Posts Tagged ‘DROPKICK MURPHYS’

Dropkick Murphys will perform two landmark hometown shows–September 8 and 9–at Boston’s Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox, pending city approval. A portion of the proceeds from the two Dropkick Murphys at Fenway with Special Guests The Mighty Mighty Bosstones shows will benefit the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund–which helps support families of victims of 9/11 throughout the state–as well as the band’s charity The Claddagh Fund. Special guests The Mighty Mighty Bosstones will perform at both shows, with additional opening acts to be announced in the coming weeks.

Dropkick Murphys bassist/vocalist/founder Ken Casey comments, “We feel honored and privileged to share a connection and friendship with the Boston Red Sox. Our involvement in the 2004 and 2007 championship seasons are some of the greatest highlights of our career and our lives. But to be invited by the Sox to join the select few who have performed full concerts at the park is truly a dream come true!”

“Dropkick Murphys have permeated Boston and New England sports culture, particularly here at Fenway Park where ‘I’m Shipping Up to Boston’ has long signaled [pitcher] Jonathan Papelbon’s trip to the mound,” said Red Sox Executive Vice President/COO Sam Kennedy. “The band has debuted songs here, been part of our rallies and shared in our joy during the 2007 World Series parade. We are thrilled to be hosting them this coming September and look forward to also helping local 9/11 charities through this concert.”

While the critically-acclaimed Dropkick Murphys–known for their complex distillation of classic punk rock, Celtic folk and American rock ‘n’ roll–have performed at Fenway Park in the past, including their debut of “Tessie” in July 2004, these will be their first-ever concerts at the ballpark. Dropkick Murphys join the ranks of musical greats Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Diamond, Jimmy Buffett, Dave Matthews Band, Phish, The Rolling Stones, The Police, J. Geils Band, Aerosmith and NKOTBSB who have all performed at Fenway Park.

Tickets for both shows go on sale Thursday, July 7 at Noon ET and will be available online at redsox.com/dropkicks, by calling (877) RED-SOX9, or at the Fenway Park box office. The shows will feature a “bleacher theater” style set up, with the stage set atop the bullpens in right field, and fans seated in the bleachers and first few Grandstand sections. This intimate setting has been used for other successful shows at Fenway Park, including the 2007 Hot Stove, Cool Music concert series, which included Grammy-winning artist and musician John Legend, and by the Boston Landmark Orchestra in 2010.

Dropkick Murphys are currently touring in support of their Going Out In Style CD (Born & Bred Records/ILG), which debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200–the group’s highest chart debut to date. Their latest trek launched June 19 in Winnipeg, MB and includes a headlining slot at the annual 4^th of July weekend Hootenanny in Irvine, CA, where DKM–Al Barr (lead vocals), Tim Brennan (guitars, accordion, whistle, vocals), Ken Casey (lead vocals, bass guitar), Jeff DaRosa (banjo, bouzouki, mandolin, harmonica, vocals), Matt Kelly (drums, vocals), James Lynch (guitar, vocals), and Scruffy Wallace (bagpipes)–will be joined by such artists as Reverend Horton Heat, Murder City Devils, Supersuckers, Swingin’ Utters, Royal Crown Revue, John Doe and more. The current North American dates will wrap August 6 and the band will head overseas for European festival dates from August 12-21.

In other news, Deering Banjos has teamed with Dropkick Murphys to give away an autographed Dropkick Murphys Goodtime Tenor Banjo, along with other prizes.  The sweepstakes runs through Monday, July 11 and can be entered online at: http://www.deeringbanjos.com/dropkick-murphys-banjo-sweepstakes.

for summer tour dates visit DROPKICK MURPHYS

New Dropkick Murphys CD ‘Going Out In Style” available on Tuesday, March 1st!

In March, Dropkick Murphys’ Ken Casey and a group of his friends will open The Whiskey Republic, a pub-style restaurant and sports bar that blends Irish roots with rock ’n’ roll style. Located at 515 South Water St. on the Providence waterfront, The Whiskey Republic will feature a full-service kitchen, 20 high-definition televisions and a stage for live music.

To celebrate both the opening of The Whiskey Republic and the release of Dropkick Murphys’ CD Going Out In Style, a limited number of free tickets are available for a private Dropkick Murphys show at The Whiskey Republic on Monday, March 14th. Beginning March 1st, fans who purchase the new Dropkick Murphys CD Going Out In Style at Newbury Comics in Providence, RI, Warwick, RI, North Attleboro, MA or Bellingham, MA will have the opportunity to receive a free ticket to the show, while supplies last.  Each participating location will have only 35 tickets available and attendees must be 21+ years of age for entrance into the event. Additionally, starting today, Providence radio station WBRU is giving away a limited amount of tickets to this exclusive event.

