What’s not to love about Celtic punk music that glorifies drunken shenanigans and their love of hard-working Americans? The answer is absolutely nothing. In a glorious pre-St. Patrick’s Day kickoff, The Dropkick Murphys brought an abundance of Celtic pride to the Congress Theater to promote their recently released album, Going Out in Style.
Not many punk bands have the mainstream appeal of The Dropkick Murphys. After banding in 1996, Dropkick has won over punk crowds, sporting arenas, and even landed on a major motion picture soundtrack. Despite their rise in popularity, Dropkick has always stayed true to their original sound.
To paint the scene, imagine a crowded venue inhabitant by people of all walks of life. A buzz is in the air making everything feel electric. The crowd, without much prodding, was properly amped and ready to see the main event. The crowd begins chanting, “Let’s go Murphys,” while the anticipation level hit a fever pitch. Dropkick, never a band to disappoint, graced the stage and kept the intensity level up for the rest of the evening.
The set began with a song off of their new album. True to form, Dropkick came out strong and took the crowd on majestic journey through their discography with minimal hesitation between songs. Personal favorites, crowd pleasers, new, and even more obscure tracks fed the already captivated congregate of fans. Words cannot describe the feeling of seeing Dropkick perform tracks like “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” live. Simply put, their live performances are phenomenal.
Since high school, Dropkick’s infectious sound has peppered the soundtrack of my life. Below is a sample of some of my favorite tracks. Give ‘em a listen.
1). “Barroom Hero”
2). “The Gauntlet”
3). “The Spicy McHaggis Jig”
4). “Finnegan’s Wake”
5). “Boys on the Docks”
6). “I’m Shipping Up to Boston”
7). “Gangs All Here”
8). “Rocky Road to Dublin”
9). “Going Out in Style”
10). “The State of Massachusetts”
