Song Of The Week: 10/7/12

Song: "Final Transmission"

Artist: Street Dogs

Album: "Fading American Dream"

Year: 2006



"Final Transmission" is a song about a young man who joined the military to get a college fund. His dreams were to become a school teacher but, ultimately, after only six months of battle, he caught an IED a died, a casualty of war. The "final transmission" was a note he wrote to his family which he tucked in his helmet. They only way he intended for his family to read it, tragically, was if he did not make it. The song is an anti-war song that begs the government to bring the troops back home and end this war (the Iraq War). Street Dogs are a band that formed back in 2002. They quickly became a staple in Boston, Massachusetts along with fellow Celtic punk band, Dropkick Murphys. In fact, Street Dogs frontman, Mike McColgan was the original lead singer of the Dropkick Murphys, however in 1998, he decided to quit that band to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a Boston firefighter. In 2002, McColgan decided that he could not stay away from music and he formed the Street Dogs. In 2003, the Street Dogs dropped their first album, "Savin Hill" which established their place in the Boston punk scene early on. The album also featured guest appearances by Dropkick Murphys members Al Barr and Ken Casey. In 2005, "Back To The World" was released. This album led to opening slots on tours supporting the likes of Social Distortion, Bad Religion, Millencolin and Bouncing Souls. The Street Dogs would also embark on their very first headlining tours at this time. 2006 saw the release of "Fading American Dream". By 2008, the Street Dogs would sign with Hellcat Records and release their fourth album, "State Of Grace". That year they would also join the Vans Warped Tour as a main stage act. In 2010, the band released their fifth studio album, "Street Dogs". 2011 saw the band as a headliner at the Warped Tour once again. For ten years the Street Dogs have established themselves as a punk band for the common man, or the working man if you will. They are pro-middle class, pro-union and definitely wear their hometown on their sleeve, representing Boston and especially their childhood neighborhood in Dorchester, MA. They come from a blue-collar backround and they play a blue-collar brand of punk rock. Currently, bassist Johnny Rioux has stated that the band plans to help Mike McColgan release a solo album as well as possibly put together a Street Dogs b-sides compilation. They are in the process of mixing a live DVD as well. He also said that he is excited about the Street Dogs making their very first trip to Australia to play some shows and hopes that the band joins up in some Celtic festivals after that as well. No new news about a new album being in the works is out there as of yet however.