Philadelphia
The Ballad Of The Still-Kickin’ Murphys
by | Sep 26, 2024 4:37 pm
Posted to: Music
The Dropkick Murphys
The Met
858 N. Broad St.
Philadelphia
Sept. 25, 2024
The Dropkick Murphys, a Celtic punk group from Boston, played Philly Wednesday night alongside Dublin acoustic crew The Scratch and California metal band PennyWise. The Dropkick Murphys were a part of the soundtrack of my Irish-Catholic childhood. The chance to see them live felt like an invitation to a fucked-up family reunion. I ended up leaving the function not feeling like speaking to anybody, until I remembered I had to write a review for this very site.
In the spirit of what I saw, I decided to post the review as a song about re-encountering a band playing past its heyday. The working title is “Still Kickin’.” Play the Celtic instrumentals above — courtesy of the Dropkick Murphys — to set the beat before you read.
I shipped up to central Philly
To reunite with Sailor Peg
While Boston’s Dropkick Murphys
Tour along the East Coast leg
I could’ve gotten tickets
To Charli XCX
She was playing at Wells Fargo
But the Murphys took the Met
I chose the Irish homeland
And hoped for drunken brawls
But this show was family friendly
Beer bellies were all I saw
I waited for two hours
I watched two opening acts
When Keny Casey took the mic
I was past prepared to hit the sack
“Rock out!” Ken Casey commanded
In his navy collared shirt
But while four guitarists shredded
He was looking pretty hurt
It wasn’t a peg leg, per se
But he told us he was sore
He had to wear a boot because
Last night his ankle tore!
55 must be too old, I thought
To go on global tours
Though the band’s named for a boxer
It’s really nothing more than lore
When moshers in the crowd
Surfed the stage like water’s wake
Casey said, “Save your energy,
Give security a break.”
“I don’t like to say this,“
Casey said before he spit:
“We really shouldn’t crowd surf.”
Please: Keep chaos to the pit.
(Now the chorus:)
The gays were all at Charli
But more greenery was seen
Clapping for Ken Casey
With a cast up to his knee
There was banjo, there was fiddle
It was Celtic camaraderie
But let’s not forget Ken Casey
And his booted achilles
I thought some fools would battle
I knew drinks were flowing free
But the scene was far too tame
With Casey’s cast up to his knee
(Some more verses:)
The show was opened by the Scratch
Who itched every Celtic urge
They were the only band from Dublin
And had energy to purge
“Come down and get a beer,” they said
Off-stage we’ll share another round
I would’ve liked to leave right then
To two more sets the crowd was bound
Pennywise from California
Came up next with fake accents
Society is sick, they said
Let’s feck the government!
“This goes out to all the parents,
Who raise their kids on punk rock!”
The frontman praised all mothers
At a concert on the clock
It was family and family
As far as I could see
Until the time turned 9 p.m.
And Casey came out cast on knee
Now there’s Lankum and the Pogues
Flogging Molly’s still around
Have the Dropkicks stayed in vogue?
Does it resonate, their sound?
Only pot-bellied flat caps
And their kids were to be found
Dancing to the death
To the bagpipes’ pitchy pounds
The crew formed in ‘96
Because of nothing but a dare
But since Ken Casey got so famous
All I see is lights and hair
Listen, I love worker’s rights
I just don’t think Casey is my guy
I’m not really big on Boston
But I love an Irish goodbye!
(Then, I guess, the chorus again:)
The gays were all at Charli
But more greenery was seen
Clapping for Ken Casey
With a cast up to his knee
There was banjo, there was fiddle
It was Celtic camaraderie
But let’s not forget Ken Casey
And his booted achilles
I thought some fools would battle
I knew drinks were flowing free
But the scene was far too tame
With Casey’s cast up to his knee
NEXT:
The Dropkick Murphys are on an international tour through next spring. Look here to find out where they’re playing next.
