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Street Dogs - State of Grace
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Driving to Columbus to see the Dropkick Murphys for the seventh time, I wondered if it would be worth all the gas and drive time. Soon after arriving at Newport Music Hall, I had a feeling there would be no doubt in my mind everything was going to be worth it to see the DKM boys headline this tour.

The opening band was a British ska outfit called the Deadpets (I think). I only caught the last two songs, but their sound was tight and the horns blended well with the heavy guitar work.

Next was Darkbuster. Not knowing anything about this band, I was quickly drawn in by their drunk singer's antics and stories (like their roadie diving into an empty pool the night before and thus hospitalized) and the band's tight, three-chord sound, with plenty of palm mutes and backup vocals. They also had a few ska songs with an organ that were just as good, such as the number "I Hate the Unseen." My personal favorite was a song called "Hometown Loser," which was about the sterotypical punk subjects of being a loser, punk, and a boozer. I would highly recommend checking this band out.

Next were the Lost City Angels, and about this time the sound man must have passed out or something like that, since the vocals were inaudible and the rhythm guitar was making the PA ring. I recognized a few songs such as "Liberation," "Pretty War," and "Broken World." The high energy of the band made up for the sound problem and got the crowd fired up

Then came the legendary Gang Green. The old-school speed punk prompted a circle pit from the first note that rang through the auditorium. They played about a dozen songs while talking in between about how they had been playing for 20 years and had lots of fun with drugs and alcohol. Selections included "Another Wasted Night," "Out on the Couch," "Have Fun," and of course, the closer was "Alcohol," with help from about 20 crew members and people in the other bands stage diving and spraying beer to celebrate the last night of the tour.

Dropkick entered as they usually do to "The Foggy Dew" and ripped into a string of Warrior's Code songs broken up only by "Boys on the Docks." The sound was still off, perodically leaving out the pipes, mandolin, and Ken's vocals. The set list was a nice mix of new and old; however, this was the first time I have seen them not play a single song from The Gang's All Here. Of course, everyone rushed the stage for the finale of "Spicy McHaggis Jig" for the ladies, followed by "Skinhead" for everyone else. This was a great package tour and I look foward to seeing DKM again soon! Set list below by album:

Do or Die

  • Barroom Hero
  • Third Man In
  • Finnegan's Wake
  • Boys on the Dock
  • Skinhead
Sing Loud, Sing Proud
  • Which Side Are You On?
  • Heroes from Our Past
  • The Gauntlet
  • Spicy McHaggis Jig
Blackout
  • Worker's Song
  • Buried Alive
  • Fields of Athenry (Farrar Version w/ piano, whistle, and vocals only)
  • As One
  • Time to Go
Warrior's Code
  • Spirit's Alive
  • The Warrior's Code
  • Captain Kelly's Kitchen
  • Walking Dead
  • Sunshine Highway
  • The Burden
  • Citizen C.I.A.
  • Auld Triangle
  • Last Letter Home







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    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 3, 2005 at 12:34 PM (EST)

    well, her primary job was selling merch, so to hire another singer for one song is pretty unnecessary.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 2, 2005 at 9:57 PM (EST)

    They could have found some other female to fill her spot.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 2, 2005 at 9:10 PM (EST)

    Stephanie no longer tours with the band, so you won't be hearing The Dirty Glass anytime soon.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 2, 2005 at 5:10 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Score is for the show, all the bands were excellent, a great time was had by all.

    -The Dead Pets were like watching the Young Ones as a band
    - Darkbuster play really catchy punk with hilarious subject matter.
    - Lost City Angels were nothing like I thought they were going to be. Extremely hooky songs and a great live show packed with energy.
    - Gang Green were simply brutal, best ressurection out of Boston I've ever seen.
    - Dropkick Muphys' put on a show, a serious rock show. Their energy and musicanship just shows why they've been going strong since 1996

    Let's go Murphys!

