Dropkick Murphys

Dropkick Murphys: On The Road With The... DVDOn The Road With The... DVD (2004)
Hellcat Records

Reviewer Rating: 4

User Rating:

Contributed by: adamAdam
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Published on April 20th 2004It'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 th.

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.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (July 1, 2004)

well i love the dkm. so umph.

Anonymous (April 26, 2004)

the whole band bothers me.

Anonymous (April 26, 2004)

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

Sara(no h)

Anonymous (April 25, 2004)

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

Anonymous (April 22, 2004)

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

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

Anonymous (April 22, 2004)

"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.

Anonymous (April 22, 2004)

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

Anonymous (April 22, 2004)

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.

Anonymous (April 22, 2004)

They are better when Al sings anyway.

Anonymous (April 22, 2004)

fuck this corporate tatecore bullshit.

nefarious madaman.

Anonymous (April 22, 2004)

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

Anonymous (April 22, 2004)

they were better when mike was singing.

--Cos

Anonymous (April 21, 2004)

"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.

Anonymous (April 21, 2004)

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

Anonymous (April 21, 2004)

uugh, is there a worse band than dkm?

Anonymous (April 21, 2004)

uugh, is there a worse band than dkm?

Anonymous (April 21, 2004)

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

Anonymous (April 21, 2004)

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

Anonymous (April 21, 2004)

"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.

TheOneTrueBill (April 21, 2004)

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

Larsvanritcken (April 21, 2004)

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

Anonymous (April 21, 2004)

tossers are better

Anonymous (April 21, 2004)

Excellent review adam

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

joeg (April 21, 2004)

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

Anonymous (April 21, 2004)

"bagpipes are celtic, they're gaelic."

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

Anonymous (April 20, 2004)

i want live freaky, die freaky damnit.

Anonymous (April 20, 2004)

bagpipes are celtic, they're gaelic.

Anonymous (April 20, 2004)

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.

Anonymous (April 20, 2004)

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.

losingstreakca (April 20, 2004)

yes the bouncing souls dvd rules over all punk rock dvds

Anonymous (April 20, 2004)

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.

gladimnotemo (April 20, 2004)

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

TheOneTrueBill (April 20, 2004)

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.

sickboi (April 20, 2004)

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

Anonymous (April 20, 2004)

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

Anonymous (April 20, 2004)

vvv what he said vvv

Anonymous (April 20, 2004)

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

Anonymous (April 20, 2004)

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

Anonymous (April 20, 2004)

theres toooo much on this dvd.

Anonymous (April 20, 2004)

First!
the wang