Gig Review: Dropkick Murphys

Another international band who toured in late March, and played at the Arena in Brisbane, is the Dropkick Murphys, commonly known as the Irish Punk band (from Boston). They brewed up one blast of a night, with the support of local bands Mouthguard, and the Disables. Dropkick Murphys are a seven piece band who generally target the alternative crowd, in particular those who listen to punk music, or those who support the leftist ideology. The band comprises of your typical band instruments (i.e. drums, guitar, bass and lead singer) but also encourage other traditional folk instruments within their songs. These include an accordion, recorder, piano and yes, even bagpipes. Their songs are either about drinking at the pub or politics, yet their sound can range from a fast punk-influenced song to a more football (soccer) type song and dance (or jig). All the members get a chance to sing, generally together, encouraging the audience to sing along. They emphasized that the event wasn’t just about them, but everyone else. The Dropkick Murphys, at one point, asked the guys to get up on stage and sing along, completely filling the stage like I have never seen before. It was then the girls turn to get up and completely pack the stage. It was also interesting to see the messages that were hung around the Arena. All the bands played in front of a large banner that read:

“YOUR RIGHTS AT WORK”

not to mention a black flag with a scull that read “St. Pauli gegen rechts” (St. Pauli fans against Nazis); a support to leftists. The following image is an example of what it looked like:



St. Pauli has history within Germany, and has created a “kult” who share the same ideas. This was influenced by their football (soccer) team.

Their song Gonna Be a Blackout Tonight

Gonna be a blackout
Gonna nail me a black curtain up good an' tight
Gonna do what my air raid man says is right
I'm gonna pull down my shade an' turn out my light
There's gonna be a blackout, blackout tonight


Cause my town is big and my town is bright
My town can work and my town can fight
So don't strike no light and don't cause a riot
There's gonna be a blackout, blackout tonight


[Chorus:]
Gonna be a blackout, blackout tonight
Gonna be a blackout
Gonna do what my air raid man says is right
Blackout tonight
Pull down my shade an' turn out the light


Lights will go out all over town
And the air raid warden will walk up and down
It's part of the war, I'm gonna do right
There's gonna be a blackout, blackout tonight


[Chorus]

The majority of people who attended this event were, to put them stereotypically, punks and skinheads. Tartan, coloured hair, safetypins, denim and boots were the most common outfit seen within the environment. Police surrounded the outside of the venue as if a riot was going to break out. It was a good night.