Tuesday, November 15, 2005  

The Dropkick Murphys

Washington Post, Tuesday, November 15, 2005; Page C07

The Dropkick Murphys' roadies were greeted with hockey-crowd chants of "Let's go, Murphys!" Sunday as they set up instruments at the sold-out 9:30 club. Soon afterward, the Irish traditional "The Foggy Dew" introduced a kilted pipes-and-drums corps that played the opening mournful melody of "Your Spirit's Alive" from the Murphys' recent CD, "The Warrior's Code."

Then all hell broke loose.

For the next 75 minutes the lower level of the club became a massive mosh pit, as the Murphys ripped through strident Irish-punk songs, barely pausing to catch their collective breath. The seven-piece group creates a massive but melodic roar, and the addition of bagpipes, mandolin, accordion, piano and pennywhistle added depth and contrasting textures to the songs. Al Barr's sandpaper roar always sounds on the verge of blowing out, but he kept up the massive vocal eruptions throughout, with bassist Ken Casey occasionally taking the lead.

The Dropkick Murphys formed 10 years ago but the group's roughneck style hasn't changed at all. Great new tunes ("The Warrior's Code," "The Walking Dead," "The Burden") slotted seamlessly next to "Boys on the Docks," "Barroom Hero," "Worker's Song" and other older numbers. The band slowed up only for "The Fields of Athenry," which was dedicated to Andrew Farrar, a Marine sergeant who died in Iraq and had the song played at his funeral.

The Boston crew finished with a trio of songs that began with women from the audience jumping onstage to dance "The Spicy McHaggis Jig," followed by guys screaming along to "Skinhead on the MBTA." Amid a crowded, rowdy stage the Murphys closed with a rousing, perfectly timed cover of the self-titled theme song by D.C.'s legendary Minor Threat. No need for an encore. --Christopher Porter

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