There is no better way to top off a Milwaukee Admirals’ game than with an energetic concert, dancing and singing with your fellow hockey fans. Boston Celtic-punk rockers, Dropkick Murphys, rocked the post-game show after the Admirals pulled in a solid win against the Abbotsford Heat; final 4-1. Banking on the positive vibe brought about by the exciting win, Dropkick Murphys had no trouble getting things into gear and wrangling a quite energetic crowd.
For the most part, fans hung out in their seats for the concert, but there was a good amount of attendees that were allowed down on the ice to get up close to the stage and form a makeshift pit. The rather energetic pit quickly turned into a mob of dancing and jumping as Dropkick Murphys took the stage and fired things up with “Wild Rover”. Continuing through a few more of their hits Dropkick Murphys were really having a good time until Ken Casey (bass) noticed something out of the ordinary. Near the back of the pit were some security staff “roughing up” a few of the fans, presumably trying to get them to stop dancing (according to Casey). Stopping right in the middle of the song, Casey had more than a few words for the security staff; Al Barr (vocals) taking it a step further by yelling at the security guy “we’re not playing until you leave!” Amazingly, Dropkick Murphys small protest did the trick, getting all security to leave the pit area so their fans could have a bit of fun. I talked with Al Barr about the security issue and he made it clear that he just wanted fans to have fun and not have to worry about security getting in their face for having a good time.
As the band got back on track after having laid down the law, they rolled out hit after hit of “Irish-Bostonesque” rock ‘n’ roll. Taking note of recent the recent protests out of Madison, WI against the governor, Ken Casey had a few words for Scott Walker and the actions of his current office before starting a very intimate sit down semi-acoustic session and playing “Take ‘Em Down”, a tune very appropriate for their views.. Peacefully jamming their way into their smash hit “Shipping up to Boston”, fans really got into it by forming a circle pit near the back of the main crowd. Arguably one of their most noticeable songs, “Shipping up to Boston” was an instant hit and was also featured in the blockbuster “The Departed.”
For the final song of Dropkick Murphys’ set, Ken Casey (vocals, bass) threw on a pair of skates and joined the crowd as he sang and skated around carousing fans and having a great time. It’s not something you see every day when a band member goes and joins the crowd for a song or two, much less skate around while they do it. This was a special treat for fans and will most certainly be something to remember.
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Setlist: Wild Rover – Climbing a Chair To Bed – Heros From Our Past – The Burden – Going Out In Style – Upstarts and Broken Hearts – Your Spirits Alive – Peg O’ My Heart – Never Alone – Do Or Die – Road of the Righteous – Grooveshark – Fields of Atherny – Take ‘Em Down – Devil’s Brigade – Boys on the Docks – Shipping Up To Boston – Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap – Citizen C.I.A. – State of Massachusetts
