Ken Casey Reveals His Top Five Dropkick Murphys Songs To Play Live

Legendary Boston punks Dropkick Murphys are returning to Australia next week for their first run of shows down under since 2018. Joining them are special guests Alkaline Trio, who haven’t performed in Australia in ten years. It’s one hell of a bill, and tickets are flying out the door.

For the tour, the bands will hit Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. Demand in Melbourne and Sydney has led to the addition of second and final shows, where Dropkick Murphys are set to perform a completely different set on the second night.

Dropkick Murphys are touring off the back of their twelfth album, Okemah Rising (released last year), the follow-up to 2022’s This Machine Still Kills Fascists. Both albums contain unused lyrics from Woodie Guthrie. Neither album features vocalist Al Barr, who was on hiatus from the band while caring for his mother.

To celebrate the band’s impending Australian tour, co-vocalist Ken Casey has offered The Music his five favourite Dropkick Murphys songs to play live. Read on to find out which songs made the cut…

Rose Tattoo

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Rose Tattoo is my first favourite to play live because it has this funny generational thing. We have a lot of young kids coming to shows these days with their parents, and young kids seem to love that song as well. So, on the one hand, you have this thing where it crosses into young kids and older people, but yet, at the same time, the punk kids also seem to like the song. It just has this weird universality to it that I love, and people seem pretty passionate about that song.

I’m Shipping Up To Boston

Obviously, I’m Shipping Up To Boston has to be in here, being our biggest song. I love playing it because it gets such a passionate reaction. But the key to that song as well is that it’s two minutes long! So, anytime anyone ever asks me, “Do you get sick of playing it, having to play it every night?”. I reply: “It’s over before it starts!”. So it’s fine!

Boys On The Docks

I’d also say Boys On The Docks, one of our earliest songs; that’s definitely a favorite of mine, too. It’s written about my grandfather, and songs that have that kind of personal meaning to you are always important.

Smash Shit Up

After those first three, it’s probably more of a rotating thing based on what we’re playing at the time. But currently, another favourite is the song Smash Shit Up; it just is what it says it is! Sometimes, no matter where you are in life, no matter what age you are, and not even necessarily in a negative way, you just want to fucking break shit, you know what I mean? And I hope I never get past the stage of sometimes just wanting to break shit!

Sirens

And lastly, I’d say our newest single, Sirens, just because I feel like it’s topically important, especially in America. This country is so divided, we’re at each other’s throats, like two different teams.

Essentially, there’s a greater power, the 1% type, the billionaire wealth that loves nothing more than seeing working-class people at each other’s throats because if we’re fighting amongst each other, we’re never going to unify and attack them. And I just feel that I always enjoy anything that’s calling out people who mistreat us, and who turn us against each other.