The Dropkick Murphys brought their St. Patrick’s Day Tour 2024 to the MJN Convention Center in Poughkeepsie on Monday, March 11. Those looking for a pot of gold got so much more. This was three bands joining together to form a punk shamrock.
The Scratch, from Dublin, opened the show. There was a reason the Dropkick Murphys asked them to join the tour. The Scratch is not a mild-mannered band from the Emerald Isle. From behind his percussion kit, Daniel Lang led the band on what can only be called “The Scratch” sound. Joining Lang on stage were Conor Dockery (guitar, backing vocals), Cathal McKenna (bass/backing vocals), and Jordan O’Leary (guitar, lead vocals) for a non-stop power set.
Pennywise, playing in the middle spot, just let it loose. They played loud and hard. Even cranking up a version of the Beastie Boys’ “Fight for Your Right.” Many Pennywise fans were on hand singing, dancing, even creating a mini mosh pit. Being California-based did not put a damper on the night’s Irish overtones; it stoked them.
If The Scratch filled the tank with gas, and Pennywise started the engine, the Dropkick Murphys put the pedal to the metal. The band exploded onto the stage with a mission in mind. Considered Celtic Punk, or maybe it’s U2 meets Green Day, in either case, it was explosive.
Front man Ken Casey lit the fuse for the Murphys. He was non-stop, traversing the stage from end to end. Continuously reaching his hand out, encouraging everyone to join along in the revelry.
Being a Monday night did not diminish the energy. Crowd surfing and singing were the norm. Early in the set, a wedding proposal added to this night of Irish joy. Band members moved from guitars to banjos to accordion, tin whistle to bagpipes as the two-hour, 22-song set marched on.
Proclaiming they are a band for the working-class and not afraid to share their political beliefs, the band performed Woody Guthrie’s “Gotta Get to Peekskill.” “Dirty Old Town” followed, paying tribute to the late Shane MacGowan of the Pogues. The songs allowed the crowd to capture its spiritual breath before kicking the night back into overdrive.
The set featured “The Boys are Back” and “Rose Tattoo,” encoring with “I’m Shipping Up To Boston,” and closing out with “Kiss Me, I’m Shitfaced.” Celtic punk has been around for a while. The Dropkick Murphys are making sure it lives on.
Dropkick Murphys
Pennywise
The Scratch
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