Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys kicked off their summer tour Monday night in Chicago. The Boston-based band mixes hard rock with bagpipes, accordions and many unusual instruments to create a completely unique sound. The tour, which has stops all over the United States, Mexico and Europe, comes to the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia tonight. Guitarist Tim Brennan interviewed with The Examiner Monday before kicking off the tour.
The band has a grueling schedule for the next couple of months ? 28 shows in July and August. What is it like being on the road for that long?
We all get a kick out of playing live, that?s what we really like to do. On the one hand, we have a lot of fun every night, but it?s tough to leave our families all the time. It?s especially rewarding when we get to take a break to be with our families and just sit around doing nothing for a few month during the holidays. That’s how I justify it to my girlfriend.
You will be touring with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Have you ever played with them before?
In 1997 I believe. I wasn?t there at that point so I never have before. But pretty much everyone from their camp is a Bostonian, so we?ve all known each other for a while.
Are you looking forward to the next few months touring with them?
It?s going to be great. When I was a kid I was a huge Bosstones fan. I?m really excited to get to see them every night for a while.
You have taken over a new role in the band, from more obscure instruments to guitarist. How has that transition been for you?
It?s different from what I was doing before. I would be on stage 75 to 80 percent of the time, but now I?m up there 100 percent of the time, so the shows go a lot faster. I?m really enjoying it so far.
The band is perhaps best known “Shipping up to Boston,” which was featured in Martin Scorsese?s “The Departed.” What was it like to hear the song in the movies?
We didn?t even know anything about it . We got an e-mail that said a song of ours may or may not be used in an upcoming movie about Boston. Then one day we were on tour in Europe, and we got an e-mail saying check out this trailer, and the song was in the trailer. It was great because not only was it Scorsese, but also it was all those big-time actors. The soundtrack had the Rolling Stones and Van Morrison singing Pink Floyd. It was just insane to even be considered [for] the same list as those guys.
The band has close ties with the Boston Red Sox, who will be in town this weekend for a three-game series with the Orioles. Any predictions?
I don?t have my “Back to the Future” Sports Almanac on me, but I?m pretty sure we [the Red Sox] will give [the Orioles] a run for their money.
IF YOU GO
What: Dropkick Murphys
When: Tonight at 7
Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia
Tickets: $35
Info: www.ticketmaster.com
