Wednesday, March 17, 2010

"(F)Lannigan's Ball" - Dropkick Murphys

Happy St. Patty’s Day to you and yours! Although the time is ALWAYS right, there is no better day to enjoy some good ol’ celtic punk. There are many bands you could choose from but some of my favorites are The Pogues, Flatfoot 56, Flogging Molly and the green apple of my eye, Dropkick Murphys. Man, no matter how sad, down, tired or low you could be feeling, these boys will pick you right up and get you dancing! I first heard Dropkick Murphys’ song “Road of the Righteous” my senior year of high school. Knowing that Lars Frederiksen from Rancid produced their first album, Do or Die, was a good enough endorsement for me to pick it up. I really liked them and this was before they had even added the bagpipes, accordion, and mandolin that would play so prominently into their next few albums. When Amanda and I took a vacation to Boston in March of 2008 I walked the 8 blocks from the subway station in the freezing cold just to snap a picture of the Dropkick Murphys mural seen on the cover of their Sing Loud, Sing Proud album. I was super sick but it was one of those musical monuments that I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see in person. It was well worth it!

A track that perfectly encapsulates all things Dropkick would be “(F)Lannigan’s Ball” from their Meanest Of Times album. “Lanigan’s Ball” is an old Irish pub song about a fancy dancing party that ends up in a total ruckus. Dropkick Murphys changed a lot of the lyrics but the overall theme of the song is the same; we’re having a party, an accident happens, things escalates, chaos ensues. If the singing of a traditional Irish song backed by bagpipes and mandolin isn’t green enough for you, they are also joined by Ronnie Drew and Spider Stacy on the track. Ronnie spent years in the Irish folk group The Dubliners and Spider sings and plays tin whistle in The Pogues. Dropkick Murphys are guaranteed to get your blood pumping AND to turn it green! Erin Go Bragh!

"(F)Lannigan's Ball" - Dropkick Murphys (The Meanest Of Times)

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