For more information visit THE WHISKEY REPUBLIC and DROPKICK MURPHYS

Footage shot by Kenny Howell

After a brief break from their worldwide touring schedule, Dropkick Murphys will hit the road again this week for U.S. dates in Reno (August 5) and Las Vegas (August 6) and a stint on the Vans Warped Tour from August 7-15.

Dropkick Murphys–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 (bagpipes)–are touring in support of their Live On Lansdowne, Boston MA CD/DVD (Born & Bred Records/ILG), which captures the intensity and camaraderie of 2009’s sold-out St. Patrick’s Day week hometown shows in Boston.  Following in the tradition of 2002’s Live On St. Patrick’s Day From Boston MA–which has sold over 250,000 copies worldwide–Live On Lansdowne features an entirely different 20-song set list, including the group’s platinum-selling single “I’m Shipping Up To Boston.”

In other news, Dropkick Murphys continue their work with The Claddagh Fund (www.claddaghfund.org), the charity established by DKM founding member Ken Casey in support of non-profits that champion the causes of children, veterans and those suffering from alcohol and drug addiction.  The First Annual Claddagh Fund Celebrity Golf Tournament co-hosted by NHL Hall Of Famer Bobby Orr will take place September 10 in Falmouth, Massachusetts.  Play is offered at two incredible courses: The Golf Club of Cape Cod and Ballymeade Country Club, with an awards reception dinner to follow with prizes, an auction, and a shoot out finale with the top shooters from both courses. Ken Casey and co-host Bobby Orr will be joined by additional celebrity guests at the event which will raise money for The Claddagh Fund.

For tour dates visit DROPKICK MURPHYS

The Claddagh Fund–the charity established in 2009 by Dropkick Murphys founder Ken Casey–has teamed with netRaffle.org to host a raffle for an all expense paid trip to Dublin, Ireland to see Dropkick Murphys play at the Olympia Theatre on April 22, 2010.   Raffle tickets are only $2 each and are available until Monday, April 12, 2010 at: www.claddaghfund.org/landsdowne2dublin.php.

The winner will receive:

• Two tickets to the Thursday, April 22, 2010 Dropkick Murphys concert at the Olympia Theater in Dublin, Ireland

• A meet and greet with the Dropkick Murphys and an autographed Live On Lansdowne, Boston MA DVD/CD

• Three nights hotel accommodations at the Clarence Hotel (owned by U2’s Bono and The Edge) in Dublin Ireland (single room/double occupancy, check-in Wednesday, April 21, 2010, check-out Saturday, April 24, 2010)

• A $2,500 allowance for airfare, ground transportation and meals

• A cash prize in the amount of $1,482.25 to mitigate the winner’s tax liability that results from winning the raffle. This prize is withheld and paid, on behalf of the winner, directly to the IRS ($1,225.00) and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ($257.25)

If the winner is unable to make the trip, The Claddagh Fund will offer the cash equivalent of the entire prize package.

The Claddagh Fund will be contributing all of the proceeds from this raffle through the American Ireland Fund to the Belvedere Youth Club, a children’s center in Dublin, Ireland.  The money will fund the “Weekend Holiday Program,” a weekend retreat for inner city children who will travel free of charge to the Club’s cottage in County Wexford to enjoy sports, arts and music in a relaxed environment.

The Claddagh Fund was established by Dropkick Murphys founder Ken Casey in support of non-profits that champion the causes of children, veterans and those suffering from alcohol and drug addiction.  The Claddagh Fund is committed to the three attributes symbolized in the Claddagh ring: friendship, love and loyalty.  The Claddagh Fund seeks to harness the passion of Dropkick Murphys friends, family and fans to significantly improve the quality of life of children, their families and the most vulnerable populations in the community.

The inaugural Claddagh Fund event, Claddagh Fund Skate in the Park, was held Saturday, December 19, 2009 on the ice at Fenway Park—built for the historic NHL Winter Classic Game—and was followed by a reception at the House of Blues.  The event raised over $50,000 for the fund.  Claddagh Fund Skate in the Park not only provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to skate the NHL ice at Fenway Park but also brought together friends of the Dropkick Murphys that included athletes from Boston’s major sports teams, celebrity guests, families and fans.

The Claddagh Fund’sCelebrity Bartending Party was held at McGreevy’s Third Base Saloon in Boston on February 13, 2010 and raised nearly $15,000 for Hope for Haiti Children’s Center to provide food, medical attention, shelter, emotional support and eventual family placement to children left orphaned by the tragic earthquakes in Haiti.  Celebrity bartenders at the event included Dropkick Murphys, along with NESN’s Heidi Watney, NECN’s Chris Collins, “The Mad Fisherman” Charlie Moore, funny gal Sue Costello, gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker, boxing legend Micky Ward, former New England Patriot Christian Fauria, and Boston Bruins legend/WAAF personality Lyndon Byers.

For more information on The Claddagh Fund, go to CLADDAGH FUND

*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

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