If You Like Music With Guitars... (860 hits)
Category: Sound & MusicRating: 0.62 on 21 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by ConorJS (View user info) at 2006-03-29 17:47:54 EST
THEN GO AND SEE DROPKICK MURPHYS!
I was recently lucky enough to see one of my favorite bands live for the 10th-ish time. This bands name? Dropkick Murphys. The occasion? One of their annual St. Patrick's Day shows in Boston. Is this post a little belated, you ask? Why, yes, in fact, it is. Anyhow, if you like any kind of rock-type music, it is more than likely that you will like them. I will now describe the show, and then proceed to describe why anyone who likes guitars will probably like them.
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Saturday, 1:06. Arrive at the Avalon Ballroom on Landsdowne Street, running a little late with six friends. We actually wanted to see the opener, too. Red Alert, straight outta Compton, err... Sunderland, is an old Enlgish skinhead type band. We got in the doors about twenty minutes after they started, but they played for a long time as they were the only opening act. It was good.
After they ended, we dicked around, talking, surveying the crowd. A lot variety, people of all types, but mostly drunk Irish people. Sound guys came out, did their thing, they had a bunch of songs playing in the background. It got to a point where I began recognizing songs, "Alternative Ulster" - Stiff Little Fingers, "There is Power in a Union" - Billy Bragg, and then the lights went down.
"The Foggy Dew" starts playing, but you can't see shit. It was at this point that I decided to get the title of first crowd surfer of the show. When the song ended, the lights came on for the stage and the Bunker Hill K of C Bagpipe band started playing. When they finished, the Murphys came on, and everyone in the place went absolutely apeshit.
They rip into the first three songs without even giving you time to catch your breath, which, if you're on the floor, you will need to do. They slowed down a little and played one or two of their more traditional Irish songs, which can be as violent as their more punk stuff. The crowd was old enough, and punk enough, that hitting about anyone there was a legitimate move. Moshing at a Murphys show is hard and fast, but if you're above 5'5" you should be able to keep your feet w/o much trouble.
Alright. Bottom of the ninth. Last couple of songs. After half of the girls/women in the crowd get on stage for a few of the bawdier songs (and we in the crowd see some shirts go up), the stage is cleared and they leave. Not worried yet, I've seen this one a few times before. The lights go out, they fade back on, and the Dropkick Murphys are ready to GO!
They break into their real older harder stuff. And as tradition dictates, they let as many guys as can fir onto the stage for their last song, Skinhead on the MBTA. I crowd surf, drag, punch and kick my way up to the rail, hop it, dodge a security guy, and get onstage! By the time I made it, however, the song was almost over. Poor sad little Conor. BUT THAT AIN'T IT, BITCHES! They break in to the Minor Threat song "Minor Threat" and I fight my way throught the crowd to the front of the stage. I had to be a real asshole to get up to Al Barr (lead singer), but they're my favorite live band! I decided being an asshole was justifiable and okay for this instance. And then I sang along with Al and got to shout a few lines into the mic.
THE END.
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And now, Why You Will Like Them, Too, and essay by ConorJS.
Dropkick Murphys formed in 1996, playing Oi! punk and doing Cock Sparrer covers around Boston. Their lineup has changed, and so has their sound, to some degree. I heard them once described as "a skinhead band with hair." A pretty accurate assessment in my book. Except for James Lynch (guitar), he's a skinhead without hair. They play with a punk sound, but the Boston Irish-ness of their music comes through in a lot of their songs.
They turn songs like the traditional "Rocky Road to Dublin" into hard-hitting fight songs, and if you don't like punk, you will STILL like the sound. One crucial bit I kind of left out: They have an accordion/mandolin player, and a bagpiper. They ALWAYS play a tight set, in the many times I've seen them, I have seen the fuck up 0 times.
If you still can't get over the fact that I'm saying that they play punk, you gotta calm down. This isn't 2-foot mohawk/scream-as-loud-as-possible-into-a-microphone punk, it's your more old-school, English early 80s type punk. The GOOD stuff.
Really, if you know them and haven't seen them, or if you found this to be at all interesting, try to get tickets to see them sometime. They sell out fast, and the remainder of their current tour is in Germany, but give it a shot anyway.
If you want to see what kind of music they play, click the link, watch the first couple of videos.
http://www.epitaph.com/videos/search/?q=Enter+Keywords&artist=26 I hope that worked.
Here's a picture of me at a show in Hampton Beach, NH. It's next to impossible to verify I know, but if you want me to hunt down proof, I WILL dig it up. It may take several hours, but I know that one of my friends has it on his myspace or something under my retarded friend.
Again, hard to verify, so you'll have to believe me.
