East and West Coast Punk Rock Met in the Middle for a Banger of a Night

— by Carrie Zukoski

Since 1996, Dropkick Murphys have worked long and hard to hone their Boston-based Celtic punk rock. In those years, they’ve also learned how to bring together the right bands on tour to create an impressive night for their fans. Nearly two years to the date of their last pass through St. Louis, DKM graced the stage at The Factory located in the deep suburb of Chesterfield Valley on their For The People…In The Pit tour to celebrate their 13th studio album and their 30th anniversary. By now, DKM concerts are one big party with friends, family, and fans of all ages, with many dressed in kilts or donning past concert tour tees. Lead vocalist, Ken Casey (with Al Barr still on leave), donning a Boston hockey jersey, continually traversed the long stage and kept the crowd engaged by standing on the short catwalk throughout the fast-paced 90-minute set.

(See all photos from the night here: https://bit.ly/DKM26cz)

Blasting the crowd with hits such as “The Boys Are Back,” “Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya,” “The Gang’s All Here,” and “Rose Tattoo,” the 7-member band brought their all on this 12th night of their 28-day tour. Tim Brennan and Jeff DaRosa added their flamboyant flair with the accordion and banjo (respectively) on several numbers to keep the crowd riled up.

The night kicked off early at 6:30 p.m. with the West Coast band, Slugger, performing 30-minutes of their modern punk rock, with a heavy dash of Oi! punk to top off their fresh (yet 70s punk rock reminiscent), hard-hitting style. Lead vocalist Tommy (we searched high and low for band members’ names, but this one is all we found) flashed an easy grin in between delivering heavy vocals to the growing crowd. From “New Generation” to “Dead State,” to “How Much More Can We Take?” that Tommy dedicated to all the outcasts, it’s clear that this band has emerged to tackle injustices and is inclusive to and for all.

Boston’s Haywire, that has erupted among the hardcore punk scene within the past three years, navigated the next 40 minutes on stage. They kicked their set off with a cover of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” before heading into their true punk roots. In between many of their songs, lead vocalist Austin Sparkman spent time bantering with the fans, asking how their Valentine’s Day was, if they were here with loved ones, asking fans to give their loved one a hug and to not wait too long to connect with that friend they’d been meaning to “because one day it’s too late” and they then launched into “Clocktower Place” about regret for not saying things that should have been said (or done). Partway through their set, Casey strode on stage in a tracksuit to join in on Citizen I.C.E., a split that Haywire and DKM released just about a week ag0 (DKM also performed this during their set), to everyone’s delight, and finally saw the crowd moshing.

L.A.-based The Aggrolites, an American reggae punk band, worked the crowd into a frenzy during their 45-minute set prior to DKM coming on stage. Not so much the hard-core punk energy as before, this band, that’s been performing since 2002, had the entire room singing several covers at the top of their lungs and bopping to the music. Mix a little 60s soul and funk fused with Caribbean pop rhythms, with pure punk attitude, and you’ve got The Aggrolites, who have dubbed this sound dirty reggae. The lads worked the stage and gave their all with the catchy songs such as “Funky Fire,” “The Volcano” “Take ‘em All” (which their tour manager, Tony joined in on),” and included covers of Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’.”  They ended on a bouncy, swirly version of The Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down.”

Whether or not you like the punk rock sound, it’s a fair bet we could all maybe use a little of that punk rock ethos to get us through these days and to remind us, we’re never alone, “In the midst of the chaos and insanity…our will and spirit can never be beat.”

See all photos from the night here: https://bit.ly/DKM26cz

DKM setlist https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/dropkick-murphys/2026/the-factory-chesterfield-mo-34ef12f.html