Photo credit: Michael Sparks Keegan
Dropkick Murphys just wrapped their sold out For The People…In The Pit St. Patrick’s Day Tour, filled with highlights including a special appearance by longtime DKM vocalist Al Barr. The band have now announced a special acoustic performance at the March 28 No Kings Boston rally on Boston Common. Keep reading below for more.
For nearly 30 years, through their music and charity work, Dropkick Murphys have advocated for workers’ rights and human rights. No Kings Boston is expected to be Massachusetts’ biggest display of people power yet, as constituents mobilize en masse in nonviolent protest against the authoritarian takeover of the United States and for a democracy that works for everyone.
Dropkick Murphys’ “Spirit of ’96” 30th birthday homecoming in Boston on March 13, 14, 15 and 17 was not only a celebration of three decades of the band’s music, but of community: an opportunity to give back and a recognition of the bands, the scene, and the people who helped shape Dropkick Murphys. For these shows, Dropkick Murphys invited bands and friends from the mid-90s Boston punk scene to reunite (or play a rare show) as part of a special throwback weekend.
Here are some of the highlights from the shows at MGM Music Hall at Fenway and Citizens House Of Blues
Friday, March 13 – MGM Music Hall at Fenway:
Dropkick Murphys kicked off the weekend festivities with Union Night, welcoming about 1,000 local AFL-CIO affiliated union members to start the night early at MGM Music Hall at Fenway with an exclusive performance before doors opened to the public for the Friday night show.
Commenting on the Friday evening event, Chrissy Lynch, President of Massachusetts AFL-CIO said, “The Dropkick Murphys share our passion towards creating an economy that actually works for working people, they share our commitment to calling out injustice when we see it, and they too reject the divisive culture wars being used to pit working people against each other while the billionaire class gets richer. We appreciate Ken and the band using their voice and their stage to highlight the struggles of the working class, and we are so proud to partner with them to bring union members in Massachusetts together for a night of fun.”
The Friday night show that followed included Dropkick Murphys’ live debut of their new song “Only The Strong,” from the Dropkick Murphys / Haywire New England Forever 12” vinyl split LP, now available via the DKM webstore and all digital platforms here.
Fans had the chance to hear the Boston bands perform two additional songs from the split LP on Friday, Saturday and Sunday when Ken Casey joined Haywire for his vocal part on “New England Forever” and later in the night, Haywire’s Austin Sparkman joined Ken Casey on vocals for DKM’s “Citizen I.C.E.” (a reimagined version of their 2005 song “Citizen C.I.A.”). “Citizen I.C.E.” was released last month, just ahead of Dropkick Murphys’ March 6 “Abolish I.C.E.” / Alex Pretti Memorial Concert in Minneapolis.
Friday’s show also featured a guest duet with Ken Casey and union member (and Lizzie Borden and the Axes frontwoman) Heather Fahey for “The Dirty Glass,” which has become a tradition for the two during the past few years.
Earlier in the evening, underground 1990s punk bands The Vigilantes and The Showcase Showdown reunited and played their first shows in decades. Dropkick Murphys’ Jeff DaRosa reprised his role as bassist for The Vigilantes, while DKM’s Tim Brennan filled in on drums.
Saturday, March 14 – MGM Music Hall at Fenway:
On Saturday afternoon at MGM Music Hall, Dropkick Murphys played their annual family-friendly afternoon VIP mini-concert to benefit the band’s charity, The Claddagh Fund. During the show, the band presented a check for $60,000 to Franciscan Children’s Hospital, from funds raised from ticket sales for this intimate event.
The nighttime concert featured the final show with Dropkick’s national For The People…In The Pit St. Patrick’s Day Tour support acts Haywire and The Aggrolites both on the bill.
Sunday, March 15 – MGM Music Hall at Fenway:
Dropkick Murphys wrapped the MGM Music Hall at Fenway run of shows with a special “Red Bandana Night” theme, honoring 9/11 hero Welles Crowther (“The Man In The Red Bandana”), an equities trader, volunteer firefighter and Boston College alumnus who lost his life while saving others during the collapse of the World Trade Center in New York City.
Just prior to Dropkick Murphys’ performance of their song “A Hero Among Many”–a tribute to Welles Crowther—family members joined the band onstage and Welles’ mother Alison Crowther passed out red bandanas to the crowd during the song in memory of her son. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from tickets for this show were donated to the Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust, with the band presenting a check for $10,000 to Alison Crowther on stage.
Sunday evening closed with a spectacular collaboration with the Boston College Screaming Eagles marching band, performing DKM fan favorite “I’m Shipping Up To Boston.”
Sunday night also featured rare appearances from Boston punk bands The Ducky Boys (where Dropkick Murphys’ James Lynch got his start) and The Unseen.
