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It's amazing how labels seem haphazardly put out DVDs these days. For all the potential that the medium holds in terms of storage capacity and sound quality, it's common these days to see frequent DVD releases from popular acts, the quality of which is often less of a priority then simply getting the releases out there.

On The Road With The Dropkick Murphys should therefore be used as a benchmark for all future punk DVD releases, as it's simply packed with interesting and worthwhile stuff. The band's entire catalogue of videos is present, allowing you to follow their various line-up incarnations from the Mike McColgan days onwards. 7 videos later this little disk still has hours of footage, including a live set from the band's annual (and much celebrated) St. Patrick's Day shows in Boston. The footage, from the 2002 shows, is decent as far as punk live footage goes, but the subject matter is consistently interesting. I love watching Marc Orell, as the guitarist simply beams enthusiasm and excitement whenever he's on camera. The band's frequent use of traditional Celtic instruments results makes for more varied visuals than a straight-ahead rock band would. Since the St. Paddys day shows are hyped (and organized) as such unique events, there are a few out of the ordinary occurrences in store, including a troop of highland dancers and an on stage wedding proposal.

On top of all that there are three documentaries on the band and an hours worth of often hilarious b-side footage. Most interesting is an acoustic set that the band plays for the AFL-CIO. Intertwined with this set is footage from the 2001 Warped Tour date in Pittsburgh, on which the band took a stand with striking stagehands. Testimonials from grateful members of that union and the follow up on their story takes an interesting perspective on the working class ideals that the Murphys promote in their music. Seeing such ideals in action and effecting the lives of real people offers a poignant moment you don’t usually see on these types of releases. All politics are put aside for "Black And Gold," another feature on the band's November 2003 performance in the stands of a Boston Bruins game. The tone is completely reversed from the Labor Day doc and it serves the band well to show them in such a different, celebratory light.

The same can be said for the longer running "65 Days Of Hell", a much lighter in tone film that follows the band on throughout a summer on the road. The directory managed to cull together a ton of amusing footage of both the band's huge live shows (the crowds drawn on the Warped Tour footages are staggering in number) and various backstage antics (the 4th of July celebration in Calgary comes to mind). My only qualm that taken all at once, it's noticeable that much of the background music on the disc is culled from the same batch of five or six "classic" Murphys tunes, so despite having an ample catalogue to choose from you'll end up hearing tracks like "Boys On The Docks" quite a few times.

For fans of the band there's no reason why you shouldn't own this. It's filled to the brim with hours of worthwhile footage and perfectly bookends the band's career to this point. Bands should strive to make their DVD releases this complete.



People who liked this also liked:
Rancid - Rancid (2000)Bouncing Souls - The Gold RecordBouncing Souls - How I Spent My Summer VacationBad Religion - The Empire Strikes FirstAgainst Me! - As The Eternal CowboyBouncing Souls - Anchors AweighNOFX/Rancid - BYO Split Series Volume 3NOFX - The DeclineBad Religion - SufferDropkick Murphys - Sing Loud, Sing Proud



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    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 1, 2004 at 2:22 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    well i love the dkm. so umph.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 26, 2004 at 6:12 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    the whole band bothers me.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 26, 2004 at 11:49 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Bring back the old singer. The singer's receding hairline bothers me.

    Sara(no h)

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 25, 2004 at 5:48 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    bagpipes were originally invented by the english, the scots then adopted them for their own uses

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 22, 2004 at 8:41 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "however, bagpipes are a scottish instrument.uileann pipes are irish."

    straight off of the epitaph website: Scruffy Wallace-Bagpipes.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 22, 2004 at 4:58 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "Still the best band that has ever lived and the best live band I have ever seen though."

    You need to get out more. DKM are OK, I like them as a "novelty" act, for lack of better word. "Blackout" has some decent songs (better than the fuckfest called "Sing Loud...") but the whole "Irish Pride" thing IS going waaaaaaaay too far.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 22, 2004 at 4:55 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    It's "Marc" Orrell, surprised nobody called him out on that one.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 22, 2004 at 3:20 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i need to correct a few of you wayward music listeners:

    a) although i do like al barr, the murphys were much better when they had mike McColgan. the singles collection is their best cd.

    b) the murphys are ok live, however the best live band ever is the river city rebels.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 22, 2004 at 12:39 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    They are better when Al sings anyway.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 22, 2004 at 11:35 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    fuck this corporate tatecore bullshit.

    nefarious madaman.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 22, 2004 at 7:30 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    this bullshit about the band being better when mike was singing is retarted, mike isn't singing, if you like the band support them for what they are not what they were

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 22, 2004 at 3:19 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    they were better when mike was singing.

