*Footage & photos by Kenny Howell

The St. Patrick’s Day season is officially upon us and you know what that means – Boston’s finest purveyors of Irish punk rock the beloved DROPKICK MURPHYS are home for their traditional six-day, seven-show extravaganza residency on Lansdowne.

I have to admit, it was a little odd going to a concert at 1:00pm on a Saturday afternoon but not even the monsoon rain that had been falling outside for two days could dampen the spirits of the  matinee sold-out crowd.

The DROPKICK MURPHYS came out and lurched  into the  boot-stomping “STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS” and the bodies immediately came sailing hard and fast. The 90-minute set included infectious, fist-pumping anthems such as,“TESSIE” which was played  for the first time on this tour, “FLANNIGAN’S BALL,” and “SUNSHINE HIGHWAY” accompanied by adorable sparkly step dancers and other Gaelic accouterments.

Along with KEN CASEY’s son and grandmother, the House of Blues was jam-packed with punkers, rockers, drunken Irishmen and non-Irishmen dressed in a  combination of plaid cabbie hats, Dickies work shirts and prominent tattoos who were engaged from the start, swaying and singing lustily. It was evident that while  the Pogues may have invented Celtic-punk, the DROPKICK MURPHYS have perfected a sound that reaches its apotheosis in its rafter-shaking performance of traditional Celtic arrangements and frantic modern-day punk attitude.

The septet’s consistency extends to its band members, KEN CASEY (vocals, bass guitar)  AL BARR (vocals), MATT KELLY (drums, backing vocals), JAMES LYNCH (guitar, backing vocals), TIM BRENNAN (guitar, accordion, piano, backing vocals), JEFF DaROSA (mandolin, accordion, banjo, bouzouki, tin whistle, acoustic guitar)and SCRUFFY WALLACE (bagpipe) who provide patriotic, fierce unflinching commitment to working class people.

The highlight of the afternoon included the guest appearance of STEPHANIE DOUGHERTY lending her vocals to “THE DIRTY GLASS” and the traditional stage bombardment of young women for the bar closer staple, “KISS ME I AM SH*TFACED.” As expected, the encore and majestic building tune “I’M SHIPPING UP TO BOSTON” fomented massive pogo-ing from the pit to stage.

Whether it’s on stage at the Warped Tour or down at a Boston pub, the DROPKICK MURPHYS promise uncompromising music and a helluva good time. If you were not fortunate to catch any of the shows  pick up ‘LIVE ON LANSDOWNE’ CD/DVD out  on Tuesday, March 16th.

For more information  visit DROPKICK MURPHYS

For more footage visit us on YOUTUBE

For more photos visit us on FLICKER