User Reviews
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2007-11-06 15:37:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Meh...I like guitars, and I like Celtic music, but I sure as hell can't stand their screaming.
Submitted by ilikesteak (user info) at 2007-11-06 15:11:59 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I hate them more than you could know.
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2007-11-06 14:57:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
not horrible as music/show reviews go, could go read my latest uberliar: http://www.ubersite.com/m/112558 the first tale is about a fishbone show I attended.
but.... for this...
Submitted by ConorJS (user info) at 2006-03-29 18:23:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Still-Life (user info) at 2006-03-29 18:20:12 (#)
Ranking: -2
I like music with guitars and I don't like DM.
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You have posted: 0 times.
I will say no more unless you further provoke me you insolent whelp.
I will call you gayer than the gayest gay homo to walk the earth. his dislike of DM has NOTHING to do with how much he's posted. seriously that's pretty gay right there.
Submitted by jack11058 (user info) at 2006-04-18 06:17:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by ConorJS (user info) at 2006-04-16 00:13:05 (#)
Ranking: 2
+2, but naming him Jenkins almost cost you dearly.
No shit. It actually PISSED me off.
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i don't understand.
Submitted by jack11058 (user info) at 2006-04-16 17:30:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
auto DM +2.
flogging molly also kicks ass
Submitted by firefly (user info) at 2006-03-30 16:43:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
dgszgresydykhlj,k c
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2006-03-29 23:39:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i was at that show on st patty's day saturday.
one of the best MUSIC shows i've seen in my life...and i've seen a bunch. it was my first 'punk' show, and it fucking rocked. i was amazed at how fucking money they were. i like their shit..but the show as just freaking money.
fields of athenry is my favorite song...and they just fucking demolished the place with it.
i was the large dude alternating between the pits and the bar.
it kind of sucked being in the pits, because as a large dude...people ask me every 35 seconds to "get me up.' broads, dudes..everything.
great show though.
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2006-03-29 23:37:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i was at that show on saturday.
one of the best MUSIC
Submitted by MrCoffee (user info) at 2006-03-29 21:40:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Bad luck to the black velvet band
Submitted by LedHead (user info) at 2006-03-29 21:37:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
They have a unique sound, not really my style, but I can respect them. Well done!
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2006-03-29 21:06:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
The first Boomtown Rats LP - OK, the second one, too - are full of great guitars.
There's not many cooler songs ever written than "Lookin' After Number One".
Submitted by Scy_fy_junkie (user info) at 2006-03-29 19:50:36 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
My YOU'RE A BLURRY LITTLE FUCKER AREN'T YOU?!?!?!
Submitted by Deconstruction (user info) at 2006-03-29 19:10:58 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by ConorJS (user info) at 2006-03-29 18:23:02 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Still-Life (user info) at 2006-03-29 18:20:12 (#)
Ranking: -2
I like music with guitars and I don't like DM.
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You have posted: 0 times.
I will say no more unless you further provoke me you insolent whelp.
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The fact that you've posted before and he hasn't doesn't change the fact that they (and you) suck massive amounts of behemoth dick.
I will say no more unless you further provoke me you insolent whelp.
Submitted by ih8u2man (user info) at 2006-03-29 18:45:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Shlongy and me seem to have similar tastes in music. Hey Shlongy remember the Gerry Cott thing?
http://www.ubersite.com/m/83917
Submitted by ih8u2man (user info) at 2006-03-29 18:43:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Seen 'em many a time here in Vancouver. Good beer drinkin' music.
Obscure.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-03-29 18:31:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Oi! Oi! Oi! Oi! Oi! Oi! Oi! Oi! Oi! Oi! Oi! Oi! Oi!
Submitted by abaddon (user info) at 2006-03-29 18:25:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
awesome band...
i'm mildly addicted to "green fields of France" at the moment
Submitted by ConorJS (user info) at 2006-03-29 18:23:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Still-Life (user info) at 2006-03-29 18:20:12 (#)
Ranking: -2
I like music with guitars and I don't like DM.
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You have posted: 0 times.
I will say no more unless you further provoke me you insolent whelp.
Submitted by Still-Life (user info) at 2006-03-29 18:20:12 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I like music with guitars and I don't like DM.
Submitted by Sassmasterr (user info) at 2006-03-29 18:16:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i can't imagine their live show to be anything less than great.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2006-03-29 18:11:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This post probably stinks but I've seen DM like 6, 7 times now and they ALWAYS PUT ON THE GREATEST FUCKING SHOW.
No band, since the Ramones of the late 70's and early 80's, puts on as consisantly cool and DIFFERENT show every night, than these two classic American bands.