    Posted by MrStabone on 2005-11-02 17:08:33

    i meant new to me

    i know they have been playign for a while, but i did not learn of them til last summer cause it seems they rarely played out of their home region from what i hear

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 2, 2005 at 9:54 AM (EST)

    Darkbuster has been around forever.

    Posted by housewrecker on 2005-11-02 09:41:59

    If this is THE one and only Darkbuster...they've been around for a LONG time...

    Posted by MrStabone on 2005-11-02 03:45:07

    first of all, you are one lucky fucker for getting to see this tour

    darkbuster is probably one of my favorite newer bands that i have heard about. i can thank my asian friend john kang for playing their CD when we were driving somewhere.

    second of all, gang fucking green!

    i love big d - but don't know the other bands on this new leg

    i will be there in dc at like noon or whenever that show starts and i will check out these bands.

    but not getting to see the gang and darkbuster open is still a major bummer.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 at 8:04 PM (EST)

    They played pretty much the same set in Edmonton. Good show. Darkbuster really impressed.

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-11-01 16:30:08

    To the guy who wants The Dirty Glass... just watch their DVD and you'll hear it fifty million goddamn times.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 at 4:21 PM (EST)

    The only stuff I like by Gang Green are the Preschool tapes and "Boston Not LA" songs... The rest just kinda seems like Boston Curse rock (as in, the curse that most of the great Boston bands- FU's, SSD, Gang Green, etc.- went on to play cock metal).

    -Will

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 at 3:23 PM (EST)

    I missed out on this show because I had a test next day. Thankfully, it didn't seem like I missed too much because the only bands I'd go for are the Murphys and the Angels, and the Murphys didn't even play Good Rats, Pipebomb on Lansdowne, Walk Away or The Dirty Glass. WHAT IS THAT?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 at 11:53 AM (EST)

    Gang Green rock hard and often.

    Posted by Xine on 2005-11-01 10:36:53

    3. Has anyone heard the new Hellcat/G-Unit mixtape called Give 'Em Tha Booty?

    This is officially the best thing ever said.

    Posted by sXenester on 2005-11-01 10:25:48

    I'm surprised there's nothing off Gang's All Here.

    Also, I tihnk last time I saw them they changed the SPICY! chant to SCRUFFY!

    Posted by superdude on 2005-11-01 08:13:30

    This review was pretty good, but here's how I'd make it better:

    1. Bands that use PAs are sellouts.

    2. How come they didn't play more songs off Give 'Em the Boot.

    3. Has anyone heard the new Hellcat/G-Unit mixtape called Give 'Em Tha Booty?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 at 7:48 AM (EST)

    I wish they wouldn't play Spicy McHaggis... terrible.

    Posted by psychoos231 on 2005-11-01 02:19:08

    They should stop playing "Spicy McHaggis Jig", it seems weird when the crowd chants SPICY! SPICY! ..eh

    Lost City Angels also had the same sound problem when they played with the SUicide Machines acouple months back

    Posted by localh on 2005-11-01 01:53:39

    not one fucking song off of the gang's all here?
    Wow blackout sucked ass and I am sure the new cd sucks too...

    Posted by cdogg on 2005-11-01 01:11:16

    Just as I feared: a very "Warrior's Code"- heavy set list. Oh well; they're still great. I'll be at the Philly Electric Factory show on 11/11.

    BTW - I just saw Street Dogs for the first time at the Northstar in Philly last week. Don't miss them when they come around - McColgan is an excellent frontman.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 at 12:58 AM (EST)

    Not one song from "Gangs all Here?"

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 at 12:57 AM (EST)

    I wish the the guitarist would realize his voice sucks and leave the singing to AL.

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-11-01 00:44:54

    how long is this band gonna rip off the tossers. totally fucking gay. why cant people see through this tossers/flogging molly ripoff bandwagon jumping group

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-11-01 00:20:16

    That sucks, The Gang's All Here is my favorite album of theirs.

    I'd like to see Gang Green, but the second leg of this tour is much better. DKM, Big D, and Righteous Jams!

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