The Dropkick Murphys brought their “For The People…In The Pit St. Patrick’s Day Tour 2026” to The Capitol Theatre on Friday, February 13, 2026. This was stop number four of a twenty-seven-date run which concludes on St. Patrick’s Day in Boston. As in past tours, Dropkick Murphys brought multiple supporting acts along with them. At The Capitol Theatre three bands joined in on the fun.
Slugger from Northern California took the stage at 6:45 pm. This early start time did not deter them as they hit the stage undaunted with what’s described as an Oi!/hardcore sound. Lead singer Tommy paced back and forth on the stage like a tiger on the prowl, leading the band through a short but powerful set.
Boston-based, Haywire took the second slot. Haywire kept the fire going with their own “tough as nails” punk. Frontman Austin Sparkman pulled the crowd in close to the stage as the band put on a pulsating half hour performance.
The Aggrolites were next in line. This Los Angeles-based group tweaked the vibe with their “dirty reggae” sound. Between originals, The Aggrolites put their spin on covers, including Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” and the Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down” making them their own. Both Haywire and Aggrolites are booked for most dates on the tour, with Slugger joining for select stops on the tour. This night’s triumvirate of openers did their job and had the crowd stoked and ready.
Akin to an Olympic opening ceremony, the lights dimmed and a backlit Camp Webster, alone on bagpipes, filled the hall with “Cadence to Arms” as the Dropkick Murphys stepped out from the darkness. It was now game on. Ken Casey then leaped onto a mini stage and the band kicked into “Deeds Not Words” to open the show.
For over an hour and a half, fists were thrust high into the air, mosh pits swirled, crowd surfers took to the musical waves. Casey, with mic in hand, continuously reached out from his perch at the front of the stage encouraging the sold-out house to join in on every song.
The Dropkick Murphys packed twenty-two songs into their set. The night was filled with fan favorites; “The Boys Are Back”, “Rose Tattoo”, and “I’m Shipping Up To Boston.” Mid-show, Casey reminded the crowd that over the course of their thirty-year existence the band stood for hard-working people. True to this credo, Dropkick Murphys performed “Citizen I.C.E” (an updated version of their “Citizen C.I.A.”), joined by members of Haywire who are included in the 2025 redo recording.
Throughout the show, Tim Brennan swapped guitar for accordion while Jeff DaRosa rotated between banjo, mandolin, and guitar. Matt Kelly on drums joined in with Kevin Rheault on bass to keep the rhythm in step. James Lynch on guitar rounded out the unmistakable Dropkick Murphys sound.
It was Friday the thirteenth, there was nothing scary about it. Call it what it is, lucky thirteen. A sold-out show, four bands, each building on the prior’s energy, topped with a four-leaf Celtic Punk clover.
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