It should be no surprise, at least for those who have listened to the Celtic punk chaos unleashed by Dropkick Murphys for the past 30 years, that they have been there every step of the way when it comes to standing with marginalized demographics and communities.
In case you haven’t been listening, though, the swashbuckling boys from Boston are back with their brand new single “Who’ll Stand With Us?” to not only ask the tough questions posed as we stare down the daily pressures of imminent fascism brought on by the greed and class warfare initiated by billionaires and “oligarchs,” but to also remind us that the band, led by impassioned frontman Ken Casey, still stands on business after all these years — while letting it rip in the process.
While showcasing a particular growth in the band’s overall sound and approach to songwriting, the very essence of what makes the Dropkicks the quintessential gritty Boston punk band we’ve come to know and love remains intact at the very root of the new track, as Casey delivers a scathing diatribe on the realities of fighting to survive against an increasingly disastrous economic system rigged in favor of the one percent.
In tandem with the release of the single, the band has also officially announced the release date for their forthcoming album, For The People, which drops on streaming services July 4, with physical LPs and CDs (which will include five bonus tracks) making their way to shelves on October 10. With guest appearances from artists like The Scratch, The Mary Wallopers, the legendary Billy Bragg, and the one and only Al Barr (who temporarily stepped away from the band in 2022 to care for his mother, who is battling an illness), the Quincy-bred band is surely going all in, Brad Stevens-style, with their first full-length album of original material since 2021’s Turn Up That Dial.
Aside from grilling hot dogs and shotgunning cheap beers, we can’t think of a more American way to celebrate Independence Day than finding 12 new and creative ways to tell the billionaires, and all of their aspiring toadies in the ruling class, to go fuck themselves.
Check out the new single below.