Today marks the official start of my concert season, and by season I mean the rest of the year! The band I’ve seen the most times, Dropkick Murphys, are playing The Anthem in Washington, DC, as the second stop on their St. Patrick’s Day tour. They’ll be accompanied by The Menzingers and Teenage Bottlerocket, which means this show is going to be insane!

A packed house at the Anthem in Washington, DC, for the second night of the Dropkick Murphys’ St. Patrick’s Day tour. photo by kim moenich

Coming fresh off a European tour, DKM started their 17 date St. Patrick’s Day tour in Huntington, NY. They hit a few midwest spots, then make their way down south, before heading back to PA and CT. The tour will culminate in the now EPIC 4 day Boston shows over St. Patrick’s Day weekend (yours truly will be at the rail for all the days except the one I get to shoot!) Guests for those dates include my faves, The Kilograms, The Menzingers, Teenage Bottlerocket, Bouncing Souls, Hot Water Music, Rebuilder, and Cody Nilsen. If you’ve never gotten to experience the absolutely insanely enjoyable chaos that is the DKM St. Patrick’s shows, GET YOUR ASS THERE NOW!!! Tickets can be found through the link in their bio or by going to the Dropkick Murphys’ website.

I better see ya at at least one of these! photo by kim moenich

After this 17 city stretch, the boys will hit the road starting July 18 at Punk in the Park Denver with punk rock legends, Bad Religion. There will be 17 dates after the Punk in the Park gig, that will see the boys crisscrossing America, and even heading up to Quebec. At the end of this tour, the band that never sleeps will head back to Europe once more for another 25 shows. Links to all ticket sales can be found on the Dropkick Murphys socials. DKM also have a new single out, “Sirens” from their now-confirmed new album which should be out this summer, and they were kind enough to play us a song or two from it!

Ken sings to an always enthusiastic crowd. photo by kim moenich

Kicking off the night was a band that I have always considered grossly underrated, Teenage Bottlerocket. This quartet of goofy, hard-rocking, get-you-up-on-your-feet punk rockers originated in Laramie, Wyoming, in 2000. After a few lineup changes, the group settled in and started cranking out some really fun albums on labels like Red Scare, Fat Wrecks, and Rise. They’ve opened for all the big names, like NOFX and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, but this band can easily stand alone. If you want to simply get lost in the music while singing along and having the time of your life, get out to see Teenage Bottlerocket. They were the perfect openers for this non-stop dance fest of a lineup!

Miguel Chen, Ray Carlisle, and Darren Chewka of Teenage Bottlerocket bring the crowd to their feet. photo by kim moenich

Even though he’s behind the drums and doesn’t do social media, Darren Chewka knows how to have fun! photo by kim moenich

Kody Templeman, also of The Lillilingtons, is the calmest member of Teenage Bottlerocket (at least onstage)! photo by kim moenich

Ray Bottlerocket is a force onstage! photo by kim moenich

Next up were crowd-favorite, The Menzingers. Coming out of the lovely Scranton, PA, in 2006, The Menzingers have made a name for themselves originally signing to Red Scare Industries after their self-released demo tape garnered national attention in ‘06. After touring with some big names like Against Me!, The Menzingers caught the attention of Brett Gurewitz, who signed them to Epitaph. They’ve put out a split with punk rock legends, Bouncing Souls, and their seven studio albums have met with critical acclaim. To be honest, I had never really been into them (and to be fair, I barely listen to any bands who formed after the turn of the century because I’m old and set in my ways), but this performance at the Anthem changed my tune. These guys came ready to rock, and I was totally here for it. They were fun and energetic, and the crowd was really into it. I might have gone to Bandcamp and bought up most of their discography…

Tom May and Joe Godino of The Menzingers had us screaming along! photo by kim moenich

Eric Keen of The Menzingers is always smiling. photo by kim moenich

And then the boys were back! I’ve seen this band well over a hundred times, but I still get goosebumps every time I hear Sinéad O’Connor’s voice on the first note of “The Foggy Dew”. Ken and the boys came ready, and it was chaos from the get-go. As soon as “Captain Kelly’s Kitchen” started, so did the circle pit. Ken had a huge platform just off the middle stage, allowing him to come right out to the rail (and making my first official photo gig at a punk show a LOT more challenging!)

Ken Casey loves bringing the music to the crowd, and they love him for it! photo by kim moenich

Dropkicks’ set list encompassed songs from almost all of their albums, even pulling out ones you don’t hear too often like “A Few Good Men”. As I looked over the set list, I realized that the band was making a statement with many of the songs they chose. They have been particularly outspoken in recent years, and moreso in recent months, about worker’s rights, protecting vulnerable populations, and standing up to fascism. Songs like “A Few Good Men”, “Ripping Up The Boundary Line”, and “Worker’s Song” all reflect their long held belief in unity and Union workers. Ken made a short speech during the set in which he addressed the ever-prevalent chant on social media right now telling DKM to “shut up and just sing”. He noted that the band’s first album, “Do Or Die”, featured a photo of his grandfather and his Union buddies. The band has always stood for worker’s rights and the right to freedom for all, Ken said. “We will never just shut up and sing, that isn’t who we are,” Casey told the crowd, to raucous applause.

Ken Casey had something to say at The Anthem in Washingon, DC. photo by kim moenich

The band went on to play a 23 song set, with the now infamous, “Shipping Up to Boston” and “Worker’s Song”, as their encore. Never once did the crowd stop moshing, surfing, and singing (even Banana was there, but I only saw him crowd surf once!) Ken likened the DC crowd to a European show, noting that the energy in the building was palpable. And even though I didn’t get to be with my DKM family at center rail, I could still feel the love- especially as Ken made his way down the line at the end of the show and gave me a huge hug, saying, “I’ll see you in Boston"!” That you will, my friend, that you will!

Jeff DaRosa knows he’s one of my favorite photographic subjects- I mean just look at that face! photo by kim moenich

The one, the only, Tim Brennan, ladies and gents. photo by kim moenich

The one perk of getting to shoot the show was to finally get a decent shot of James Lynch! photo by kim moenich

One last thing of note, WHEN (not if) you find yourself at a DKM show, make sure to stop by the Claddagh Fund table and buy something from my buddy, Gorgeous George. The Claddagh Fund is the Murphys’ charity, set up in 2009, that supports children’s organizations, veterans organizations, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation efforts. Your money goes to great causes and you come away with some killer merch!