Music Review: Dropkick Murphys
Posted on 07 March 2008 by Erin Kennedy
March should a month to celebrate the Irish heritage – including its music. With a name as Irish as mine, it would be almost blasphemous for me not to celebrate my green blood. This usually involves green dyed hair, green and white beads, my “kiss me” t-shirts, Celtic jewelry, large quantities of Guinness and Harp (ask for a black and tan if you are in an Irish pub) – and music.
There are a few bands that have successfully intertwined Irish culture with modern rock and kept the music accessible to the mainstream. Ashleigh Holmes did a review on a movie about undoubtedly the most successful Irish rock band of all time, U2. U2 is also the most traditional sounding – a completely different sound than Celtic Rock bands like Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphy’s. Nevertheless, the band does celebrate its roots. “Sunday Bloody Sunday” sends a strong message about the troubles of Northern Ireland and its struggle to end British occupation there.
Beyond U2, however, is the swirl of electric guitars, drums, bagpipes and fiddles that is Celtic Rock. Dropkick Murphy’s mix punk rock vocals with Celtic folk and traditional rock. Most recently, they released a limited edition of their album Meanest of Times. If you like Flogging Molly, you will probably like this as well. Listening to the album makes you feel as if you are in an Irish pub on St. Patrick’s Day. The ones were the patrons still sing the Irish drinking songs. If you have Irish blood, it will get it pumping. If you aren’t Irish, it will make you wish you were. “Famous for Nothing” is a song to kiss your Guinness to, as is “I’m Shipping Up To Boston,” which was featured on the soundtrack of Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed.” “Forever” is the band’s love ballad; a piano replaces the electric guitar.
The Dropkick Murphy’s will be in Dallas on Saturday, March 8th at the House of Blues.
dropkickmurphys.com
myspace.com/dropkickmurphys
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March 10th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Somehow, I’ve managed to never hear anything by Dropkick Murphys. If I have, I didn’t know it, and that is extremely blasphemous. I will have to remedy this before Saturday and definitely before Monday