Dropkick Murphys London Roundhouse
"Let's go Murphys" echo's around the venue drowning out the filler music between sets, giving the place a whole new atmosphere. In classic Murphys style the beginning of Foggy Dew by the Chieftens drifts across the venue bringing with it a building sense of anticipation.
They walk on stage to a standing ovation, whilst they take position, the black tempoary banner drops revealing a green, black and white three shield banner. The Murphys launch into Hang 'Em High and The Gang's All Here setting a frantic pace.
Bassist Ken Casey remarks that he can see 'a lot of old bastards out there' referring to the audience, he mentions that his grandmother once attended a Dropkick Murphys show and complained that she could not understand anything the band were singing. In homage to her complaint they play a few acoustic numbers.
They end the set with a mixture of new and old with; their new single Going Out In Style which is the title track from their March 2011 release and the classic The Irish Rover.
Of course there is the encore to follow, which sees the Murphy retake the stage to play Kiss Me I'm Shitfaced, Skinhead on the MBTA and a cover of AC/DC' Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. At this point I take my leave as everything is getting a bit manic with an all ladies stage invasion, followed by all the men also being invited to take the stage.
All in all the Dropkick Murphys played a good varied set, I personally would have like to have heard a few more classics, however the crowds reaction to every song, was evidence enough that they had chosen the right set list. The only thing which let the Murphys down tonight was the soundman, I found it very hard to pick out the individual instruments which is crucial when listening to a band with as many elements to their music as the Dropkick Murphys, instead we were treated to buckets full of bass and bagpipes.