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The Dropkick Murphys concert review, The Sands Event Center, Bethlehem, PA February 21, 2017

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<H1>

Irish eyes never frown when <BR>The Dropkick Murphys hit town

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<FONT COLOR=#ff0000>  The Dropkick Murphys/ The Interrupters/ Blood or Whiskey </FONT><BR>

<FONT SIZE="3">Sands Event Center<BR>

Bethlehem, PA<BR>


February 21, 2017
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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/drop1.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="325" HEIGHT="432" ALT="The Dropkick Murphys"><BR>The Dropkick Murphys</TD>


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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/drop4.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="318" HEIGHT="432" ALT="The Dropkick Murphys"><BR>The Dropkick Murphys</TD>


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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/drop.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="361" HEIGHT="432" ALT="The Dropkick Murphys"><BR>The Dropkick Murphys</TD>


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Review and photos by Johnny Hall</I>

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The Dropkick Murphys, hailing from Massachusetts, are a Celtic punk group who formed back in 1996. They made their name by constantly touring, and by playing annual St. Patricks Day shows in Boston. The band, known for their energy and loud live shows, are currently touring for their 9th album, <I>11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory</I>. which was relased in January of this year.<BR><BR>
 
The Sands Event Center in Bethlehem, PA, is a modern venue poised in the heart of steel mill country. The venue, which opened in 2009, played host to a sold out show of approximately 2,500 fans. The night kicked off with Irish punk rock band, Blood or Whiskey. Self described as a mix of the Dubliners and the Clash, the six man group consists of Dugs Mullooly (guitar and vocals), Chris O'Meara (drums), Sully (bass), Kev Pluck (guitar), Baz Kelly (accordion and tin whistle, and Robbie Collins, (trumpet). Blood or Whiskey delivered a phenomenal high energy 30 minute set of their signature sound, making new fans with every song they played.<BR><BR>
 
Soon after Blood or Whiskey the L.A. based punk/ska band, The Interrupters, took the stage. The band, made of three brothers Kevin Bivona (guitar), Justin Bivona (bass), Jesse Bivona (drums) and Aimee Allen (vocals), have an early '90s punk rock sound reminiscent of bands like Rancid. Their 13 song set, which included songs like "White Noise"  and an Operation Ivy cover of "Sound System," got the crowd skanking and jumping to the high energy ska sound that filled the Event Center. <BR><BR> 
 
At 9:30 pm the Dropkick Murphys came to the stage to the Sham 69 song "If the Kids Are United" and burst into "The Lonesome Boatman." The band did not let up, with frontman Al Barr whipping the full capacity crowd into a near frenzy. Ken Casey and the rest of the crew brought an incredible stage performance, even enlisting a local Irish dance troupe to perform on stage for "If I Had a Hat" and "I'm Shippin' Up to Boston." The 1.5 hour set  ran the gamut of songs from their new album, <I>11 Short Stories of Pain and Glory</I>, as well as favorites from past records. <BR><BR>The crowd seemed to know every word to the songs as they sang and got crazy with the boys along the way. The guys often spoke to the crowd, Casey asked at one point  "How ‘bout those Patriots?" Which received jeers from the crowd, making Barr comment in jest "and things were going so well." The Dropkick Murphys newest album touches on some somber subjects like addiction and loss but that did not keep them from having a show that was upbeat and fun. Throughout the evening, The Dropkick Murphys were also raising money for the charity foundation The Claddagh Fund, which was founded by member Ken Casey.  Their new album hits on current topics of opioid addiction, and in addition to providing funding for other causes, the Claddagh Fund helps to provide funds for alcohol and drug rehabilitation across the country.<BR><BR>

The Dropkick Murphys, along with the Interrupters and Blood or Whiskey, brought to stage one of the must see concerts of 2017.  


