by Randall “Hanka” Mcneill Feb. 23, 2026

I remember as a teenager, hearing Dropkick Murphys for the first time. It was different enough to hold my attention and the music was stellar. At that time in my life I was very much just a lost teenager looking to escape my normal everyday. Skip ahead to now and I’ve kind of made my own path in the music world in a different way. Photography, writing, and still enjoying the bands I did when I was in those impressionable years.

Now all these years later, after living in a different country than the USA, and seeing what a wild place the USA is now… the lyrics, the songs, the messages have a newfound meaning to me. I can say this before I get into the review of this concert… I applaud everything I have seen about DKM in recent videos and reports etc. I am proud of seeing rooms full of people in a world that has become more and more divided. I’ll just use one word. Unity. That is what I noticed at this tour. Good on every band on this tour for being for it because we need more of it in these crazy times.

Now on to the review!

Slugger

California Hardcore act Slugger hit the stage with their anti-fascist, street level rock n’ roll to open up the show and the pits. Bringing a wall of noise, and a relentless energy, They whipped the crowd into a frenzy. Punk Rock shows don’t get much more Punk Rock than this. Setting the pace for the night, Slugger played up their Hardcore roots to the crowd. They definitely hit Charlotte with their “brickwall” sound, and we loved every second of it. You can’t expect much more from your opener than getting the energy sky high. By the time my personal song of the night, Humboldt Ave, hit, the energy was just that. Slugger came to kick ass, and they succeeded!

Haywire

Haywire came out and said, “this energy isn’t high enough, how about we turn it up?!” It was a big ask considering how amped they already were after that Slugger set. However, the crowd poured out even more. They started with a little ‘Sweet Caroline’ flavoring to stir the crowd. Taking off his hoodie to reveal to the crowd a Charlotte Hornets inspired haywire jersey the crowd was set into a frenzy. They quickly transitioned into the song ‘Haywire’. The lead singer, Austin Sparkman, made sure to remind them of the lyrics, “This song is called Haywire, the lyrics are Haywire” what a wild way to start a song I thought. It only got crazier from there. It was a great moment of crowd interaction. He stepped out on the secondary platform. This platform served as the vehicle for the night’s high-energy lead singers. It allowed them to get nice and intimate with the crowd. New England Forever energized the audience as Ken Casey came on stage. He performed the song with Haywire, from a split LP that features 4 songs by both bands. They kept up this pace for the rest of their set, while taking a talking break to not only celebrate Austin’s sobriety (Congrats on the 10-months!), To sending positive messages to the crowd. He expressed his hope to see these younger kids in the crowd 15 years from now. He also reminded everyone to tell someone you’re thinking about them. Tomorrow isn’t promised.”If it wasn’t for you (Always by my side”) Austin and the crowd screamed out to each other. Crowd Surfers were coming in hot and heavy all set, the energy was palpable, and they rocked this set hard. Another great act leading into the next.

Aggrolites

The Aggrolites, out of L.A., brought a nice Reggae flavored chill to the crowd to keep that energy tempered. Bringing their brand of “dirty reggae” to Charlotte, they’ve been grooving since 2002. And they did what they do best with that groove, kept the crowd moving. Admittedly, I’m not the biggest fan of the Punk/Reggae mash-up, so I didn’t groove super hard to this, but the fans loved it. I did dig the more Reggae styled songs that leaned a little further away from the Punk side, and vice versa. The crowd loved it, they played up to photos well, and it was a nice groove. The crowd was definitely kept on fire. They showed their enthusiasm vividly when DKM hit the stage to close out the night.

Dropkick Murphys

DKM have had a hell of a 2026 so far, and as the night unfolded, it became clear just how significant this journey has been. They’ve let this administration know exactly where they stand through their music and message, affirming their role as a voice for those who feel disenfranchised. They’re also celebrating 30 years of fighting Nazis, a testament to their unwavering commitment to social justice and equality. They came out swinging, hitting the stage with an energy that was palpable and contagious. The crowd never lost that crazy Punk energy, and they gave all of it to DKM in this set, creating a vibrant atmosphere that felt alive. From crazy crowd interaction, insane pits, crowd surfing, to punk rock brawls, every moment was electric. You name it, we got it. Starting off strong, their presence ignited the audience, getting them going, and they never stopped. Once he hit the barricade, Ken Casey held the mic out with a grin, encouraging the people in the pit to belt out their own renditions of the songs they love so much, reminding us all of the power of communal expression.

This truly was for the people in the pit, connecting everyone through the universal language of music. Bagpipes raging, Banjos being plucked furiously, and accordion for good measure added layers and depth to the sound, enhancing the raw energy of the performance. Not a drop of energy was spared as the set burned through the night, each song a lifeline that kept us all tethered to the moment. Of course, “Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya” brought a tear to me old eye, resonating deeply with the audience as memories flooded back. Dropkick Murphys are proud Bostonians, and they literally wear it on their sleeves, embodying their roots with pride. Ken was rocking that Boston jersey as hard as he was rocking the crowd, showcasing the connection between the band and their city.

Commanding the crowd from the barricade mini stage, the energy felt absolutely unleashed. It is always awe-inspiring to see how an act can control a crowd. They shape the atmosphere with their charisma and musicianship. This experience placed me in a completely new state of that awe, a reminder of why live music holds such a special place in our hearts. We all shipped up to Boston, and we loved every single second of the journey, reveling in the camaraderie and joy that music can bring, knowing that nights like this are what we live for. Speaking of that camaraderie, later on in the set, it was Austin from Haywire 617’s turn to join in. Much like Ken earlier in the night, Austin appeared to give the crowd a live rendition of “Citizen I.C.E.”, telling the organization exactly what the bands, and this crowd thought of them. These bands and this crowd came to voice themselves, and they did it loudly, and proudly. A true punk masterpiece of a show.

• Barroom Hero
• State Of Massachusetts
• The Gangs All Here
• The Boys Are Back
• Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya
• Bury The Bones
• Gonna Be A Blackout Tonight
• Sooner Kill Em First
• Fight Starter Karaoke
• Caught In A Jar
• Boys On The Docks
• Deeds Not Words
• Who’ll Stand With Us?
• Streetlights
• The Green fields Of France
• Finnegan’s Wake
• Citizen I.C.E.
• Smash Shit Up
• Man Behind The Wire
• I’m Shipping Up To Boston
• The Big Man
• Rose Tattoo
• Worker’s Song

I always like to talk a little about the staff at the venue. I’ve been to The Fillmore Charlotte enough to know most of these lovely people by name. Bands throughout the night had said the staff were among the best they’ve ever worked with. Hearing this, I felt some pride. I felt proud for the people I’ve interacted with as they were called out and given their due. I’d like to thank, as always, Matt. He is the man who makes it happen. His is the first face you see upon entering the press pit, and the last you see upon exit.

This will truly be a show to remember. The merch tables were impressive. One of the most impressive parts of the merch is the posters hung up that say “Dropkick Murphys merch is PROUDLY made in the USA”. The punk rock show broke out spectacularly. The venue staff were remarkable. The Queen City was ready to be shaken. They shook tremendously at a sold out, hardcore punk rock show. I will definitely be looking ahead to shooting not only Dropkick Murphys again, but any of these amazing bands. I can’t state enough how high-energy this was, and how much fun this show was. The gang was all here, and we can’t wait til they come back around.

For the full photo gallery Click here: https://www.hankamediamarketing.com/Photos/Live-Music-Music-Photos-ライブ音楽/Dropkick-Murphys-St-Patricks-Day-Tour-2026

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