Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly
Bill Graham Civic Center
September 27, 2018
Photos by Raymond Ahner.
In a battle of the Irishmen, Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys have teamed up for one of the most anticipated tours in recent punk rock memory, and if the stop at San Francisco’s Bill Graham Civic was any indication, the winner of the battle is yet undecided.
Opening their set with “Captain Kelly’s Kitchen,” the Dropkick Murphys bombarded the stage with an unbounded energy that didn’t let up even the smallest bit over the next ninety minutes. Frontmen Al Barr and Ken Casey almost immediately went from the stage to the barricade in front of the stage to interact with the fans in the front row.
With a video backdrop in the background that narrated the setlist, the Dropkicks delivered a set that touched on their entire career, and highlights included “The Boys are Back,” “The State of Massachusetts,” “Famous for Nothing,” and of course, “I’m Shipping Up to Boston.”
Wrapping up their set with ” Kiss Me, I’m Shitfaced,” they definitely left the fans wanting more, no matter how drunk they were.
Although they may have technically been supporting the Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly didn’t let that stop them from putting on their own action-packed, Guinness-infused set that was, as always, filled with punk rock sing-along and drink-along anthems.
Opening with (“No More) Paddy’s Lament,” frontman Dave King hit the stage with beer in hand, ready to party. Although they had just over sixty minutes, the band made the most of their time on stage while delivering a high energy, action-packed set. Highlights included “Requiem for a Dying Song,” “Life in a Tenement Square,” and “What’s Left of the Flag.”
Closing their set with “If I Ever Leave This World Alive,” Flogging Molly made sure that the Dropkick Murphys had their work cut out for them.
Opening the show was yet another Irishman, Stiff Little Fingers frontman Jake Burns, who put on a brief but set with just his acoustic guitar. In addition to acoustic versions of SLF classics such as “Suspect Device” and “Alternative Ulster,” Jake entertained the crowd with his stories, including once accidentally hanging up on Pete Townsend, who was calling to offer his band a slot opening for The Who.
Here’s a slideshow with more photos of Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly by Raymond Ahner:
Dropkick Murphys:
Setlist: Captain Kelly’s Kitchen | The Boys Are Back | Famous For Nothing | Sandlot | Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya | Blood | State of Massachusetts | First Class Loser | You’ll Never Walk Alone (Rodgers & Hammerstein cover) | The Walking Dead | Paying My Way | Worker’s Song | Rose Tattoo | Out of Our Heads | Going Out in Style || The Body of an American(The Pogues cover) | I’m Shipping Up to Boston | Kiss Me I’m Shitfaced | Skinhead on the MBTA | Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (AC/DC cover)
Find out more about Dropkick Murphys on their website. http://www.dropkickmurphys.com/
Flogging Molly:
Setlist: (No More) Paddy’s Lament | The Hand of John L. Sullivan | Drunken Lullabies | The Likes of You Again | Swagger | The Days We’ve Yet to Meet | Requiem for a Dying Song | Life in a Tenement Square | Float | Black Friday Rule | Devil’s Dance Floor | Crushed (Hostile Nations) | Salty Dog | What’s Left of the Flag | Seven Deadly Sins
Learn more about Flogging Molly here. https://www.floggingmolly.com/
