The Dropkick Murphys are the closest that the USA have to offer when it comes to highspeed Celtic punk folk rock. It's not the real thing, but they get good grades for trying. They sing about the bells of St. Mary's (Famous For Nothing), booze (The Dirty Glass), the law (Citizen C.I.A.) and girls called Tessie.
The Murphys book the Lansdowne in Boston, MA, for seven shows in six days (March 12-17, 2009) and picked the best racks for a live CD and DVD. Boston is the American capital of folks of Irish ancestry, giving the band a hometown advantage. They were joined on stage by the Bunker Hill Pipe Band, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, singer Liza Graves, the Rock Solid String Section and the Forbes Academy of Irish Dance. Not that it makes a difference - the trademark hoarse vocals, the lyrics about the predicaments of Joe Six-pack with galloping guitars and wailing bagpipes are embraced with utter joy by the crowd who finally invade the stage while the band keeps playing.
Dropkick Murphys
Al Barr: lead vocals
Ken Casey: bass guitar, lead vocals
Matt Kelly: drums, bodhran, vocals
James Lynch: guitar, vocals
Scruffy Wallace: bagpipes, tin whistle
Tim Brennan: guitar, accordion, vocals
Jeff DaRosa: acoustic guitar, banjo, bouzouki, keyboard, mandolin, whistle, organ, vocals
Live On Lansdowne is released on Born & Bred Records. Release date: March 16.
Tracks:
- Famous For Nothing
- The State Of Massachusetts
- Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya
- Time To Go
- Sunshine Highway
- Flannigan’s Ball
- Bastards On Parade
- God Willing
- Caught In A Jar
- Captain Kelly’s Kitchen
- Citizen C.I.A.
- Fields Of Athenry
- Your Spirit’s Alive
- The Warrior’s Code
- The Dirty Glass
- Tessie
- Forever 2009?
- Worker’s Song
- Kiss Me, I’m Sh*tfaced
- I’m Shipping Up To Boston
Video: Dropkick Murphys - Live On Lansdowne Trailer
USA live dates:
- 03/01 Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
- 03/02 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
- 03/03 Austin, TX @ Stubb’s
- 03/05 Tampa, FL @ The Ritz
- 03/06 Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution Live
- 03/07 Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
- 03/08 Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
- 03/09 Washington, DC @ 9.30 Club
- 03/10 Wallingford, CT @ The Dome at Oakdale Theatre
- 03/12 Boston, MA @ House of Blues
- 03/13 Boston, MA @ House of Blues
- 03/14 Boston, MA @ House of Blues
- 03/15 Boston, MA @ House of Blues
- 03/16 Boston, MA @ House of Blues
- 03/17 Boston, MA @ House of Blues
UK and Irish dates:
- 04/12 Glasgow, Scotland @ Barrowland
- 04/13 Newcastle, UK @ O2 Academy
- 04/14 Leeds, UK @ O2 Academy
- 04/15 Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy
- 04/16 Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy
- 04/17 Nottingham, UK @ Rock City
- 04/18 Brixton, UK @ O2 Academy
- 04/20 Belfast, Northern Ireland @ St. George’s Market
- 04/21 Cork, Ireland @ Savoy Theatre
- 04/22 Dublin, Ireland @ Olympia Theatre
» dropkickmurphys.com