If ever there was a need for a band to get your cold feet moving, then Dropkick Murphys are it, as plummeting temperatures and treacherous conditions make for an interesting journey to the Cardiff International Arena tonight. But it’s all for good reason as Boston’s finest make their long-awaited return to Cardiff and the folk-punk heroes have brought some mighty backup to keep them on their toes.
Tonight is not a night for elaborate stage sets and huge light shows. Tonight is all about the music, which acoustic punk’n’roller Jesse Ahearn duly provides to a modest crowd to kick off the evening. Jesse’s brand of stripped-back Americana is warmly received by tonight’s early birds, but it’s kicked up a notch when Celtic-influenced Aussie punks The Rumjacks take to the stage. A boisterous set culminates with a singalong to their surprise hit An Irish Pub Song proving them to be the perfect support for the Dropkick Murphys.
But before that, a noticeable surge in crowd size numbers heralds the first ever Welsh show for So-Cal punks Pennywise. Replacing The Interrupters after this initial run of shows had to be rescheduled, there’s a buzz among the crowd as the main support hit the ground running with Fight Till You Die. The first circle pits of the night are established and encouraged by frontman Jim Lindberg, before a brief respite to allow a lucky kid and his dad to clamber up and witness the rest of the set stageside. A nice touch from the guys, who continue with their hyperspeed cover of Ben E King’s Stand By Me before ending a very energetic set with the anthemic Bro Hymn. Cardiff clearly loves Pennywise – who, declaring this “the best show of the tour”, promise not to leave it so long next time.
As Sinéad O’Connor belts out over the PA, so enter The Dropkick Murphys. The Boston boys last breathed Welsh air when they toured with The Pogues in 2005, but there’s been a definite increase in their popularity since then, as tonight shows. Keeping up with Pennywise is a big ask, but as The Lonesome Boatman kicks in, it’s clear that they are more than up to the challenge.
It’s also worth noting that the Dropkicks are currently minus frontman Al Barr, on temporary leave from the band, but second vocalist Ken Casey has stepped up to take on the cheerleading duties and while Barr is missed, Casey is doing a very commendable job. It’s one rousing anthem after another as The Boys Are Back, Barroom Hero and Citizen CIA encourage little pits to open up around the arena and people who aren’t participating in the pit are dancing a jig in the aisles. They’ve built a career on championing the working class, so Casey shouts out the nurses and postal workers, urging us all to get behind the strikes before country singer Jaime Wyatt is rolled out to dual with Casey on Never Git Drunk No More.
Ahearn re-emerges for Worker’s Song and then the reason for at least 30% of tonight’s crowd is played out: for better or worse, I’m Shipping Up To Boston elevated the Dropkicks career somewhat, and predictably it’s the song that gets every single person in the arena moving tonight. Speaking of predictable, requesting a pint of Guinness at the interval is met with a wry smile from the staff, but nonetheless, an encore featuring the Murphys’ night-ending anthem “Kiss Me, I’m Shitfaced” is enhanced by Casey encouraging the crowd to put your arms around the person next to you, bringing a perfect evening of punk rock to an end.
There’s something for everybody to enjoy at a Dropkick Murphys gig – that’s what’s kept them popular for 25 years now – and if they announced a gig in Cardiff next week, I’d wager most people in attendance would happily pay again.
Dropkick Murphys, Pennywise, The Rumjacks + Jesse Ahearn, Cardiff International Arena, Fri 20 Jan
words CHRIS ANDREWS photos JONATHAN HERRON
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