Good Friend, everyone’s favorite Northern Irish punk rock trio, have got a super fun video for your viewing enjoyment and your friends here at Dying Scene are fired up to share it with you. The video is for the track “Tell Me Ma,” a Northern Irish classic which if you’re like me, you have committed […]
Good Friend, everyone’s favorite Northern Irish punk rock trio, have got a super fun video for your viewing enjoyment and your friends here at Dying Scene are fired up to share it with you.
The video is for the track “Tell Me Ma,” a Northern Irish classic which if you’re like me, you have committed to memory from your Nana’s old Dubliners and Clancy Brothers tapes. The lads have given it a fresh spin, just in time to pregame for your St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Here’s what guitar player and two-time Super Bowl winning coach* Andy Reid had to say: “Anyone could have covered this song, to be honest. I fucking hate it, but if anyone is gonna butcher this tune it might as well be us!“
“Tell Me Ma” appears as part of a two-song digital single, being released by our comrades at Red Scare Industries. It’s due out this Friday (March 10th). Here’s where you can buy your very own copy. Here’s what ye olde label had to say:
We like to rib Good Friend about being from Ireland, but the truth is we love them for it. Well, now the joke is on Red Scare, because they’ve turned the tables and given us a couple Celtic punk songs to release in time for St. Patrick’s Day. Fans of The Pogues and Flogging Molly will enjoy this pair of rollicking ditties… Sláinte!
Happy Friday, and more importantly, Happy St. Patrick’s Day, comrades! We’ve got a fun new exclusive for your earholes today, and it comes to us all the way from the mountains of…Asheville, North Carolina! It’s from a band called The Deathbots, a trio who’ve been described as “a brawling mix between Bad Religion and Johnny […]
Meet The Deathbots!
Happy Friday, and more importantly, Happy St. Patrick’s Day, comrades! We’ve got a fun new exclusive for your earholes today, and it comes to us all the way from the mountains of…Asheville, North Carolina!
It’s from a band called The Deathbots, a trio who’ve been described as “a brawling mix between Bad Religion and Johnny Cash, that combo of super speedy melodic punk and killer bad-ass country” which sounds pretty awesome to us!
The song is called “Thumper,” and it appears on The Deathbots’ upcoming split EP with their pals in Cardboard Box Colony. The EP was recorded in the bands’ shared practice space before being shipped off to the almighty Blasting Room to be mastered by the iconic Jason Livermore. Here’s what the lads had to say for themselves:
I’m super excited to share this split 7”/EP with our good buddies, the awesome Cardboard Box Colony. With our two contributions, a song about what happens when cartoon rabbits get pushed too far, and a song about a pirate ghost ship, we perfectly showcase the essence of our band: a bunch of punk rock nerds just trying to stave off the ennui of existence through music. – Alex (bass guitar, screams)
There’s something a little magical about vinyl records, it means a lot to be able to offer all of our fans something they can hold after so many years of virtual releases. It’s even better to be able to do it with our good friends in Cardboard Box Colony. Plus it’s definitely our best material to date, come out April 15th and get your grubby little mitts on it! – Karl (guitar, vocals)
“Having the ability to self-record, mix and produce this split at our home studios is rewarding, and I’m proud of how all these songs turned out. Plus being able to play drums on both sides of a split EP in 2 different bands was an awesome experience on its own.” – Brandon (drums, more vocals)
The split is out April 14th on all streaming platforms and will also be available on a white “Box/Bot” shaped 7-inch record. There’s a hometown record release throwdown on April 15th if you’re in the Asheville neck-o-the-woods too. Pre-order the split here, and check out “Thumper” below. (Sadly, we’re pretty sure it’s not an ode to 1990s Boston-based ska/punk/metal band Thumper, but a boy can dream, can’t he?)
