After twenty plus years of American Celtic punk rock, the Dropkick Murphys are more prominent than ever. Somehow I’ve managed to miss their live show during these two decades but all of that changed last week in London. The Boston punk icons took to the glorious stage at London’s famed Alexandra Palace (aka Ally Pally) for their annual trip to the UK—and it was epic. This isn’t just a rock ‘n’ roll show, this is more of a movement or even a lifestyle. The UK punks came out in droves, both young and old, to celebrate one of the most impressive catalogs of the genre.
The magnitude of this show cannot be understated. It’s one of the most impressive setups I’ve ever seen. You have two insanely energetic frontmen backed by a band that effortlessly combines bagpipes, banjos, acoustic guitars, huge electric guitar riffs, alongside a double dose of punk angst and storytelling that would make Bruce Springsteen proud. These guys are a band for the people—the working class—and even though they are based in the States, the message resonates globally. Not too many bands can pull this off with the style and grace of the Dropkick Murphys while also maintaining their street punk cred.
The setlist never let up, and even though there were 26 songs, it seemed to fly by rather quickly. 2013’s Signed and Sealed in Blood along with the 2007 classic The Meanest of Times being the most represented with five songs each along with the usual suspects and a few surprises including several covers. The standout was “The Bonny” by Glasgow’s Gerry Cinnamon, which is the b-side to their latest single “Smash Shit Up,” which will be available on colored vinyl in the coming weeks during the tour and through the band’s webstore.
The show concluded with a brilliant encore of “Rose Tattoo,” “Shipping off to Boston,” and of course, “Until the Next Time.” It was an incredible gig and one that I very much look forward to seeing again next year. The Dropkick Murphys head back to the US where the tour continues. Don’t miss this one.
