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The Dropkick Murphys are an extremely smart band. Actually, come to think of it, they are probably (dare I say) one of the smartest bands! Not only have they mastered their musical craft, they have also gone from silent obscurity to quickly climbing high atop the punk rock ladder of success. Let me explain to you a few reasons why…
When Martin Scorsese approached them to use their Woody Guthrie cover, “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” they took their world-wide notoriety and started up their own label, Born and Bred Records to distribute their latest album. Smart. When their cover of the traditional Boston Red Sox fan chant, Tessie struck a chord amongst every baseball loving man, woman and child, vocalist Ken Casey opened his sports bar, McGreevy’s. Very Smart. When what started out as a few small shows on the weekends turned into packing arenas, Ken Casey gave back to the community through his newly established, Claddagh Fund. Unbelievably heartfelt and smart. Last but certainly not least, when their annual 2009 St. Patrick’s Day shows drew near, the Dropkick Murphys (who aren’t shy about proclaiming to the world how proud they are of their hometown and Celtic ancestry) took it upon themselves to tape the seven days and six nights of pure wall-to-wall chaos. Not just smart, pure bloody genius. This is why Joe Strummer isn’t the only one with a full wall painted mural dedicated to his life’s work.
“Live on Lansdowne” is the second live album from Boston’s Hometown Heroes and contains an entirely different set list than the last. Available in CD, deluxe double disc version with a full-length DVD and double-gatefold vinyl with bonus CD it is sure to excite any fan from any generation. “Live on Lansdowne” is a definite keepsake for any man, woman or child who can ever proclaim to singing along loudly to a Dropkick Murphys song at some point in their life.
The set-list walks you through the road less traveled for the new fan with tracks from yesteryear such as, “Caught in a Jar”, “Worker’s Song” and “Bastards on Parade”. Don’t fret you DKM fanatics it also includes some of their biggest songs such as “Fields of Athenry”, “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” and “Tessie”. A small introduction and a big production for some of the classics that shaped what would be today’s top Celtic punk band.
If you’re coming into this album never hearing of the Dropkick Murphys, it is the perfect welcoming gift that only a band as smart as the Dropkick Murphys could deliver. Start to finish, a flashback to those insanely entertaining Dropkicks concerts and a constant reminder that good music, pride in where you’re from and being surrounded by people of like minded interests is the perfect recipe for success.
The one and only negative thing on my mind is that I personally wish this album would have been a smoothly produced studio album of nothing but their greatest hits….nah, who am I kidding? They already have enough of those.
Long live the Dropkick Murphys… March 16th can’t come soon enough!
-Taron Cochrane
If you are a crazed Bad Religion fan as I am then you probably already know about Greg’s book Anarchy Evolution. For those of you who don’t know, the book supposedly touches upon the themes of naturalism, science, faith and art. Well the original release date was set for a few weeks from now but since has been changed to later this year. October 5th to be exact. <===Peep the cover.