Catching up with Tim Brennan of the Dropkick Murphys

By Jillian Locke

Dropkick Murphys, the band that is as relentless and rabble-rousing as their reputation suggests, have been touring the better half of 2010 in support of their Live on Lansdowne CD/DVD release on Born and Bred Records. L on L captures the Dropkicks in their hometown stomping grounds as they play to sold out audiences in 2009 between March 12 and THE holiday of holidays, St. Patty’s Day, March 17. And trust me, you can feel the love coming through the screen ~ DKM has built not just a following, but a family of fans.

“It’s always a really nice feeling to play home,” says Tim Brennan, who joined the band in ‘03 and wears many hats in the band; physically towering over the rest of the members, Brennan plays guitar, accordion, bouzouki (mandolin), piano, and contributes backing vocals. The DVD confirms his sentiment, as the Boston clan shine onstage at the House of Blues in front of their loyal followers, all thirsty for the raucous style that the Dropkicks are famous for delivering. Classics like “Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya,” “Do or Die,” “Flannigan’s Ball,” “Kiss Me, I’m Sh*tfaced,” “Fields of Athenry,” “The Workers Song,” and newer staples like “Tessie,” “The Warrior’s Code,” and “I’m Shipping Up To Boston” capture the essence of the band, their rabid followers, and the city that is the backdrop for it all.

And then there are the Irish step dancers, a dazzling troupe that’s a whirl of costumes, curls, and swift kicks that bring down the house and ring in the Irish, all courtesy of Forbes School of Irish Step Dancing in Quincy. In fact, vocalist/bassist Ken Casey’s daughter is among the dancers, so it really is a family affair!

Boston has a special place in Brennan’s heart, but so does Worcester. “I’ve always loved Worcester,” Brennan reflects; he and former Dropkick Murphy’s guitarist, Marc Orrell, were Worcester roommates for a good run. “I’ve been to a bunch of good shows at The Palladium, and there are lots of good bars, like Irish Times. I used to go there while I was in college. I knew the area like the back of my hand, and am still very comfortable there. I still meet my parents at the Chop House for dinner occasionally,” says Brennan. (And don’t think Worcester isn’t proud of the guys who called this city home for a while ~ in fact, those of us who remember seeing them at Tortilla Sam’s on Highland St. way back when still refer to DKM as a Worcester/Boston band!)

With the success of the CD/DVD and just about 8 months logged on the road this year, the DKM’s are plowing forward with yet another opus. “There’s a bunch of songs we’re working on, and we have a producer on this record, which we haven’t done in a long time,” Brennan revealed. Ted Hut, an English producer living in LA, known for his work with brother Irish-folk circuiteers Flogging Molly, is no stranger to the genre the two bands share, or to the powerful energy and legacy surrounding it. DKM figured he’d be the perfect fit for the new project. “Sometimes, it’s difficult as a band to really change things up…We’re looking forward to having an outside perspective to help focus the songs to where they really need to be. I imagine once he gets in the room with us, he’ll get a good idea of what we’re shooting for and help us focus,” Brennan says with an Irish twinkle in his eye. “Hopefully by March we’ll have a new record in the can.”

Pick up the Live on Lansdowne CD/DVD, keep an eye out for new material, and get your St. Patty’s Day show tickets EARLY! “Keep coming out to the shows and we’ll keep playing them,” Brennan promises!

www.myspace.com/dropkickmurphys

Photo by Kerry Brett