Get ready for the biggest St. Patrick's Day celebration in town. No, it's not at a frat, and, surprisingly enough, it isn't directly linked to any sort of alcoholic beverage. The event is so big that it lasts for the entire weekend, starting tonight.
I'm talking, of course, about Boston's beloved Dropkick Murphys, who kindly take time out of their schedules each and every year to play a weekend's worth of concerts at Avalon. This year's schedule includes evening shows tonight through Sunday, as well as a matinee on Saturday.
So with five separate shows, there must be plenty of tickets available, right? Wrong. These concerts have become so popular that Friday's real St. Patrick's Day concert allegedly sold out within ten minutes of going on sale, while the others lasted another month or so before running out. Of course, fans could find tickets on eBay for the reasonable price of up to $80 over face value.
Though this ruins the fun for many potential concertgoers, it ensures a crowd of loyal, enthusiastic, hardcore fans, making it the event of a lifetime for those fortunate enough to attend.
Why the Murphys have struck leprechaun gold
As of today, there are two American bands that have become synonymous with the term "Celtic punk": the Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. While most music connoisseurs are open-minded enough to appreciate these distinct bands equally, such an opinion is not normally acceptable in Boston.
As native Bostonians, the Murphys have demonstrated a love and loyalty for their city, and local fans have been eager to reciprocate. Through their lyrics and approach, they identify themselves with working-class immigrants in a way that overshadows even legendary blue-collar rockers The Minutemen. While The Minutemen chose to write songs about politics and other observations, the Murphys' lyrics almost exclusively refer to tales of the hard-working men who they have grown up with.
For those more privileged Bostonians among us who don't identify with such working-class roots, there is still a significant appeal to the Murphys. Following in the footsteps of Boston's Mission of Burma, who adopted the Boston Bruins' black and gold colors, the Murphys' love for their city is represented to a large extent through Boston's beloved sports teams. In the past few years, the band has done something unprecedented for any punk band: landed gigs at both a Red Sox game and a Bruins game.
The Murphys' most recent album, "The Warrior's Code," features a cover of the Sox classic, "Tessie," and the video for the song was shot in none other than Fenway Park. Other locally inspired titles in the Murphys' considerable repertoire include "I'm Shipping Up to Boston," the Boston College fight song, "For Boston," and countless others. Another staple of the Murphys' sound is upbeat covers of traditional Irish cultural and Irish drinking songs, including the standards, "Fields of Athenry" and "Wild Rover." Aside from these songs, most Murphys tunes are a balance of the two Celtic music and punk, giving each song a quick but anthemic feel. To date, the Dropkick Murphys are the only well-known band to successfully intertwine the two distinct sounds.
More pep than an Irish jig
Despite being constantly mentioned alongside Flogging Molly, the Dropkick Murphys have mastered a distinct, easily identifiable sound. The most apparent difference is simply the lineup of instruments; while Flogging Molly makes use of a mandolin, violin, and acoustic 12-string guitar, the Murphys prefer to rock out on bagpipes while sampling the other traditional instruments in moderation.
Though original singer Mike McColgan and legendary piper Spicy McHaggis, who were once the core of the band, have moved on, Al Barr and James "Scruffy" Wallace have filled their predecessors' shoes perfectly. The newcomers mesh well with founder Ken Casey, continuing to push the boundaries of the Murphys' distinct sound.
Much of the appeal of the Murphys, like that of their punk forefathers, rests on their high-energy, high-volume attack. Their Boston roots, though, bring a specific type of hooliganism to their shows.
A line in "Barroom Hero," for example, says "this one goes out to all the Boston punks and skins, a rowdy bunch indeed."
Each of the Murphys' songs reflects the mentality of their favorite crowd, so concertgoers can shout along to nearly every Murphys' tune. There is a universe of difference between Flogging Mollys' more melodic approach and the Dropkick Murphys' raucous, explosive style.
What you'll find at the end of this rainbow
Thanks to 2002's "Live on St. Patrick's Day" album, even first-timers can feel like veterans at a Dropkick Murphys concert. It is customary to focus one's excitement and anticipation in a "Let's go Murphys" chant until they finally take the stage. The band always starts its shows with "For Boston" and ends with "Skinhead on the MBTA."
The main difference between this weekend's shows and its antecedents will be due to the two albums the Murphys have released in the past three years. Despite the underwhelming reactions to their newest disc, 2005's "The Warrior's Code," 2003's "Blackout" is arguably their most accessible album to date. It will likely be difficult for the Murphys to squeeze all of their hit songs into one set. However, once they do, the easily recognizable set will usher in an unprecedented level of crowd participation, making for a more intense experience overall. Fans should also expect the unexpected, as the live album captures - among other things - an onstage marriage proposal.
The changing lineup of opening bands ensures that even recurrent fans will be in for a different experience each night this weekend. For Friday night's show, the Murphys are joined by the young rockabilly/punk group the HorrorPops and self-proclaimed "Boston straightedge" band the Righteous Jams, combining to create a diverse conglomeration of constant high-energy fun. The range of styles in the opening acts is testament to the extent of the Murphys' influence over a broad array of genres.
Wish on a shamrock for Murphys tickets
Though the band has been going strong since 1995 - even enduring the loss of vital members - the Dropkick Murphys will not be around forever. As temporary residents in the Boston area, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a legendary band in what might be their golden years.
Avalon is set up in such a way that it appeals to a wide range of fans. The more enthusiastic fans will be in heaven in the pit, jumping around, shouting, crowd-surfing and slam-dancing with the crowd. If these activities seem frightening, there is plenty of space around the bar that provides a clear view of the band at a safe distance from the mayhem, and if you are an even bigger wimp, there are always seats on the balcony.
The point is that you cannot have a bad time at a Dropkick Murphys concert; it is just not humanly possible. There are fans in different areas of the country who would give their left leg to witness such an important band play their biggest, most legendary annual concert.
Party it up at various campus locations tonight, but tomorrow, make your mother proud and have a safe, sober evening with some punk hooligans. It may not be an Irish tradition, but the holiday has been redefined by Boston's standards anyway. This weekend of concerts is the epitome of the Boston Irish experience, and you shouldn't pass it up.
And, for Christ's sake, wear green.