    --Cos

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 at 11:56 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "punk House of Pain"???? shut upI dont think the murphys should be considered punk anymore. They play more of just a straight up rock and roll style now. Still the best band that has ever lived and the best live band I have ever seen though.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 at 5:49 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Isn't DKM just a punk version of House of Pain?

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 at 5:24 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    uugh, is there a worse band than dkm?

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 at 5:23 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    uugh, is there a worse band than dkm?

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 at 4:57 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    why would a band that no one has heard of make a DVD?

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 at 4:54 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    blink182's uretha chronicles dvds aren't bad......

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 at 4:46 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "Sorry my friend. The Bouncing Souls DVD was the benchmark for all punk dvd's to come......"

    You beat me to it. That DVD is fantastic.

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2004-04-21 15:42:15
    My Score:

    Agreed about the disturbing lack of McColgan footage. I was looking forward to archival stuff, but there was about 5 minutes of it.

    Posted by Larsvanritcken on 2004-04-21 13:38:30
    My Score:

    i second the notion on the they might be giants comment.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 at 1:04 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    tossers are better

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 at 1:00 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Excellent review adam

    And i'd like to say, on behalf of irish punks everywhere, DKM are an embarrasment. Flat out.

    Posted by joeg on 2004-04-21 11:43:32
    My Score:

    i never "got" the dropkick murphys and i always thought they played the irish pride thing a little too much.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 at 1:53 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "bagpipes are celtic, they're gaelic."

    however, bagpipes are a scottish instrument.uileann pipes are irish.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 11:21 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i want live freaky, die freaky damnit.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 11:21 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    bagpipes are celtic, they're gaelic.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 11:18 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    the best punk dvd was the they might be giant's dvd. they are some of the oldest punks still making music. people are forgetting punk is a mindset, not just music, and the johns' have them in spades.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 11:03 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Fuck the Dropkick Murphys...they are about as punk rock as Britney Spears....these patriotic, drunk morons and their "pride".....I spit on your pride. Once I saw a guy wearing a DKM shirt that had an american flag on the back with this written below it- "Try to burn this one." I just wanted to grab the little bitch kid by the throat and burn his shirt to the ground...so...yeah...in short....fuck this band and fuck Amerikkka. Peace, I'm out.

    Posted by losingstreakca on 2004-04-20 21:45:44
    My Score:

    yes the bouncing souls dvd rules over all punk rock dvds

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 6:52 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I'll be the one to be a dick and say that this was a disappointment. This was supposed to be comprehensive, covering their whole career. 97% of the footage was from 2000-2004. 2 clips of McColgan-era footage, one of which is hidden. Too many new songs, too much nonsense.

    Posted by gladimnotemo on 2004-04-20 16:26:38
    My Score:

    I think my tax check is gonna go towards this as soon as I get back to the store.

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2004-04-20 15:59:10
    My Score:

    How many fucking times can they play the Dirty Glass? Jesus christ man, I hated that song before watching this, and now I hate it even more.

    Posted by sickboi on 2004-04-20 15:48:08
    My Score:

    He's right about the Soul's DVD. That shit was brilliant.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 3:13 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Boys on the dock a couple times is better than any songs from blackout any amount of time.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 2:54 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    vvv what he said vvv

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 2:30 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Sorry my friend. The Bouncing Souls DVD was the benchmark for all punk dvd's to come...... They had the biography, all the videos, a documentary about a video, about 50 live songs. i also think, this dvd is too long. but great none the less

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 12:47 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Wow, I forgot all about that set they played at Warped Tour. Good times...

    I may pick this up today, there's soooo much good stuffy to buy on this 'super tuesday' though.

    - Kirby

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 12:18 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    theres toooo much on this dvd.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 12:12 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    First!
    the wang

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