03.15.08 Dropkick Murphys at Tsongas Arena

As a child, I recall going to a Hartford Whalers game. That was the only time I was in a hockey arena to see hockey. My college graduation was in a hockey arena, but that a bit of a different story. The other times I've been in hockey arenas have been for concerts. I've seen Bob Dylan in a hockey arena and The Pixies. Now I can add Dropkick Murphys to that list. When you hear the name Dropkick Murphys, you probably wouldn't think they would be playing to an arena. Most of the time, they play mid-sized clubs like the House of Blues and such. But the Dropkick Murphys in the state of Massachussetes is a completely different beast. Sold out shows are the norm for the Dropkick Murphys and their Boston St. Patrick's day shows are legendary. This year they moved just slightly North of Boston to Lowell to play two shows in one day this past Saturday. Darkness fell on the Tsongas Arena while chants of "let's go Murphys" still resounded throughout the sold out crowd. Though the show began at 2 in the afternoon, the crowd was already liquored up and ready to shout along with this regions favorite Oi! punk band. The familiar notes of “The Foggy Dew” by the Chieftains ring out. Sinead O’Connor's voice is paralyzing. The crowd immediate quiets. As the song carries on the tension rises. The show is about to begin. Like a bat out of hell, the non-stop pounding attack begins. They rattle off their back catalogue of punk classics like everything from "The Warrior's Code" to their latest single "The State of Massachusettes" to more subdued drinking songs like "Caught in a Jar". They rattle off the Red Sox anthem "Tessie" which recieves the biggest ovation of the night. They invite up every woman in the crowd that could fit on the stage as, bass player and part-time vocalist, Ken Casey grabs the mic to walk about the women and sing "Kiss Me, I'm Shitfaced". When they walk off stage, the crowd knows the show isn't over. Afterall, they haven't played what may now be their most famous song "Shipping Up to Boston". In addition to being used in the academy-award winning film, the Departed, it is also the theme song for Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon. The light stay dimmed. Cheers of "lets go Murphys" once again rise. Suddenly on the big screen flashes a quick image of Jonathan Papelbon. Then Jonathan Papelbon appears to give the crowd a message recorded from the Red Sox spring training facilities in FL. He wishes everyone a good time and then tells the crowd he can't wait to ship back up to Boston. The Murphy's quickly rip through a rousing rendition. But that's not the end of their encore. The rip through "Barroom Heroes" from their first album Do or Die. Then they invited every man in the arena that can fit on stage for rousing renditions of "Skinhead on the MBTA" and "Citizen C.I.A." Then through the crowd of people on stage, they walk off as Frank Sinatra's "My Way" is played over the PA system. It's hard to imagine another band being as important to a city or state as the Dropkick Murphys are to Massachusettes. When you look at the blue collar crowd, and the blue collar band, you realize they speak for the state like no one else can. The crowd piles out into the streets of Lowell. Drunk, sweaty, some bloodied from mosh pits, and still singing. That's how you know a good time was had by all. MP3: Dropkick Murphys "The State of Massachusetts"