CONCERT REVIEW: From Boston to Berkley With A Layover in Lincoln

Dropkick Murphys performing on the Centennial Mall and M Street in Lincoln, Nebraska on the beautiful night Friday, August 13th. (Photo credit: Dean Birkheimer)

DEAN BIRKHEIMER | Go Venue Magazine

“We take photos so that we can later see what was happening while we were busy taking photos.”Mokokoma Mokhonoana.

Nothing but good luck this past Friday the 13th as veteran punk bands Dropkick Murphys and Rancid hit downtown Lincoln, Nebraska in support of their Boston to Berkley co-headlining tour with opening act, The Bronx.

At 5 O’ Clock, Centennial Mall and M Street began to fill with punk fans craving some hardcore music as well as some hardcore moshing. The opening band was The Bronx from Los Angeles…I know, I know, don’t get me started.  Matt Caughthran (vocals) and Joby Ford (guitar) are the only two original members of the band that formed back in 2002.  The rest of the band is made up of Ken Horne (guitar), Brad Magers (bass) and Joey Castillo (drums) and yes that is the same Joey Castillo of Queens of the Stone Age.  Back in April 1976 The Ramones released their first album, and their power-driven punk rock sound still resonates through bands like The Bronx. These guys are gritty, and they play loud and with tons of fury.  Opening with White ShadowSore Throat and Shitty Future the stage was set. The moshing began and began in earnest.  Bodies slamming into each other during their entire set.  And a good time was had by all.  It’s not often you get this type of quality in an opener, but these guys are tight and have headlined their own tours and will do so again.  Catch em’ every time you get a chance. Once is not enough.

Look for their new album Bronx VI coming August 27th. 

SET LIST:
WHITE SHADOW – SORE THROAT – SHITTY FUTURE – HEART ATTACK AMERICA – COBRA LUCHA – SUPERBLOOM – UNDER THE RABBIT – KNIFEMAN – SIX DAYS A WEEK – CURB FEELERS – HISTORY’S STRANGER – AROUND THE HORN

Like I mentioned earlier, this is a co-headliner tour.  Rancid and Dropkick Murphys.  I would imagine the eastern part of the U.S. is where Dropkick would headline and the western part of the U.S. is where Rancid would headline, but Lincoln is smack dab middle of the U.S. Only thing I can think of is Dropkick won the coin-toss and would headline. This means the next band would be Rancid. Oh, poor us.  When you talk about punk legends, Rancid must be a major part of the conversation.  A Bay Area band that has touched the globe with their sound. Speaking of their sound, they sound even better live than they do recorded. Tim Armstrong’s vocals are even dirtier sounding now than they were in 1993 when Lars Frederiksen joined the band and added a 2nd guitar.  Besides Tim, Matt Freeman (bass) and Branden Steineckert (drums) round out this stellar array of musicians / performers.  The mosh pit that had subsided when The Bronx left the stage, picked right up again as soon as Rancid kicked off their set with Radio and Roots Radicals.  Every now and then, I’d catch a glimpse of a mohawk or a testosterone spiked head of hair heading skyward. Rancid is an elite band, and I don’t mean just in their own genre. They are just an absolute top of the line rock band that appeals to several types of fans. Attitude is the perfect word when describing Rancid. They know who they are, and they are not ashamed to show it.  

SET LIST:
RADIO – ROOTS RADICALS – JOURNEY TO THE END – MAXWELL MURDER – 11th HOUR – LAST ONE TO DIE – EAST BAY NIGHT – SOMETHING IN THE WORLD – GHOST OF A CHANCE – TELEGRAPH AVE – OLD FRIEND – HOOLIGANS – SALVATION – REJECTED – OLYMPIA – SAMMY – QUITE ALRIGHT – BLACK DERBY – FALL BACK DOWN – TIME BOMB – RUBY SOHO

Time for the headliner, at least they were for this show.  Dropkick Murphys.  If you follow me, then you know this is a top 10 band for me. I’ve done at least four live reviews of them and each time it’s been an absolute blast.  This latest installment was no different. Outdoors, in the streets, this is where Dropkick Is meant to perform.  Along with the normal, drums, guitars, bass, keyboards, and vocals, you will also hear piccolo, banjo, accordion, and bagpipes.  Despite this eclectic array of sound, everything meshes perfectly. In other words, Celtic punk is fun!!  Dropkick hit us with everything they possibly could in their catalog, including songs off their newest release Turn Up That Dial.  Hard charging drums, grinding guitar work and thumping bass lines all to an Irish beat. It shouldn’t work, but it does, and it does beautifully.  By now, the fans are raucous and thirsty for a Guinness Stout. They are being filled with endorphins and increasingly becoming wired. The pit is beyond moshing stage, as brute force has taken over and everybody is now just being mashed. 

Time for the highlight of the night.  Dropkick brings out Rancid, and they give us Barroom Hero. This is a song from their 1st album and doesn’t get played that often. What an incredible job the two bands did, this felt like a gift.  Of course, Shipping Up To Boston closed the show and as the goodbyes are being expressed, we all know that they’ll be back one day and so will all of us. 

SET LIST:
THE BOYS ARE BACK – TURN UP THAT DIAL – LEE BOY – MIDDLE FINGER – STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS – QUEEN OF SUFFOLK COUNTY – MICK JONES NICKED MY PUDDING – BLACK AND GOLD – H.B.D.M.F. – WORKERS SONG – CITIZEN CIA – SMASH SHIT UP – JOHNNY I HARDLY KNEW YA – OUT OF OUR HEADS – WISH YOU WERE HERE – CAPTAIN KELLYS KITCHEN – HAVING A PARTY – ROSE TATTOO – BARROOM HERO – SHIPPING UP TO BOSTON

Dropkick Murphys

Rancid

The Bronx

All images © Dean Birkheimer
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