PW's Song Of The Week: SONG OF THE WEEK: 2/6/22

SONG: "Kiss Me I'm Shitfaced"

ARTIST: Dropkick Murphys

ALBUM: "Live At Fenway"

YEAR: 2012

PLACE OF ORIGIN: Quincy, Massachusetts

YEARS ACTIVE: 1996 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Kiss Me I'm Shitfaced" is a tongue in cheek type of song where the vocalist often goes to the local watering hole to get smashed and brag about everything that he is not. It's funny how you grow a set while looking through drunken eyes! In a moment of clarity, however, he admits that he's none of those things he was bragging about but deep down, he's an all around nice guy and has a heart of gold so he deserves a shot to leave the bar with a fine lady! For my song of the week I chose the live version of "Kiss Me I'm Shitfaced" from the Dropkick's 2012 album "Live At Fenway". The original version can be found on the band's 2003 album "Blackout".

DROPKICK MURPHYS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1998 - Do Or Die (Hellcat Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1999 - The Gang's All Here (Hellcat Records)

* peaked at # 184 on the Billboard 200 on 4-3-99

2000 - The Singles Collection, Vol. 1 (Hellcat Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2001 - Sing Loud, Sing Proud (Hellcat Records)

* peaked at #144 on the Billboard 200 on 2-24-01

2002 - Live On St. Patrick's Day (Hellcat Records)

* peaked at #155 on the Billboard 200 on 9-28-02

2003 - Blackout (Hellcat Records)

* peaked at #83 on the Billboard 200 on 6-28-03

2005 - The Singles Collection, Vol. 2 (Hellcat Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2005 - The Warrior's Code (Hellcat Records)

* peaked at #48 on the Billboard 200 on 7-9-05

* certified gold

2007 - The Meanest Of Times (Born & Bred Records)

* peaked at #20 on the Billboard 200 on 10-6-07

2010 - Live On Landsdowne, Boston MA (Born & Bred Records)

* peaked at #25 on the Billboard 200 on 4-3-10

2011 - Going Out In Style (Born & Bred Records)

* peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200 on 3-19-11

2012 - Live At Fenway (Born & Bred Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2013 - Signed And Sealed In Blood (Born & Bred Records)

* peaked at #9 on the Billboard 200 on 1-26-13

2017 - 11 Short Stories Of Pain & Glory (Born & Bred Records)

* peaked at #8 on the Billboard 200 on 1-28-17

2021 - Turn Up That Dial (Born & Bred Records

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON DROPKICK MURPHYS

Much love to my Boston homies Dropkick Murphys! Well, ok they are actually from Quincy, MA but close enough. The Dropkick's got their start back in 1996, a nice little Celtic punk/street punk band formed by Ken Casey (bass/vocals) and Mike McColgan (vocals). Early on, the band received huge support by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, who took them on their very first tour. They also received huge support from Rancid who signed the Murphy's to their Hellcat label and Lars Frederiksen even produced their first album, 1998's "Do Or Die". Not long after "Do Or Die" was released, McColgan decided to leave the band. The Dropkick's recruited The Bruisers frontman Al Barr to take his place. As the band entered the 2000's, they began to see all their albums charting on the Billboard 200. Their 2003 album "Blackout" started getting some radio support with their single "Walk Away". In 2004, the band re-recorded an old song about the Boston Red Sox called "Tessie" that turned out to be a battle cry for the team en route to their first World Series victory since 1918. 2005 saw the release of their most successful record, "The Warrior's Code". This is the band's only album to be certified (gold) thanks in part to the song "I'm Shipping Up To Boston" which was featured prominently in the Martin Scorcese film "The Departed". This helped the single become platinum selling! At this point in the band's career, they decided to put their albums out on their own label, Born & Bred Records. 2007's "The Meanest Of Times" reached #20 on the Billboard 200 charts. Their next three studio albums peaked in the top 10. Their 2011 album, "Going Out In Style" would be the band's highest charting album, peaking at #6. If you're a Bostonian, you'd love the video for the title track of that album as it features several prominent Boston sports figures and more. Plus a lot of it was filmed at the now closed local pub McGreevy's, which was owned by Ken Casey. The band released "11 Short Stories Of Pain & Glory" in 2017 and their latest release would be the 2021 album "Turn Up That Dial". The Dropkick Murphys, in my mind, are at the top of the mountain when it comes to Celtic punk. Am I biased being from Boston? Sure. But the Dropkick's resume speaks for itself. These guys wear their Boston roots on their sleeves, whether they're playing their annual St. Patrick's Day shows in the city or just lending their support to local causes, most notably their charitable support for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. I knew of the Dropkick's pretty much since they came out but I really got into them when they released "Blackout" in 2003. The songs "Walk Away"and "The Dirty Glass" really made me fall in love with the band and I've been a big fan ever since. This band has always been very active both releasing new music and relentlessly touring. They have been playing live shows with fellow punk stalwarts Rancid most recently.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Flogging Molly

The Real McKenzies

The Rumjacks

Flatfoot 56

Street Dogs

TEN DROPKICK MURPHYS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Warrior's Code

2. Barroom Hero

3. The Dirty Glass

4. Going Out In Style

5. Walk Away