Dropkick Murphys

[theCOOP]

side note:

The morning of the 19th, I was on the red-line (Boston) going from JFK/UMass terminal to Downtown Crossing. The guy (other couple) we were with started talking to the guy sitting next to him, an older gentleman, who looked perterbed about the intrusion. Then he aked where we were from and what we were in town for (Pogues show).

Of course he knew who the Pogues are. "(His) son is a friend of Ken Casey's" he said.

The second day were ran into two other guys from our hotel and from Halifax, on the hotel-shuttle who were in town for a hockey game.

[meowhouse]

I shot DKM at their concert last Thursday. It was a really good show although I had to leave tad early and did not get to see Shipping Up To Boston, which I had been really wanting to stay for. What a crazy crowd ... reminded me of the fan behavior at other concerts of someone I have seen before, this other band, their name escapes me right now.

There are pictures at here.

[DzM]

There are pictures at here.

Nice work there. I'm filled with jealousy.

[meowhouse]

Thank you, that is especially appreciated coming from you, Mr. D3 (is that what you're up to now??) For that, and all your Pogues shoots, I am filled with jealousy! I keep trying to think of ways to justify the cost of one, but so far I haven't made a good case to myself.

I don't know if you read the enormous book I wrote in there but they only let us stay in the pit for maybe one-and-a-half songs so I didn't even get shots of everyone, thinking I had more time left. And we were all stuffed onto stage right. I had gotten a bunch of pictures of Tim Brennan playing the guitar also (besides the accordion) but I couldn't get far enough over and the mic is in the way for all of them. Sadness.

[DzM]

Thank you, that is especially appreciated coming from you, Mr. D3 (is that what you're up to now??) For that, and all your Pogues shoots, I am filled with jealousy! I keep trying to think of ways to justify the cost of one, but so far I haven't made a good case to myself.

I haven't yet either. I'm still toting around the D1X. I am filled with the suck.

I don't know if you read the enormous book I wrote in there but they only let us stay in the pit for maybe one-and-a-half songs so I didn't even get shots of everyone, thinking I had more time left. And we were all stuffed onto stage right. I had gotten a bunch of pictures of Tim Brennan playing the guitar also (besides the accordion) but I couldn't get far enough over and the mic is in the way for all of them. Sadness.

Huh. That's a particularly restrictive photo policy.

I can understand that bands don't want the distraction of photographers constantly in the way, and that the punters paid the ticket price and deserve a show without tall people (well, tall in my case) with cameras standing in front of them the whole night, etc. But restricted to 1.5 songs, and restricted to one side of the stage? That sucks.

The most restrictive I've had to deal with is the Wiltern, in L.A. They require that photographers be on a ramp about 20 feet back from the stage. The ramp runs roughly center-stage to stage-right. After the requisite number of songs the photographers are ushered out of the hall where they must either check their cameras or leave the premises. But even there they at least honored the band's guidelines for songs (for The Pogues it's usually songs 2-4, though sometimes 1-3, and more rarely 1-4).

I wonder if this craptacular photo policy you ran into was an artifact of the venue or of the band?

[meowhouse]

I think it was because either: 1) they didn't let us in for the first couple of songs because they were shooting fireworks and maybe the security dude didn't realize that we actually hadn't been in since the beginning, so thought our three were up; or 2) they were worried because there were many, many people diving into the pit. There was a large table blockING the entry to stage left, although earlier they had let me pass through, but during DKM they said no. So we were all over on the right along with two or three video guys. Plus about 15 security, plus moshers. It was just a bit crowded.

Otherwise the whole process was pretty laid back. They didn't have any kind of release to sign, which surprised me. And when they first gave me my pass, they just said "Oh we can't find your photo pass, just take this All Access one instead" and then a minute later must have realized they shouldn't have done that and so took it back and found the correct pass. I should have ran like hell when they first gave it to me!

[DzM]

I think it was because either: [...]

This is why the first thing I always do when I get to the venue (assuming there's enough time) is introduce myself to the monkeys. Have a conversation. If they're reasonably confident you won't get in their way and seem like a normal human, they're more inclined to let small things slide.

[meowhouse]

Oh I had already done that. They were very nice and quite helpful. But there's no time to argue when they tell you to leave as people are flying over your head!

[usualdog]

Nice surprise to see Spider guesting with DKM on the main stage at Reading yesterday. DKM singer paid his dues to The Pogues as well. On a personal note had loads of favourable comments on my Pogue Mahone t-shirt!!

[Hometownhero]

DKM set at leeds on friday was marred by god awful sound for the first 4 songs and then the continual failure of some of the stage mikes...still managed a wee jig or two in the mud though

[in_the_morning]

I think the Dropkick Murphys aren't bad at all, but I wouldn't buy a studio album. I listened to two songs they did with a late Shane MacGowan ("Good Rats" and "Wild Rover"), they sounded good, as well as some traditionals like "Amazing Grace" or "Black Velvet Band" or "Fields of Athenry" (don't know who wrote them, suppose they are traditionals ) They are quite catchy, but they don't have this sort of "magic" that got me into the Pogues. The two lead singers are not too great as well. That's just my opinion, good band, but I really prefer Pogues.

[Fr. McGreer]

DROPKICKS VS EMINEM

http://www.kyte.tv/ch/661-mashuptowntv

I think this is fucking brilliant (the way it's mashed). It's worth clicking onto.

1:22 secs

[Spider Stacy]

Not only has Bruce Springsteen given an almighty big up to the Dropkicks by inviting them on stage with him in Boston but Shipping Up To Boston was used in the climatic scenes in the Best Show on British TV - Shameless. It was used to great effect during Mandy Maguire's wake. Tears were shed in this household.

Fuck this Who is better? shit...The Dropkicks are the rightful heirs to Springsteen's mantle of genuine blue collar heroes. He knows it.

[phro37]

Not only has Bruce Springsteen given an almighty big up to the Dropkicks by inviting them on stage with him in Boston but Shipping Up To Boston was used in the climatic scenes in the Best Show on British TV - Shameless. It was used to great effect during Mandy Maguire's wake. Tears were shed in this household.

Fuck this Who is better? shit...The Dropkicks are the rightful heirs to Springsteen's mantle of genuine blue collar heroes. He knows it.

he did the same with social distortion's mike ness in los angeles (one of my FAVORITE singer/songwriters, and another "blue collar hero"). i thought that was kinda cool.

I think the Dropkick Murphys aren't bad at all, but I wouldn't buy a studio album. I listened to two songs they did with a late Shane MacGowan ("Good Rats" and "Wild Rover"), they sounded good, as well as some traditionals like "Amazing Grace" or "Black Velvet Band" or "Fields of Athenry" (don't know who wrote them, suppose they are traditionals ) They are quite catchy, but they don't have this sort of "magic" that got me into the Pogues. The two lead singers are not too great as well. That's just my opinion, good band, but I really prefer Pogues.

it was dropkick who first got me into the pogues. went to ireland in '05 to watch dropkick (who were opening for a band i thought it might be cool to watch live). but anyways...

i think the magic you're talking about lies in the instrumantation of the two bands. where dk is grounded with more modern instruments, the pogues are grounded more traditionally (even compared to the technologies in music at the time they first came about). dk sings a lot about some very universal issues (both in time and location) but their choice of instruments still brings the listener into the modern era (even during the traditionals you were talking about). even though pm's music is also high energy, their gear waxes along with the verse in a way that takes the listener to another time and place.

[Mike from Boston]

Just an FYI for those interested. Tickets go on sale Friday November 27 for the DKM's St. Patty's Week in Boston March 12-17 at HOB.