REVIEWS & SPEECHES

Dropkick Murphys & Rancid, Boston to Berkeley II
at the Worcester Palladium Outdoors, 8/21/21

This pandemic has been a long one, the accompanying drought of concerts has left many thirsty. But we’ve been lucky, the Dropkick Murphys have come through a number of times to lift our spirits with free streaming shows. Now finally, after almost 2 years, we got to see them again in-person.

The weekend was hot and humid, with a warning of Hurricane Henri close by, but no one seemed to care. Shortly after the gates opened, there was a mad dash to the front ...

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2019 Leapfest, International Paratrooper Competition
Hosted by the Rhode Island National Guard, 8/03/19

"Leapfest is the largest, longest standing, international static line parachute training event and competition. The purpose of the competition is to promote the camaraderie and Esprit de Corps of the Airborne Soldier through international competition. The competition is routinely attended by representatives from the Active Army, Army Reserve, Army National Guard, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and several international teams. ..." (Leapfest.com)

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Brigadier General Frank Magurn's Memorial Day Remarks
Concord, MA, 5/28/18

"I would like to start by offering my thanks to John Arena and the entire Public Ceremonies and Celebrations committee here in Concord for both inviting me to join you but, more importantly, for upholding this tribute to those to whom we owe so much in such a heartfelt and community-wide fashion. It is fitting for this town that saw our Nation’s very first battle for liberty. I would also like to acknowledge that the Department of Defense is commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War right now and it is a good time to specifically honor the memories ... "

The Smithereens (playing with Andy Burton) and a special guest appearance by Barrence Whitfield
Larcom Theatre (Beverly, MA) 4/3/16

A band is not just held together by it’s music alone. There needs to be a bond, at least for them to last for 36 years. This band has been together since 1980, something practically unheard of! The music is what first brought them together but it’s their shared love of performing and being together that keeps them there. Life can be hard, but friends like this can help to manage the pain. You can see their close connection on stage, encouraging each other and enjoying the moments.

Reflecting on 20 Years with the Dropkick Murphys
Agganis Arena (Boston) 3/19/16

Anniversaries mean a lot to all of us. They are a chance to reflect on the time gone by, enjoy the time we’re in, and to look forward to more good times to come. This anniversary for the Dropkick Murphys is a big one: not many bands last 20 years or are as successful as they’ve been. This anniversary is also a big one for all their fans, from those who have been there since the beginning to those who have just discovered them. It’s an anniversary to reflect on the many firsts: when and where you first saw them play, the first time you got on stage with the band, or the first time you got to meet members of the band (who are always friendly and usually hang out after shows to meet and talk to people).

Dropkick Murphys at the AIG Fenway Hurling Classic
Fenway Park (Boston) 11/22/15

For a few hours on Sunday, Fenway Park, the cathedral of Boston, was taken over by the cities of Galway and Dublin. The stands were filled with over 30,000 people, all anticipating the festivities. ... The last time this game was played at Fenway Park in 1954, more than 60 years ago.

Shortly after the game ended, the favorite Irish punk band of many, the Dropkick Murphys, came out to thunderous applause. … Their first song of the day was “The Boys are Back,” a powerful song to burst onto the stage with.

Blue Öyster Cult with Gary Hoey
The Cabot Theatre (Beverly, MA) 10/10/15

"If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits eighty-eight miles per hour, you're gonna see some serious shit!”

When I got to the Cabot Theatre for the Blue Öyster Cult show, I felt like I had traveled back in time! Everyone there was wearing a tshirt from previous decades: of course there were a lot of Blue Oyster Cult tshirts, but plenty of Scorpions, Black Sabbath, Journey, and Rush were also seen in the crowd. Prize for the perfect one went to the shirt with MÖRE CÖWBELL emblazoned in big letters across the front!

Last Call with the Dropkick Murphys
The Beachcomber (Quincy, MA) 10/3/15

Whether you were fortunate enough to snag a ticket in the two-minute window that they were available online, or you were one of the very brave who waited for hours in line at the Beachcomber for tickets, standing against the storm at Wolly Beach as it came in off the ocean right across the street, you were one of the lucky few. This was a very special show, put together at the last-minute by the Dropkick Murphys to say goodbye to the Beachcomber, a final show before the doors closed. Only 250 tickets were available!

Foo Fighters
Fenway Park (Boston) 7/19/15

When the news broke 7 months ago that the Foo Fighters were coming to Boston, tickets sold out instantly. Several months later, an audible gasp went out worldwide when Foo lead singer Dave Grohl broke his leg on tour in Sweden. It looked likely that they would have to cancel the rest of the tour. But Grohl wouldn’t be held back and immediately made alterations so he could continue with the rest of the tour. This of course made their visit to Fenway all the more special. Boston welcomed the Foos with an almost rabid excitement. Everyone wanted to see Dave, cast and all, on his Throne of Guitars!