Despite living in the Greater Boston Area for the four-plus decades I’ve been alive, and despite having seen numerous Dropkick Murphys lineups play numerous Dropkick Murphys shows – from a show where they appeared sandwiched between The Mr. Rogers Project and The Pietasters at The Living Room in Providence to headlining the hometown Agganis Arena […]
Despite living in the Greater Boston Area for the four-plus decades I’ve been alive, and despite having seen numerous Dropkick Murphys lineups play numerous Dropkick Murphys shows – from a show where they appeared sandwiched between The Mr. Rogers Project and The Pietasters at The Living Room in Providence to headlining the hometown Agganis Arena over St. Patrick’s Day weekend – I’d never actually seen the band live and in person on the most Boston Irish of holidays itself. Until now. The 2023 installment of the Dropkicks’ annual St. Patrick’s Day weekend festivities took three days at the massive new MGM Music Hall that serves as the literal back door to Fenway Park, with Sunday’s wrap-up show happening across the street at the comparatively quaint 2200-capacity House Of Blues.
As has been customary for many of the St. Patrick’s Day weekend festivities that Dropkick have thrown over the years, this run capped off what had been a pretty busy tour schedule in support of their latest album, in this case This Machine Still Kills Fascists, the Woody Guthrie-inspired record that they put out on their own label last year (a follow-up, Okemah Rising, is due out this Spting). Openers rotated slots across the four main shows (Saturday also had an early “soundcheck”-style abridged set and meet-and-greet); St. Patrick’s Day itself featured The Rumjacks and Turnpike Troubadours; Nikki Lane and Jesse Ahern also took their respective turns in the rotation at the weekend’s other shows.
The Rumjacks kicked off the St. Patrick’s Day festivities promptly at 6:30pm to a fairly robust crowd in spite of the early set time. Probably helps that the holiday fell on a Friday and that it’s spot at the end of Lansdowne Street puts MGM right at the start (or end, I suppose) of a run of bars eager to cash in on the most pub-crawlingest of holidays. The Australian lads’ set had a bit of a hometown feel to it, not just because most Celtic/Irish punk bands do pretty well in this market, but because not only is local boy Mike Rivkees manning frontman and tin whistle duties, but his fellow Mickey Rickshaw bandmate Kyle Goyette has been handling accordion duties and may/may not officially be a Rumjack now? The band ripped through a baker’s dozen Irish bangers including “Through These Iron Sights,” “One For The Road” and, of course, “An Irish Pub Song.”
Turnpike Troubadours occupied the middle slot on the bill, and they’re a band I’d been looking forward to catching again for a long time. The last time I saw Turnpike was back in 2018 at Lucero’s Family Block Party in Memphis. It was good, but it wasn’t, from my understanding as someone who was considerably late to the Turnpike game, a really representative set for a variety of reasons, and the band went on hiatus early the following year in order to allow frontman Evan Felker to sort out some personal demons. The band reunited about a year ago and good grief are they making up for lost time.
Earlier in the week, Turnpike had played in front of something like 75,000 people at the Houston Rodeo and Livestock show which, I’d imagine, is something like Texas’ version of St. Patrick’s Day in Boston. And while that’s a level of nerve-wracking that I can only begin to wrap my head around, it probably has to be a different sort of nerve-wracking to be main support for a long-running Boston Irish punk rock band on their home turf on THEIR day, particularly when you’re A) not from around here and B) playing a style of music that doesn’t always translate to the rowdy, occasionally finicky Boston punk crowd. But make no mistake – Turnpike killed.
The band took the stage and immediately dove into “Long Hot Summer Days,” a boot-stomping cover of a John Hartford track that Turnpike have made their own over the last decade-or so. The song leans heavily into the fiddle and even heavier into multi-part vocal harmonies, and I heard someone up along the barricade comment once the song was done that it was probably the most “punk rock” moment they’d see tonight, and in many respects, that sentiment wasn’t wrong. But at it’s core, “Long Hot Summer Days” is a blue-collar working song and Dropkick Murphys are one of the last local vestiges of a blue collar core that is all but falling by the wayside, and so maybe Turnpike as a band are not unlike Dropkick’s cousins from Oklahoma. From there, the band ripped through a total of ten songs of love and heartache and rebellion. “7&7” and “Gin, Smoke & Lies” and “A Tornado Warning” were particularly well-received by the crowd that, sure, was chock-full of scally caps but was also not without it’s own share of cowboy hats. In Boston!