Dropkick Murphys were also joined on stage by vocalist Paul Russo of Pinkerton Thugs for a cover of the group’s song “One Day.”
Tuesday, March 17 – Citizens House Of Blues:
St. Patrick’s Day in Boston featured a full support lineup of old school punk acts, including The New Darkbuster, Reducers SF (from the West Coast) and Big Bad Bollocks.
Fans were also treated to a surprise guest when longtime DKM vocalist Al Barr–who’s taking time off for family–joined the band on stage for the first time since 2021 for a 4-song encore on the final night of the tour. It was an eagerly-anticipated reward for fans, but more importantly a chance for Dropkick Murphys to honor the pivotal role Barr has played through so much of the band’s 30 year history. Barr performed “Worker’s Song,” “The Vultures Circle High” (a For The People track he recorded with the band) and Dropkick’s version of the Gang Green song “Alcohol.” Dropkick Murphys closed out the night and tour with a powerful rendition of “I’m Shipping Up To Boston,” with Barr joining Casey on vocals.
As part of the band’s efforts to give back to the community, DKM partnered with Punk Rock & Paintbrushes for a Dropkick Murphys-themed art and photography exhibition at each Boston show. The exhibit included a variety of hand-painted Fender guitars and drumheads, as well as other autographed items that were auctioned off to benefit the bands’ charity, The Claddagh Fund, which provides critical funding for nonprofits that support children and veterans, as well as alcohol and substance abuse recovery programs.
After a short break from touring, Dropkick Murphys head overseas in June for headlining UK tour dates, a June 28 show at Crystal Palace Park in London with The Offspring and Pennywise, as well as European festival dates throughout July and August. DKM will play Vans Warped Tour Mexico City in September and Vans Warped Tour Orlando in November. For the full list of tour dates, visit: https://dropkickmurphys.com/tour/
More from Dropkick Murphys:
Dropkick Murphys proudly remain Boston’s rock ‘n’ roll underdogs turned champions. Since 1996, the boys have created the kind of music that’s meant to be chanted at last call, in packed arenas, and during the fourth quarter, third period, or ninth inning of a comeback rally. Their celebrated discography includes four consecutive Billboard top 10 album debuts (Turn Up That Dial, 11 Short Stories Of Pain & Glory, Signed and Sealed in Blood, Going Out In Style), along with 2005’s Certified-Gold album The Warrior’s Code featuring the double platinum classic “I’m Shipping Up To Boston.” Whether you caught a legendary gig at The Rathskeller (The Rat) under Kenmore Square, found the band by taking the T to Newbury Comics to cop Do Or Die in ’98, discovered them in Martin Scorsese’s Academy Award winning The Departed, or saw ‘em throw down at Coachella (or one of hundreds of other festivals), you’ve become a part of their extended family.
Dropkick Murphys’ music has generated half-a-billion streams, they’ve quietly moved 8 million-plus units worldwide and the band has sold out gigs on multiple continents. Dropkick Murphys’ official charity, The Claddagh Fund, has raised millions of dollars to support non-profit organizations that are focused on children, veterans and addiction recovery.
In 2020, the band was one of the first to embrace streaming performances, starting with their Streaming Up From Boston St. Patrick’s Day virtual performance. It was followed by their landmark Streaming Outta Fenway livestream, which drew more than 5.9 million viewers and held the #3 spot on Pollstar’s “Top 2020 Live Streams” chart. Dropkick Murphys St. Patrick’s Day Stream 2021…Still Locked Down, was #1 on Pollstar’s Livestream chart for the week ending March 22, 2021, logging over 1 million views.
Dropkick Murphys returned in 2022 with their first-ever all-acoustic album, This Machine Still Kills Fascists (Dummy Luck Music / Play It Again Sam), and seated theater tour. This Machine Still Kills Fascists–and their follow-up album Okemah Rising–breathe musical life into mostly unpublished lyrics by the legendary Woody Guthrie, curated for the band by Woody’s daughter Nora Guthrie.
Dropkick Murphys’ current album For The People rises to its moment: an expression of humanity at a time of relentless dehumanization, a promise of hope in an era fueled by fear-mongering, a declaration of solidarity in an age of disunion, a defiant rebuttal to the charlatans and demagogues who seek to divide us for their own power and profit.
Dropkick Murphys are:
Ken Casey – Vocals
Tim Brennan – Guitars, tin whistle, accordion, piano, vocals
Jeff DaRosa – Guitars, banjo, mandolin, vocals
Matt Kelly – Drums, percussion, vocals
James Lynch – Guitars, vocals
Kevin Rheault – Bass
Campbell Webster – Bagpipes and Uilleann pipes
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