In order to honor the tenor of This Machine Still Kills Fascists the band's current tour finds them playing an acoustic show for seated audiences, something practically unheard of for Dropkick Murphys and the first ever of its kind for a Phoenix audience. None of this means the show is any less rowdy; indeed the group is not rocking electric guitars on this tour and guitarist Jeff DaRosa, for example, features on banjo and mandolin. The nature of the set also allowed singer Ken Casey to explain things about Guthrie's life, music and mindset and how it dovetails with the Murphys ethos. To put it in a nutshell, both acts champion working men and women and the rights both inherent and hard-earned that go hand-in-hand. This theme runs throughout This Machine Still Kills Fascists and the band played the album in its entirety although not completely in order.
While the entire band was highly energized, Casey roamed the stage like a caged lion both while singing and while speaking between songs. Early in the set the guys played the swinging "Cadillac, Cadillac," the twangy "Talking Jukebox" and the Johnny Cash-style romp that is "Two 6's Upside Down," a cut about being sentenced to a 99-year stint in prison. All of those cuts are new but sprinkled into the early set were the raucous crowd participation cut "Middle Finger" a self-explanatory song from the band's 2021 release Turn up That Dial as well as 2005 cut "Citizen CIA." An Irish-flavored rendition of the Pete Seeger chestnut "We Shall Overcome" was performed and Casey explained how a Ukrainian group the band knows recently recorded the cut to encourage their countrymen in time of war.
The second portion of the set included a run of five more cuts from This Machine Still Kills Fascists; "Waters Are A'risin'," "Where Trouble is At," "All You Fonies," "The Last One" and "Never Git Drunk No More" which featured guest singer Jaime Wyatt who also played her own opening set. Casey intro'd the song with commentary about how he and the original members of the band got sober 20-years ago after being hard core alcoholics. With all but one of the new songs now performed ("Dig a Hole" would come during the encore) Casey thanked the audience for being so receptive to hearing all the new music and said they deserved to hear one they know and kicked the band into fan favorite "Rose Tattoo" to thunderous approval from the crowd. More oldies featured at the end of the show and encore including "The Fields of Athenry," "Barroom Hero" and "I'm Shipping Up to Boston." The Boston-based singer Jessie Ahearn also played an opening set for this extremely entertaining and memorable evening.
The Dropkick Murphys tour to support This Machine Still Kills Fascists continues through mid-November and the band also has lots of dates scheduled in 2023. Find a listing of all upcoming dates here.
Share this article
Stuckey's: A Road Trip Institution - A Chat with CEO Stephanie Stuckey
Road Trip: Eswatini's Swazi Candles: Light from Africa
Quick Flicks: REO Speedwagon - Live at Rockpalast 1979
Caught In The Act: Def Leppard, Journey, Steve Miller Rock Wrigley Field
Sites and Sounds: Art-In-Action Camp Coming to Woodward, PA
Sammy Hagar Share Video From Best Of All Worlds Van Halen Tribute Tour
Queens Of The Stone Age Cancel More Shows Following Josh Homme's Emergency Surgery
Axl Rose Helps Billy Joel Close Out His Madison Square Garden Residency
Ghost Deliver 'Rite Here Rite Now' Soundtrack
The Offspring 'Make It All Right' With New Animated Video
Fit For A King Recruit The Plot In You's Tewers For 'TECHNIUM' Video
Middle Child Syndrome Says 'Listen To Me' With Debut Album
Singled Out: The Sweet's Little Miracle