From there, obviously, it was time for the main attraction, the one-and-only Dropkick Murphys. As per usual, the band took the stage to the Sinead O’Connor/Chieftains rendition of “Foggy Dew” before immediately ripping into “State Of Massachusetts” from their 2007 classic The Meanest Of Times. Frontman and founder Ken Casey handed off live bass playing duties to longtime touring member Kevin Rheault years ago, leaving him free to endlessly, tirelessly pace the stage and interact with the crowd from both behind and atop the barricades at stage front.
Dropkick Murphys have had a bit of a nebulous lineup over the years, and the 2022/3 edition is no different. With Al Barr still sidelined to tend to his ailing mother, the current lineup finds Casey joined longtime drummer Matt Kelly, guitarist James Lynch, multi-instrumental virtuosos Tim Brennan (that’s him on accordion on the right) and Tim Brennan joined by Rheault on the bass and Campbell Webster on bagpipes and tin whistle and maybe percussion during some of the Woody Guthrie songs? It was a little tough to tell because the high-energy show was filled a constantly changing pre-programmed digital backdrop and the stage was replete with myriad moving parts, barely two songs goind by without some change in instrumental duties for at least one if not more Dropkicks.
The band was also joined on stage by a host of special guests on the evening. Erin McKenzie (seen at left), most notably of The Doped Up Dollies but also collaborator with the likes of Big D and The Kids Table and Lenny Lashley and, of course, the Dropkicks, joined for a charged-up rendition of “The Dirty Glass.” Turnpike Troubadours’ Evan Felker came out for “The Last One,” the track he lent his vocal talents to on record on This Machine Still Kills Fascists. They were also joined on stage by Woody Guthrie’s grandson Cole Quest on dobro.
Dropkick Murphys have done a lot of good for both the music community and the community-at-large, particularly here in Massachusetts, over the course of the last quarter-century. Even if you strip away some of the over-the-top garish green shamrock imagery in the crowd (and out on the street), St. Patrick’s Day weekend serves as a way for the community to come together and both celebrate with the band and, ultimately, celebrate the band and what they stand for and to repay the favor to the band who now carry the torch for the punk music scene in Boston. It’s like old home day but for a full, unofficial long weekend, and I’m glad to say I finally shot the weekend’s crown jewel event. See below for more slideshows from each of the bands performances!
Carbondale’s famous sons of ska returned to a rousing welcome back to a home state crowd at Concord Music Hall. They were supported by Chicago’s Celtic kings The Tossers, and by Weaker Youth Ensemble. My first knowledge of Blue Meanies came shortly after I moved to Chicago in 2009. I noticed cool-looking ink on my […]
Carbondale’s famous sons of ska returned to a rousing welcome back to a home state crowd at Concord Music Hall. They were supported by Chicago’s Celtic kings The Tossers, and by Weaker Youth Ensemble.
My first knowledge of Blue Meanies came shortly after I moved to Chicago in 2009. I noticed cool-looking ink on my new friend Anthony’s arm. It was a Blue Meanies tattoo. Flash-forward 14 plus years and I got my first chance to document the group. I am so happy I was in the photo pit for its return.
The band, founded in 1989, reunited for a rare performance. It was packed; a palpable excitement buzzed through the venue.
