This being my first time traveling to the Mohegan Sun Arena in beautiful Wilkes-Barr, PA., I couldn’t think of a better band to bring me there other than Dropkick Murphys! I arrived a good bit early, but there were still people of all ages—from 7 to 87—lined up outside of the main doors. Dropkick Murphys hold a very special place in my heart, having been introduced to their music in the 5th grade, I’ve been listening and seeing them live ever since!
Coming from Laramie, Wyoming, was the first opener of the evening Teenage Bottlerocket! Having them hype up the crowd was a great choice, they came out bolstering, performing “Necronomicon” before launching into other hits from their discography, such as “Bigger Than Kiss” and “‘Don’t Want To Go.” Guitarist Ray Carlisle jumped feet in the air while playing their fast punk style, the visuals were all in the energy that was on stage! Not having seen them before, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was thrilled to hear that the sound wasn’t too far from their studio recordings. The crowd interaction from the band created a very jubilant and welcoming type of ambiance in the venue. After they left the stage, still full of energy, the crowd was all warmed up and ready for The Menzingers!
Now, although this wasn’t a hometown show for The Menzingers, it sure was close! Forming in Scranton, PA., in 2006, The Menzingers are a punk band that fit in this concert bill perfectly! Playing songs such as “‘I Don’t Wanna Be an Asshole Anymore” and “House On Fire,” the band = had the crowd moving and singing along instantaneously. Guitarist and vocalist Tom May bounced and swayed all around stage with a huge smile on his face, confessing to the band’s love for the art and the performance!
Finally, it was time for Dropkick Murphys to hit the stage! As all the lights clicked off in the house and orange stage lights illuminated a giant Dropkick Murphys banner, the crowd erupted in cheers and chants! Coming out on stage was drummer Matt Kelly, followed by the rest of the band in full energy. They kicked things off with their song “Climbing a Chair to Bed,” then shifted to “The Boys Are Back,” the nights energy peaked to an all-time high. As previously mentioned, all ages could be seen in the crowd—from young to old—and their love for the music was one in the same! There was a girl in the crowd holding a sign saying, “Today’s my 13th birthday,” the band saw the poster and acknowledged it, even signing it for her!
During “Bastards on Parade,” the band had to cut the song short to address a fight in the crowd so it wouldn’t escalate, obviously everything was handled properly with the professionalism of a band that has withstood evolving generations of music, and the show continued without incident. Seeing everyone dancing and moshing brought a spanning smile to my face because of the long history and love I’ve had for this band! During their track “Rose Tattoo,” they requested that nobody crowd-surfs to the front so that everyone could enjoy and sing along— and the crowd obliged with deep-rooted respect.
Sadly, as the night came to an end, we were luckily treated to two encore songs from Dropkick Murphys: one of their most commercially famous songs, “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” and ending with “Workers Song.”
As I got in my car, ready to look at all the photos and memories I was able to get that night, I was left with a huge feeling of joy, reflecting on all the years and memories I’ve made with their music and shows. If you ever get the chance to see them live, I highly recommend it—you won’t regret it!
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