the Coors Amphitheatre near San Diego.

A definite tour highlight will be the July 7 Hootenanny at Hidden Valley, a venue near the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine, Calif. Post-punk meets hillbilly in the wilds of Orange County as Social Distortion headlines a bill including Chuck Berry, Reverend Horton Heat, Supersuckers, the Blasters, John Doe, Paladins, Amazing Crowns, and Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys.

Social D has been shakin’ the rafters since 1978 behind frontman Mike Ness – who has become a hot draw as a solo act as well.

With a potent mix of punk, blues, country and rockabilly, Social D has endured changes in musical tastes and social attitudes to remain a popular draw.

They’ve built and hung on to a loyal fan base with their live shows, and with albums like Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell and White Light, White Heat, White Trash.