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<FONT COLOR=#ff0000> Dropkick Murphys setlist:</FONT> </TD></TR>
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If the Kids Are United (Sham 69 song)<BR>
The Lonesome Boatman<BR>
Rebels with a Cause<BR>
The State of Massachusetts<BR>
The Warrior's Code<BR>
Sunday Hardcore Matinee<BR>
I Had a Hat ([traditional] cover)<BR>
As One<BR>
Caps and Bottles<BR>
The Wild Rover ([traditional] cover)<BR>
Going Out in Style<BR>
Blood<BR>
Your Spirit's Alive<BR>

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You'll Never Walk Alone (Rodgers & Hammerstein cover)<BR>
First Class Loser<BR>
Barroom Hero<BR>
Paying My Way<BR>
Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya<BR>
In the Streets of Boston<BR>
God Willing<BR>
Rose Tattoo<BR>
Out of Our Heads<BR>
Worker's Song<BR><BR>

<FONT COLOR=#ff0000> Encore:</FONT><BR>
The Boys Are Back<BR>
I'm Shipping Up to Boston<BR>
Until the Next Time<BR>
My Way (Frank Sinatra song)<BR>


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<H3><FONT COLOR=#ff0000>Related articles:</FONT></h3>
<A HREF="fest09pix.htm">Dropkick Murphys (Summerfest 2009) Photo gallery -  Milwaukee, WI - June 2009</A><BR>

<A HREF="dropkicks.htm">The Dropkick Murphys  Concert review -  Milwaukee, WI - February 2009</A><BR>

<A HREF="vans05.htm">Dropkick Murphys (Vans Warped Tour 2005) Concert review -  Milwaukee, WI - June 2005</A><BR>
<A HREF="interviews/dropkick.htm">Exclusive Vans Warped interview
with The Dropkick Murphy's Tim Brennan - June 2005</A><BR>

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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/drop10.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="864" HEIGHT="576" ALT="The Dropkick Murphys"><BR>The Dropkick Murphys</TD>


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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/drop5.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="317" HEIGHT="432" ALT="The Dropkick Murphys"><BR>The Dropkick Murphys</TD>


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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/drop6.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="307" HEIGHT="360" ALT="The Dropkick Murphys"><BR>The Dropkick Murphys</TD>

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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/drop2.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="372" HEIGHT="432" ALT="The Dropkick Murphys"><BR>The Dropkick Murphys</TD>

  
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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/drop9.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="288" HEIGHT="432" ALT="The Dropkick Murphys"><BR>The Dropkick Murphys</TD>


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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/drop8.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="504" HEIGHT="405" ALT="The Dropkick Murphys"><BR>The Dropkick Murphys</TD>

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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/drop3.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="504" HEIGHT="336" ALT="The Dropkick Murphys"><BR>The Dropkick Murphys</TD>


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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/drop7.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="288" HEIGHT="432" ALT="The Dropkick Murphys"><BR>The Dropkick Murphys</TD>


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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/inter.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="864" HEIGHT="576" ALT="The Interrupters"><BR>The Interrupters</TD>


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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/inter2.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="345" HEIGHT="432" ALT="The Interrupters"><BR>The Interrupters</TD>


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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/inter3.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="432" HEIGHT="288" ALT="The Interrupters"><BR>The Interrupters</TD>


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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/inter1.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="288" HEIGHT="432" ALT="The Interrupters"><BR>The Interrupters</TD>


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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/blood1.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="576" HEIGHT="391" ALT="Blood or Whiskey"><BR>Blood or Whiskey</TD>


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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/blood2.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="287" HEIGHT="360" ALT="Blood or Whiskey"><BR>Blood or Whiskey</TD>


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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/blood3.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="339" HEIGHT="360" ALT="Blood or Whiskey"><BR>Blood or Whiskey</TD>


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<IMG SRC="jpegs/dropkicks17/blood4.jpg" BORDER="1" WIDTH="289" HEIGHT="360" ALT="Blood or Whiskey"><BR>Blood or Whiskey</TD>

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