The band gave the crowd a night to remember as they tore through the set, playing in their 1995 album Kiss You Ass Goodbye in its entirety. Highlights included “Acceleration 5000,” “Vote No,” “Grandma Shampoo,” “Polka in the Eye,” and “An Average American Superhero.” Blue Meanies also covered Naked Raygun classic “Rat Patrol.” The hyper-kinetic Billy Spunke on vocals and megaphone, changed from a crisp all-white Perry Ellis suit to a more traditional but sharp-looking black suit during the show. His performance, however, remained consistently entertaining with quite a bit of playful banter between Spunke and his bandmates. Hopefully, this will not be as one-off reunion, a sentiment I can safely say most of the crowd likely shared.
Chicago’s The Tossers are one of the most popular Celtic punk bands in the United States. The group’s headliner St. Patrick’s Day performances are legendary for being fun celebrations, lasting hours. The group is far more than a holiday band though and this raucous performance made that clear.
Lead singer Tony Duggins was playing injured with one finger securely bandaged. A week prior to the show, he accidentally severed part of a finger on his left hand. Duggins referenced the incident with humor as some in the crowd showed expressions best described as in the aghast neighborhood. Lest anyone wonder if that would negatively affect his performance, they soon found the answer: no, it did not. Duggin’s growling vocals were as strong as ever, as was his mandolin playing.
The Tossers drove through “Rocky Road of Dublin,” The South Side of Town,” “Emerald City,” “Siobhan,” “Buckets of Beer,” and “Sláinte.” The performance was a lovely complement to returning headliners on this night.
Weaker Youth Ensemble, a two-tone group out of Madison, WI, kicked off the evening with a blaster of a set. It was far more than just the warm-up act as the group kept the crowd in rapt attention. I look forward to seeing this group again!
Please see more images from the show. Thank You and Cheers!
Chicago celebrates St. Patrick’s Day a bit early. The city partook in its traditional Dyeing of the Chicago River, followed by a boisterous post-downtown Irish parade afternoon. The events draw thousands, most seeming to be decked out in various formed of green plastic, t-shirts slightly updated, often vulgarity or cheesy wise, from the classic of […]
Chicago celebrates St. Patrick’s Day a bit early. The city partook in its traditional Dyeing of the Chicago River, followed by a boisterous post-downtown Irish parade afternoon. The events draw thousands, most seeming to be decked out in various formed of green plastic, t-shirts slightly updated, often vulgarity or cheesy wise, from the classic of bygone years “Kiss Me I’m Irish,” and silly hats. More than a few people remarked that the only thing seemingly missing were actual Irish people. The accuracy of that last part I do not know.
However, after a day accented by a few celebrants puking up green beer on the “L,” Reggie’sacted as a sort of refuge from the shenanigans (yes, I use that word sans apologies). The pride of Southside Chicago Celtic punk, Flatfoot 56, as it often does at this time of the year, stormed the stage. The band had hearty support from The Rumjacks, The Drowns, and another of Chicago’s own, Criminal Kids.
To say that a Flatfoot 56 show is always a good time is an understatement. Led by the affable founding members the brothers Bawinkel, Tobin and Kyle, the band roars through its set. Tobin Bawinkel, the towering lead singer, exudes the energy of a preacher leading an old-time revival under a big tent, the charm of your favorite high school teacher, (he actually is a high school social studies teacher in the Chicago Public school system), and the requisite charisma of a veteran frontman. Kyle Bawinkel, with a good-natured, but slightly mischievous grin, slams on bass, Drummer Dan Alfonsi, aka singer of another windy city band “Still Alive,” works in tight conjunction with Kyle for a sturdy backbeat. Original Flatfoot 56 Pipes player Josh Robieson rejoined the band a few years back, much to the delight of the Ollie Mob.
The band is well-known as a Christian group. But during the secular shows, you won’t witness proselytizing. However, you will hear stories of forgiveness, redemption, unity, and faith laid bare in FF56 lyrics. Two of the band’s most popular songs played live are actually covers of Christian hymnals. Tobin regularly encouraged, pre-pandemic, fans to hold the hands of their neighbors at the show, as they slowly build then burst into a very up-tempo rendition of “Amazing Grace.” Tobin still encourages fans to take a moment to introduce themselves to those around them they do not yet know.
