Dropkick Murphys Bring St. Patrick’s Day Rowdiness to Lansdowne

Tyler Lavoie ’16 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

From “The State of Massachusetts” to “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” Dropkick Murphys are a cultural icon. Each March, the Boston natives regroup to play a series of headbanging, beer drinking, all green concerts at the House of Blues.

This was the venue’s equivalent of a Paddy’s Day pub crawl. The bartenders poured generously, the music was loud, and everyone was decked out in clovers. Dropkick shredded exotic instruments casually while a girls’ troupe stepdanced onstage.

Despite the fun happening on the stage, this wasn’t the usual Boston crowd. Masses of 40-something tourists swayed precariously to avoid puddles of spilled beer. Teenagers crowdsurfed too roughly before being calmed down by anxious security guards (or their parents). After a few minutes, I was asked to put away my camera – despite the couples wielding point and shoots in the front row.

When I stepped outside, a guard complained about the tourists flooding Lansdowne Street. For him, this was a particularly tough night in a long season of concerts, with a particularly messy crowd.

This is the blessing and curse of the Dropkick Murphys marathon. While their hearts are with Boston, back-to-back shows leave the city exhausted. For some fans, this might be an essential part of the Boston spirit. For others, it might be just another stop on the tour.