Some things just remind you of home. Iced coffees in the middle of a snowstorm. Any passing mention of Paul Revere. The opening chords to Dropkick Murphys’ iconic “I’m Shipping Up To Boston.”
Since 1996, Dropkick Murphys have embraced every aspect of the underdog story. Then, their venue of choice was a barbershop basement in Quincy, Massachusetts. Now, it’s Fenway Park. Proud Just-Outside-of-Bostonians, their lyrics express a solidarity with the common man to the soothing melodies of Celtic punk.
The band’s current tour features vocalist and bassist Ken Casey, drummer Matt Kelly, guitarist James Lynch, guitarist Tim Brennan, and multi-instrumentatlist Jeff DaRosa, with vocalist Al Barr on hiatus since 2022. Their setlist is slated to include hits from their nearly 30 years of eclectic discography, ranging from “Rose Tattoo” to “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya.”
Dropkick Murphys have spent recent years revitalizing unpublished Woody Guthrie lyrics, which comprise their latest albums This Machine Still Kills Fascists (2022) and Okemah Rising (2023). Their latest single, “Sirens,” harkens back to the band’s early days and hints at the tone of a potential next album. They return to Boston on St. Patrick’s Day to close out their North American tour. After all, who doesn’t love a comeback?
Catch Dropkick Murphys at The Anthem on February 27th with special guests The Menzingers and Teenage Bottlerocket. Tickets still available here.
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