On this particular night, however, the hymnal of choice, was the joyously rowdy version of “I’ll Fly Away.” And whether fans describe themselves as believers, atheists, agnostics, or by any other religion-related description, the crowd joins in, triumphantly singing the chorus.
“I’ll fly away, oh, Glory I’ll fly away When I die, Hallelujah, by and by I’ll fly away.”
It’s quite a moving moment. Decency is a word you will often hear associated with this band. It fits, in part, because it requests one thing of its fans, to bear cathartic witness to our shared humanity. But a FF56 show is no solemn affair, Its reliable strength is neither generic nor boring.
This was demonstrated as the members of Flatfoot 56 blasted through the set, also including “Brotherhood,” “Knuckles Up,” “Winter In Chicago,” a terrific cover version of “The Wild Rover,” “Courage,” and “We Grow Stronger.
Flatfoot 56 shows, simply put, are the very definition of a rip-roaring good time free of judgment, full of joy.
Celtic punk band The Rumjacks, was founded in Sydney, Australia but now its members are based in Europe.
Lead singer Mike Rivkees, who is actually from the United States, spent most of this time on stage in perpetual motion, springing lightly on the front of his shoes. Also playing tin whistle throughout the set, Rivkees commanded the crowd with his strong vocals. He led the bandmates, including his Mickey Rickshaw bandmate Kyle Goyette on accordion, through a rollicking set proper for a modern-day St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the USA. The Rumjacks easily satisfied the fans as it tore through “One for the Road,” ”Kirkintilloch,” “Bloodsoaked in Chorus,” ”A Fistful O’ Roses,” “Sainted Millions,” and “An Irish Pub Song.”
Hopefully we will not have to wait until the next St. Patrick’s Day celebration to welcome The Rumjacks back to Chicago.
The Drowns, out of the Emerald State helped celebrate the Emerald Isle with a spirited performance. The Seattle band has a stacked festival year. Among the upcoming highlights are Punk Rock Bowling, Punk in Drublic, and Rebellion Festival, as well as Sjock Festival. So it was a treat for those who can’t travel to a big festival to be able to see them at Reggie’s. The boisterous set included “Black Lung,” “Lost Boys Of Suburbia,” “One More Pint,” “Wolves on The Throne,” and ”Hold Fast.”
Band members felt compelled to point out one of their tour highlights or perhaps lowlights. The band hit White Castle pre-show. For at least one of its crew it was the first taste of the iconic fast-food joint. There is a White Castle right around the corner from the venue. Unsurprisingly (at least to me, as I am not a White Castle fan), the band expressed more than a little regret at that dinner choice.
The Drowns also played a barn-burning cover of Sweet’s “Ballroom Blitz.” Of course, that classic song was featured in the classic comedy “Wayne’s World,” which has several keys scenes set in the Windy City area. The crowd was absolutely all for it.
Regret is something you may experience if you don’t catch this The Drowns live at your first chance. Whether it is at a huge festival or in a more intimate setting, the crucial thing is to catch them. You will be glad you did.
I am always delighted to see Southside Chicago’s own Criminal Kids on the bill. The band fired up the hometown crowd to kick off the party.
The rough and tumble but sweet attitude befitting a band with this name was demonstrated as Criminal Kids blasted through “Little Bitch,” “Night,” “Outcast,” “Vanity,” and “Life.”
The band’s rambunctious cover of The Undertones classic from 1978, “Teenage Kicks,” was a notch above terrific.
Is this where I say it’d be a crime to miss Criminal Kids? Ok, I will apologize for that groaner. The manner of expressing this idea might be dorky. But the sentiment is not.
