Pop Break Live: Dropkick Murphys at Freedom Hall of The Lancaster County Convention Center
Words & Photos by Rebecca Mae
A crowd of over 2000 people stood in Freedom Hall of the Lancaster County Convention Center, anxiously awaited The Dropkick Murphys. The iconic Boston-born Celtic punk band sold out the venue (produced in part by the Chameleon Club) as a part of their epic Saint Patrick’s Day 2019 Tour.
As the lights went down a traditional Irish ballad, “The Foggy Dew,” boomed through the hall, quieting the eager fans. The curtain dropped to reveal the platform upstage, where a bagpiper played the first song of the night, “Cadence to Arms,” which contains the familiar tune of “Scotland the Brave.”
One by one, the rest of the band took their place on stage. The two main vocalists – Ken Casey and Al Barr — went right over to the front row of the crowd, hopping off stage to party with the fans. The crowd surfing began, as people cheered and sang along to some of the Murphys’ most popular songs, like “The Boys Are Back” and “The Fighting 69th.”.The energy from the band was infectious, and they kept it up throughout their entire set! The fans throughout the venue were dressed in kilts and Irish flags, screaming every lyric.
The last time the Dropkick Murphys were in Lancaster was 2003, performing at the more intimate Chameleon Club. This tour is definitely quite different, and worth seeing! The St. Patrick’s Day Tour runs through March 17, and European dates follow in April.
Setlist:
Cadence to Arms
The Boys Are Back
Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya
Blood
The Walking Dead
Curse of a Fallen Soul
Blood and Whiskey
The Fighting 69th
The Gang’s All Here
Don’t Tear Us Apart
The State of Massachusetts
The Fields of Athenry (Pete St. John cover)
The Gauntlet
The Spicy McHaggis Jig
Black Velvet Band
Sunshine Highway
Surrender
James Conolley (Black 47 cover)
Boys on the Docks
Out of Our Heads
Worker’s Song
