DROPKICK MURPHYS / THE MENZINGERS – LIVE AT MOHEGAN SUN
By Ralph Beauchamp
The Dropkick Murphys annual St. Patrick’s Day tour is always an incredible event. It usually culminates with the band playing multiple nights in their hometown of Boston. Dropkick Murphys played the impressive Mohegan Sun Arena the day before those MA dates. They brought The Menzingers and Teenage Bottlerocket along for the ride. All three acts delivered exciting sets that totally energized the sold out Mohegan Sun Arena.
Teenage Bottlerocket was up first. TB formed in Wyoming in 2000 and have a groove that straddles both the punk and rock genres. The current lineup consists of Ray Carlisle (Vocals/Guitar), Kody Templeman (Guitar/Vocals), Miquel Chen (Bass) and Darren Chewka (Drums). The band has released numerous studio albums with the latest being Sick Sesh! in 2021
This evening the band came out spitting dynamite from the very start. Opening with “Necrocomicon”, Teenage Bottlerocket followed with “Don’t Want to Go” and “Bigger Than Kiss”. At this time, even though the arena was half full, which is still a good amount of people, the intensity of the crowd was palatable. Teenager Bottlerocket then cruised into “Freak Out!” and “Stupid Games”. In all, the band played a 14 song set which is an excellent number for an opener. Teenage Bottlerocket finished with a cool rendition of their big hit “Skate or Die”. It was a phenomenal start.
The Menzingers were up next. Formed in 2006 in Scranton, PA, The Menzingers are a mainstay in the punk universe. The band is made up of Gregor Barnett (Guitar/Vocals), Tom May (Guitar/Vocals), Joe Godino (Drums) and Eric Keen (Bass). To date, they have dropped eight full lengths with the most recent one, Some of It Was True, in 2023. Every record was critically acclaimed by both fans and critics alike.
They entered out the stage pushing pure adrenalin. They ripped into “I Don’t Wanna Be an Asshole Anymore” and immediately the audience was into it. A couple of small mosh pits formed and the band was flying high. “Try” ran into “Good Things”, “House on Fire” and “Hope Is a Dangerous Little Thing”. May And Barnett were superb showmen. They were constantly revving the crowd with their stage demeanor. The mosh pits were getting larger and larger. The Menzingers were in absolute control.
The Menzingers closed out with a whirlwind of monstrous tracks. “America (You’re Freaking Me Out)” led into “The Obituaries”, “Irish Goodbyes” and “Lookers”. By now, the Mohegan Sun Arena was in full frenzy. Everyone was enjoying the furious vibes the band was letting loose. The Menzingers ended on a high note. “After The Party” filled the house with rapacious vibes all the way to the rafters. They gave the fans a totally mesmerizing performance. The Menzingers slayed.
When the Dropkick Murphys hit the stage, the arena let out a stupendous roar. This is who everyone was waiting for. As I roamed the arena, I talked to quite a few people and found out quite a few drove down from Boston. Dropkick Murphys have a truly dedicated fanbase. The band hails from Quincy, MA and formed in 1996. To date, they have released 12 studio albums. The most recent one is 2023’s Okemah Rising.
Every member of the band was brazen on stage. Ken Casey (Vocals) was explosive. He pulled the audience in song after song. Tim Brennan (Guitars/Accordion/Piano), Jeff DeRosa (Guitar/Banjo/Mandolin) and James Lynch (Guitar) were throwing out outrageous riffs all night long. Matt Kelly destroyed on drums while Kevin Rheault’s bass was thundering. These musicians were tight as can be. Every song emitted sonic beauty and aural ferocity.
The Dropkick Murphys played an outrageous 24 song set. They began with “Captain Kelly’s Kitchen” which set the venue into a propulsive frenzy. Those mosh pits grew in size and took up almost half the floor. Casey was a madman, commanding the stage like a whirling dervish. The band played divinely. Their stage presence was impressively dynamic. “The Boys Are Back”, “Smash Shit Up” and “Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya” kept the energy flowing. The audience was in complete awe.
The Murphys played hit after hit. Fan favorites “Chesterfields and Aftershave”, “Barroom Hero” and “Good as Gold” received great responses. The Dropkick Murphys saved the best for last. “The State of Massachusetts”, a profound version of “Rose Tattoo” and “The Irish Rover” (Joseph M. Crofts cover) finished off the main set. The audience was completely spent but when the Murphys returned for their encore, everyone found more vim and vigor. “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” and “Worker’s Song” were a killer ending.
Teenage Bottlerocket, The Menzingers and Dropkick Murphys all gave their all and the fans were absolutely satisfied and appreciative.
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