Happy Saturday! It’s been eight days since Fall Out Boy released their newest album, creating a “new beginning” for themselves. Since we don’t typically cover anything Fall Out Boy-related, my editors gave me a pass and let me take the wheel for today’s post. Which is sponsored by my coffee machine and a record player […]
Happy Saturday! It’s been eight days since Fall Out Boy released their newest album, creating a “new beginning” for themselves. Since we don’t typically cover anything Fall Out Boy-related, my editors gave me a pass and let me take the wheel for today’s post. Which is sponsored by my coffee machine and a record player that’s currently playing Fall Out Boy.
Firstly, this might be an atypical Dying Scene post, but I want to thank Fall Out Boy for shaping my teens and making me question my taste in men later in life. Since Fall Out Boy has become too big for “small” online ‘zines, except Kerrang! I’ve decided to show my undying admiration for them by putting together a top ten all-time best Fall Out Boy songs that aren’t the ones we still hear on the radio from 2006.
So if you like Fall Out Boy as much as I do or want an introduction to them, I’m here to guide you through the magnificent and unique world that Fall Out Boy made with their clever lyrics and ever-so-changing sound. Let us begin! And we are starting with the number 10!
10. I Write Sins Not Tragedies (A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, 2005)
No doubt that this is such an underrated song from their first album. The sound and lyrics are just so unique and ahead of their time. They started Emo, but it’s only 18 years later that we all genuinely have come to understand the uniqueness this song has brought. Thank you, Fall Out Boy for starting Emo <3
9. Lying Is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off (A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, 2005)
Every time I hear this song, I get emotional when I listen to it. I’m pretty sure it was written for Pete Wentz’s wife, now ex-wife, at that time. But he never replied to my message, so I can’t confirm this.
8. ME! Ft Brendon Urie(Lover, 2019)
Wow, that moment they went full pop and thought they could get away with it. They did for a few weeks during the summer, but I started wondering what I liked about them after that. But one can’t deny that this is a banger!
7. House of Memories (Death of A Bachelor, 2016)
It was a hit BEFORE TikTok started using it, and it is still a banger today. I have nothing to add to this song.
6. One Of The Drunks (Pray for the Wicked, 2018)
I heard this song every time I went partying, this is my jam. Turns out I suck at partying and not everyone likes emo.
5. High Hopes (Pray for the Wicked, 2018)
I wish I was the last good thing of their part of town. I remember cracking this song, wishing the guy I had a crush on would phone me. But he never did. It still slaps and I still do the air guitar, so to the dude that broke my heart for the first time – thanks for giving me a cool skillset. You were the last good thing about that part of town. Asshole.
4. Northern Downpour (Pretty. Odd, 2008)
They did a remix with 100 gecs, Craig Owens, and Nicole Dollanganger. I am so here for it, the summer it came out it was my number 1 on my Spotify list!!
3. Far Too Young to Die (Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!, 2013)
From their newest album, this song brings me in such a good mood with it’s catchy lyrics and Patrick’s voice. So it seems the vultures are getting too full to fly. Eat that, haters.
2. Local God (Viva Las Vengeance, 2022)
I know MANIA is a controversial album, but there’s no denying that Wilson stood out as one of the better tracks. Seriously, guys, we have forgiven you for this trashy album. But it’s a good track, ok?
1.The Best of Both Worlds (Hannah Montana, 2006)
The number Uno! “Calm Before the Storm” has got to be my most heard FOB song since I heard about them. Even to this day, I find the lyrics amazing. But as they sing in the song “What you do on your own time’s just fine.”
If you’ve read this far. April Fools – we regret nothing.
Brooklyn melodic punks Warn The Duke have announced plans for the official release of their upcoming full-length All That’s Solid. It’s due out on Wiretap Records and officially hits the streets on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th, obviously). The album will be released on 12-inch vinyl and will be available digitally on the same date. You can pre-save it here! You can also head below to check out the video for the album’s lead single “Anniversaries,” which Dying Scene premiered back in October. BUT THAT’S NOT ALL. If you live in or around Brooklyn, you can check out the All That’s Solid release show over at Our Wicked Lady. Details here!
