Music
Dropkick Washington
February 27, 2018 @ 12:00am
What better way to get into the spirit of St. Patty’s Day than to start your celebrations off with Dropkick Murphys? The boys from Boston will be stopping by The Anthem Saturday, March 10, exactly one week before St. Patrick’s Day.
Dropkick Murphys are touring in support of their newest album, 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory, which was released through Born & Bred Records, the band’s own label. The record was released January 6 and has since garnered positive reviews for its anthemic, raucous Celtic punk. Those descriptors may sound a little old hat for DKM, but the approach which the band took to making this record is what makes this album standout from their discography otherwise.
In 2009, Ken Casey founded The Claddagh Fund. Ken Casey is the DKM frontman and the fund supports those recovering from addictions as well as veterans programs and youth and mentoring programs. The songs off 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory were inspired by the various people Casey and the band connected with through The Claddagh Fund.
This includes: “Rebel With a Cause,” which was inspired by kids written off by the system; “Paving My Way,” which is about the path to recovery from addiction and “4-15-13,” which is an ode to the victims of the Boston Bombing.
There is a sense of pride and hope with this new album that leaves the listener with the feeling that you can rise above your circumstances to overcome the struggles in life. “4-15-13” is the last track on the record and though, again, it was written in deference to the victims of the Boston Bombing, it speaks to everyone: it doesn’t matter who you are, “we’re all just people trying to make our way…”
The following photos were taken by Shantel Mitchell Breen at a DKM show earlier this year:
Ken Casey and Tim Brennan
Al Barr
The Anthem: 901 Wharf St. SW, DC; 877-435-9849; www.theanthemdc.com