Boston’s Dropkick Murphys performed on the Main Stage at Louder Than Life in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, September 28, 2024.
Photographer Steve Thrasher captured these images from their performance:
Boston-based band Dropkick Murphys may be synonymous with Irish American heritage and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, but their longevity stems from their ability to reinvent their signature Celtic punk sound. Formed in the mid-1990s, the band channeled the energy of street punk and oi! music. By the mid-2000s, with a lineup anchored by bassist and singer Ken Casey, vocalist Al Barr, and drummer Matt Kelly, their sound evolved from gritty blitz to more folk-inspired melodies and storytelling.
The group’s biggest hit, “I’m Shipping up to Boston,” paired Woody Guthrie lyrics with rollicking accordion, gaining widespread fame after it was featured in Martin Scorsese’s 2006 film The Departed.
Dropkick Murphys shifted gears again with 2017’s 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory and 2021’s Turn Up That Dial, blending their Celtic roots with Springsteen-style choruses ideal for energetic pub sing-alongs.
Follow the band at https://dropkickmurphys.com/.