Apart From Social Distortion, Ness Tries a Little Tenderness

“Proceed with caution” may not be the expected watchword for one of Southern California’s most accomplished, authentic and emphatic punk rockers, but that was the gist of Mike Ness’ show Monday at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.

It was Ness’ first home-county concert apart from Social Distortion, his band of 20 years, and just the third he’s played since forming a new touring band to perform material from his first solo album, “Cheating at Solitaire.” It’s a strong album that takes no radical departures from the themes that typify his work as leader of Social Distortion, which is on extended hiatus. But it does broaden his palette of rhythms, sounds, dynamics and moods, and includes the first tender ballads of Ness’ career.

Ideally, Ness would have made those exceptional ballads the focal points of the show, but he failed to fully exploit their warm-hearted edges.

In bearing, Ness, 37, was the same proud, swaggering tough guy as ever, trading his Social Distortion gangster’s fedora for a black cowboy hat in keeping with the country flavor of many of the songs.

Showing a different face to the folks who have known you longest and best isn’t an easy thing to do; maybe while he is on tour, Ness will become more comfortable drawing sharper lines between his past and his present.

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* Mike Ness plays Monday-May 5 at the El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, 8 p.m. (323) 936-4790. All shows sold out.