Dropkick Murphys at Mohegan Sun Arena – September 28, 2023

The Dropkick Murphys brought their Celtic punk sound to an crowd at Mohegan Sun Arena, with the young ska-punk band, The Interrupters, tagging along.

The Interrupters

The Interrupters, a vibrant ska-punk band hailing from Los Angeles, took the stage at the Mohegan Sun Arena and started off their set with “Take Back the Power.” The Interrupters are known for their high-energy performances and infectious tunes which they delivered from the very moment they stepped on the stage. The band is comprised of Aimee Interrupter on vocals, brothers Kevin Bivona on guitar, Justin Bivona on bass, and Jesse Bivona on drums. On this particular tour they were joined by Billy Kottage on keyboard and trombone. What sets The Interrupters apart is their ability to blend ska, punk, and rock influences seamlessly, creating a sound that is both timeless and contemporary. As they continued their set, they played a cover of the Bob Marley song “Judge Not” which was very unique and interesting.

Aimee let the crowd know that the next song in their line up, “Raised by Wolves,” is very personal. She went on to say the song has to do with coming to terms with her troubling childhood. This band is typically happy-go-lucky so it was unusual to see this serious side of them. The energy level went right back to a ten as the Bivona brothers jumped from various set pieces during the next tracks, “She Got Arrested” and “Gave You Everything.” The band concluded with their massively popular hit, “She’s Kerosene.” This song is always a crowd pleaser so it was a perfect way to leave the fans ready for the headliner.

Dropkick Murphys

After a quick changeover, the lights dimmed and a bright green shamrock appeared in the background as the Dropkick Murphys emerged. The renowned Boston based band started to play “Worker’s Song.” Frontman Ken Casey was leaning out from the stage into the crowd to connect with fans right from the start which had everyone excited and on their feet. During “The Boys Are Back”, the background display was of the old-school Bruins clips. This went over extremely well playing to the local New England crowd. Watching Terry O’Reilly pummel every Montreal Canadian in his path was exactly what this sports and music loving crowd wanted to see. It made for the perfect backdrop as the bagpipe player next to Ken Casey poured his heart out with each note.

The show continued with newer tracks, “Never Git Drunk No More” and “Cadillac, Cadillac”, both of which are from the This Machine Still Kills Fascists album that features lyrics from Woody Guthrie.  Dropkick Murphys also played many fan favorites that were not necessarily mainstream hits like “Barroom Hero” and “Skinhead on the MBTA” which have become beloved songs for their dedicated fanbase.

The Dropkick Murphys made sure to play their massive hits, “The State of Massachusetts” and “Rose Tattoo” which had absolutely everyone singing along in beautiful Celtic punk bliss. The band attempted to finish the night after 19 songs, but were wildly cheered to give an encore. The band treated the audience to three additional songs including “I’m Shipping Up to Boston”, finishing off the night in a celebratory way. Any time the Dropkick Murphys are able to play anywhere near New England, they draw in an extremely enthusiastic crowd. The band always does an amazing job of creating a new and alluring setlist, and they did it again at the Mohegan Sun Arena.