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    DROPKICK MURPHYS supported by Pennywise and The Scratch- Marathon Music Works, Nashville, TN -Feb 29 2024

    Photographs and review by Kim Cilluffo

     

    Marathon Music Works hosts some of the most amazing fan-driven shows due to the smaller venue size and the ability to appeal to a wide range of artists. The bands can interact and feel the energy in the room while still making the venue feel like it’s the largest stadium in the world. Having Dropkick Murphys announce they were having a show here quickly got everyone’s attention. I spoke to a family that drove from Houston to see this show because they tried to hit as many as possible for this tour. One of the first things I noticed when I entered the venue was that the place was already filling up well. Typically, the opener has a small crowd, but this venue definitely had something different in the air tonight. Maybe it was all the Guinness that was flowing. The place filled early even before The Scratch went on.

    The Scratch has come to entertain us from Perrytown, Dublin in Ireland. This energetic 4-piece acoustic band knows how to entertain an audience and get them fired up for the night with their high-energy riffs for their set. The Scratch has delivered multiple sold-out shows and festivals, also releasing multiple EPs and singles since 2018 with crowd favorites like Get It Right Up, Punisher, Cunla, and Flaker. 2020 was a big year for them as they released their debut album ‘Couldn’t Give A Rats’. I had never heard of them before but after this night it’s going on my playlist. This is one of those bands to check out their socials and homepage.

    The Scratch Homepage, Spotify, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X

    Current Members:

    Conor Dockery –guitar, backing vocals

    Cathal McKenna – bass, backing vocals

    Daniel Lang – Cajon, percussion, lead vocals

    Jordan O’Leary – guitar, lead vocals

    Setlist:

    Cheeks

    Excuse

    Hole in the ground

    McAlpines

    Sally

    Another Round

    THE SCRATCH

    The first thing that I always think of when I hear Pennywise is a certain freaky-looking clown. Don’t worry. Even though they took their name because of this character in 1988, the band Pennywise looks nothing like him. Starting in Hermosa Beach, CA, Pennywise has seen the world in their travels and released 12 full-length studio albums! Pennywise is currently working on a new album that they started in 2020. The raw talent and energy that lead singer Jim Lindberg exudes on stage with the punk rock type vocals that ignites the masses into mosh pits and crowd surfing. A few singalongs of Stand by Me and Fight for Your Right were also there.  The last song, The Scratch, joined Pennywise on stage and stage dove into the crowds to do a bit of crowd surfing themselves. Yes, there is proof because it was captured in a picture ( above )

    Pennywisdom Homepage

    Current Members:

    Fletcher Dragge – guitar, backing vocals

    Byron McMackin – drums, backing vocals

    Jim Lindberg – lead vocals

    Randy Bradbury – bass, backing vocals

    Setlist:

    Peaceful Day

    My Own Country

    Straight Ahead

    Same Old Story

    My Own Way

    Violence Never Ending

    Fuck Authority

    Fight for Your Right

    Pennywise

    Society

    Stand by Me

    Bro Hymn

    PENNYWISE

    If you have never seen a live performance of Dropkick Murphy, you have no clue what you are missing with this Celtic Hardcore Punk band from Boston since 1996. Dropkick Murphy got their name from Dr. John “Dropkick” Murphy, an American professional wrestler who operated the Bellows Farms Sanatorium/Alcohol detoxification facility. It’s kind of a cool nugget of info. From the first moment Dropkick Murphy steps on stage, there is constant energy all over the stage from lead singer Ken Casey jumping and working the entire stage and jumping onto the rails, engaging the crowd every moment he can. You can see the true enjoyment Ken is having from the constant ear-to-ear grins and smiles he displays. Something new was constantly happening on the stage with the members of Dropkick using different instruments like bagpipes, mandolin, tin whistle, and the best rock-sounding banjo and accordion I’ve ever seen. Even had a past member help for 2 songs. Rick Barton energetically played with the songs “Barroom Hero” and “Road of the Righteous.”  At this show, about a dozen kids were scattered along the railing. Ken made it a point to politely ask the crowds to let their energy go wild and enjoy the show but to please refrain from crowd surfing to help keep the future rockers safe. Everyone cheered and was happy to comply. The comradery that I felt at this show, with nothing but strangers singing along and embracing the music, was amazing. The final song “Kiss Me, I’m Shitfaced”, Ken encouraged everyone to meet their fellow humans around them and come together as one. I’ve never seen this many people in a group turn into an ameba and sway to a song in unity. Go check out their newest album “Okemah Rising”. This is their twelfth studio album, which was released in May of 2023.

    Dropkick Murphy Homepage

    Current Members:

    Ken Casey – co-lead vocals, bass

    Matt Kelly – drums, bodhrán, backing vocals

    James Lynch – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead guitar

    Tim Brennan – lead guitar, accordion, mandolin, bouzouki, banjo, piano, keyboards, backing vocals

    Jeff DaRosa – banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, rhythm guitar, keyboards, piano, harmonica, tin whistle, backing vocals

    Setlist:

    For Boston

    The Boys Are Back

    Climbing a Chair to Bed

    Middle Finger

    Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya

    Barroom Hero

    Road of the Righteous

    Caught in a Jar

    Skinhead on the MBTA

    The State of Massachusetts

    The Body of an American

    Rose Tattoo

    T.N.T.

    Captain Kelly’s Kitchen

    I’m Shipping Up to Boston

    Cadence to Arms

    Do or Die

    Worker’s Song

    Kiss Me, I’m Shitfaced

    DROP KICK MURPHY’S

    I also wanted to take a moment to discuss one of the charities Dropkick Murphy is involved with. The Claddagh Fund, founded by Ken Casey in 2019, supports community-based non-profits, with a focus on children’s and veterans’ organizations and programs that support alcohol and drug rehabilitation in cities across the country and around the world. Go check it out here for yourself.

    The Claddagh Fund

    Lastly, don’t forget to check out the Livestream event on March 17th at 9 pm ET for a part of the ST. Patrick’s Day Mayhem. You can only purchase the tickets at this site. https://veeps.events/dropkick-murphys

    If you missed this opportunity, there are still plenty of chances on this tour. Check out which one is closest to you…

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