Dropkick Murphys | House of Blues BostonEmpty Bottle Evenings

Mar162014March 16, 2014March 17, 2014No Commentby Bake

Dropkick Murphys | House of Blues Boston

Posted in Music

It’s St Paddy’s Day in Boston. So it’s time for that annual tradition. Not drinking, that’s not a tradition, more like a daily task. I mean seeing the Murphys live. This year they are playing 6 shows on Landsdowne Street. To which I say: please stop.

I went to the 3/14 show. I had a good time. The band played great. Lucero opened and they’re awesome. I drank several beers. So what is my fucking problem? The crowd sucks ass. The DKM fans are some weird mix of punks/skins/jocks/drunks/redsox superfans. So basically a melting pot of assholes. The demographics have changed over the years from more hardcore punk fans to more soccer moms, but I honestly don’t give a shit, as long as people are having a good time and enjoying themselves. You’ve been going to shows since Do or Die? Good for you pal. You standing in the corner pissed off until they play “Skinhead on the MBTA” is really helping the environment, the band, and yourself. But whether you’re a lifer or a pinkhat, learn the fucking songs before the show.

It’s been over a year since they released an album, but no one knows any of the words? They played “End of the Night” from 2013’s Signed and Sealed in Blood, accompanied by the fine (read: sloppy) ladies of Boston on stage. Typically this is done to the song “Kiss me I’m Shitfaced”, which is of course a mess, but at least one that people enjoy singing along with. But 50 drunk girls on stage awkwardly swaying off beat, beers guts hanging out, make-up partially sweated off, hair frizzed out, just not knowing what to do with themselves? The words are simple people “It’s the end of the night, and we ain’t going home”. Hopeless. Meanwhile, the band is hidden behind this human wall of Quincy trash who can’t be bothered to listen to the band before they come to see them. And I’m paying to watch this shit? I must be the biggest asshole on the planet.

People don’t want to learn the new songs. But they don’t care about the old ones either. So what are they there for? To drink $8 Guinness and rock out to “Shipping Up to Boston”. The song lasts under 3 minutes. Is this worth a $40 ticket? But it’s a tradition. If they could just cut down the amount of shows it might help. Six shows in the same city? They’re not the fucking Beatles. There are just not that many people who care that much about the Dropkick Murphys. So naturally you’re going to get a watered down crowd. Not to mention, since they are playing all those shows in Boston they don’t want to keep using the same set list. So they’re reaching into their back catalog a little too much for a crowd that can’t even be bothered to listen to an album from last year let alone songs from the last decade.

And they sold out somehow, so I’m sure next year we’ll get 6 more shows with thousands of people who won’t think of them for the next 12 months unless the Red Sox suck and people run to their World Series DVDs for comfort. They’re still a good band. And I’ve seen them put on a great show for too many years to give up. But come on, I mean they sound good, but their shows are for signing, moshing, and drinking. You’re not going to see Al Barr and Ken Casey leading the band into Symphony Hall anytime soon (I hope?). With a crowd just sitting there with their thumbs up their asses, what’s the point? I could stay home and listen on my stereo if I just wanted to take in the music. And I’d only have to witness one atrocious beer gut that way.