March 13, 2026. Dropkick Murphy (and fan) onstage at MGM Music Hall. Photo by Wendy Schiller
Punk rock is there for people who need it the most. It forges friendship and community in often unlikely places, across generations. That’s probably why the Dropkick Murphys’ annual St. Patty’s Day weekend residency at MGM Music Hall feels like Sunday dinner. Many people in the crowd make it a tradition to go year after year, bringing their parents and their children, and it’s obvious why. The band and their fans have been going strong together for 30 years now, and this weekend felt like quite a victory lap.
The supporting lineup to the weekend is often a mix of beloved hometown heroes and bands with cult followings, and this year was no different. Friday night featured the Vigilantes, who are based out of Watertown, and fronted by none other than Dropkick’s own Jeff DaRosa. They were followed by Haywire, a breakout Allston hardcore group that just released a collaboration with the Murphys titled New England Forever. Ken Casey frothed up the crowd by popping out in the middle of their set to sing with Austin Sparkman on their lead single by the same name. Young fans crowdsurfed in a constant stream, aided by patient members of security for a soft landing. Closing out the support was Showcase Showdown, a beloved punk outfit that hasn’t played since 1998. Years off the stage didn’t stop the crowd from singing along the whole time.
Once Dropkick took the stage, the room got downright emotional. They played all of their usual hits like “the State of Massachusetts” and “I’m Shipping up to Boston” but mixed in a few pro-labor and protest songs old and new, including “Which Side are You On” a track originally popularized by Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, and “Citizen I.C.E.”, a riff on 2005’s “Citizen C.I.A.”, also released this winter. The world feels more hopeful in the midst of this music. We are all so much stronger together. May they keep playing for 30 more years.
Check out Wendy’s photo from the Friday show below.