Billy Idol & Steve Stevens
House of Blues, Foundation Room (Boston) 2/01/15

I don’t know how you spent your Superbowl Sunday, but I went to the BEST pre-game party EVER! WXRV 92.5 The River hosted Billy Idol and Steve Stevens at the House of Blues Boston Foundation Room for the very lucky few who won tickets. It was just like having Billy Idol come play in your own living room … OK, if your living room was luxuriously decorated with ornate tapestries on every wall, rich Persian carpets on the floors, and looked like a room in the Maharaja’s palace. It was almost surreal, yet the perfect setting for this beautiful singer to perform!

The Bosstones HomeTown ThrowDown
House of Blues (Boston) 12/27/14

The holidays are often a time when family and friends are able to come together. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ HomeTown ThrowDowns are no different. This show, a Christmas-time tradition for almost 20 years, has become a time of reunion for many. The Bosstones’ fans come from far and wide, around the US and many countries. Many of these people have met and organized fan clubs in order to stay in touch and meet up at concerts.

RadioBDC Event: Island in the Sun
The Lemonheads and Parks
Thompson Island, 9/23/14

It was a beautiful day; the weather was perfect for this outdoor event organized by RadioBDC. We all met at the World Trade Center Dock and boarded the Provincetown II, a large harbor cruise boat, to begin the adventure. The ride to Thompson Island was thoroughly enjoyable, no Dramamine was needed. The waters were smooth and the bars were stocked. Everyone was in a good mood, hanging out with friends and also making new ones.

Dicky Barrett's Birthday Bash: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Friends
Boston City Hall Plaza, 6/21/14

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and friends took over Boston City Hall Plaza Saturday night to celebrate lead singer, Dicky Barrett’s 50th birthday. The sea of heads that filled the space was almost overwhelming. It was a sold-out show, the area seemed filled even beyond its capacity of 10,000, but despite the throngs of people it wasn’t a mob scene; everyone was just there for a good time.

Buckcherry, Fozzy, & Red Sky Mary
Hampton Beach Casino (Hampton, NH) 5/10/14

The weather was perfect and it was a great night to be on the beach! Hampton Beach was filled with people waiting to go to the Buckcherry show at the Casino Ballroom. It wasn’t hard to pick these people out of the crowd; most were adorned with their 80’s hair metal attire and looked ready to party! The club is bigger inside than you’d imagine, but it was packed, both on the floor and in the seats above.

St Paddy's Day Weekend with the Dropkick Murphys
House of Blues (Boston) 3/14/14

This time of year in New England, you’ll find a countless number of parades, festivals, and shows. However, in the Celtic Punk scene, the most anticipated event is when the Dropkick Murphys come back to their hometown of Boston for a St. Patrick’s Day weekend full of shows. This past weekend, all but one of the shows was at the House of Blues. One special intimate show was held down the street at the Landsdowne Pub. These locations are both significant, located directly across the street from Fenway Park, the subject of at least one of their hit songs ...

Pixies
Calvin Theatre (Northampton, MA) 1/13/14

My love affair with the Pixies started in college about 4 years after they formed (at nearby UMass) in 1986. If only I had been aware of those first shows at TT the Bear’s or The Rat! Everyone wants to be a witness to the genesis of a new sound/band/movement! But I didn’t cry over that glass half empty for long. Even as a broke college student, I latched onto as much of their music as I could; buying, borrowing and making mix-tapes. I felt as though their music surrounded me, their sound was everywhere. Black Francis screaming Broken Face (from Surfer Rosa) stayed in my head and followed me through classes.

Lez Zeppelin
Middle East Club (Cambridge, MA) 12/07/13

The cold winter evening warmed up quickly downstairs at the Middle East Club. First to take the stage was the band, Tragedy, the self-proclaimed “#1 All-Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees in the Tri-State Area.” Adorned in body hugging, chest-hair-revealing, sequined-leather costumes that left nothing to the imagination, these flamboyant, energetic performers took the Bee Gees to different heights. They played it the way it always should have been!

The Mahones with Riki Rocksteady, The Scrapes, The Pubcrawlers, and Neutral Nation
Fête Music Hall (Providence, RI) 11/22/13

We all remember our “firsts,” many of them from high school and college, from times growing up. Well, even though I’m now grown-up, last weekend had many memorable firsts, seeing The Mahones, Riki Rocksteady, The Scrapes, The Pubcrawlers, and Neutral Nation at the Fête Lounge in Providence. All of these bands are a part of rock/punk history, playing since the 80’s and 90’s. They made their mark again on Friday night! The music, the energy onstage, and the vibe that everyone brought was contagious and is a memory I hope to always keep!

Dropkick Murphys Boston Marathon Bombing Benefit
House of Blues (Boston) 4/28/13

The Dropkick Murphys, a local Celtic punk band, put on the show of shows at the House of Blues in Boston. The excited and adoring crowd was made up of punks, college kids, cops, firefighters, townies, teens, parents, and even a few young children. This was a special event, put together at the last minute by Ken Casey (band founder, bass guitarist, and one of the lead singers). The band had been away on tour when they heard about the recent Boston bombings.