Dropkick Murphys, at Sacramento's Memorial Auditorium: review and photos

Were you there? Dropkick Murphys at Sacramento's Memorial Auditorium

I was at Sacramento's Memorial Auditorium last night, to see Dropkick Murphys. and once again, I wonder why many, many more concerts are not held in that beautiful, designed-for-sound, venue. Because it's just about perfect. Especially when it's full, sold-out and completely packed with happy fans of all ages. Just like it was last night.

Dropkick Murphys, Sacramento

Dropkick Murphys are touring as co-headliners with Rancid on the From Boston to Berkeley tour, (tonight, the tour continues at The Greek in Berkeley), and last night were supported by local singer-songwriter Kevin Second, plus -- to my very happy surprise -- The Selecter.

This may have been the most-fun concert I have been to in a very long time.

The Boston-Irish, punk storytellers and a very enthusiastic audience... circle pit going wild through the band's entire set. Enough crowdsurfers to keep the friendly security team busy. Bagpipes and accordions, electric guitars and banjo. Rousting sing-along songs, more than a little heartbreak, rebel Irish, traditional melody, a touch of sea shanty and a huge heart of punk. They are not America's version of the Pogues: they are, quite definitely and uniquely, the Dropkick Murphys. And I defy anyone to go to one of their shows and keep still.

Dropkick Murphys, Sacramento, 2017

The band's latest album and their ninth studio album, is 11 Short Stories Of Pain & Glory. One of the songs, 4-15-13, is about the Boston Marathon bombing.

"We stood in your footprints, 'till the rain washed them away

The memories never fade, well they'll still always stay

We stand here together, we bow our heads and pray

For those gone but not forgotten, we remember you each day"

But the album ends, like the Dropkick Murphy's set last night, with the party's-over, boisterous, didn't-we-have-a-good-time-tonight,  Until The Next Time... a plan for the next get-together. We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when... but be there. Not to be missed.

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(Check out Dropkick Murphy's Claddagh Fund, which raises money to help the most underfunded non-profit organizations which are supporting vulnerable people... such as these examples.)  Find out more about the band on their Facebook and website.

More photos from last night's show in Sacramento: click here to see the photo gallery.

Links to photo galleries for Rancid, The Selecter, and Kevin Second will be added soon.

Dropkick Murphys, Sacramento, 2017