Dropkick Murphys Speak To Hot Press

Dropkick Murphys bring their Celtic-infused brand of bagpipe, bodhrán, and bouzouki rocking punk to the capital this weekend.

The band are touring in support of their recently released album Signed And Sealed In Blood, and will play two nights at Dublin's Vicar Street venue this Saturday and Sunday.

Speaking to Hot Press on a recent trip to Dublin, Ken couldn't hide his excitement for the release on the bands eight studio album.

"We're very excited about the new record. For the first time we had the songs done and written, and we've been touring since the summer playing sometimes up to six new songs a night. The reaction from the crowd to the songs, that they've never heard before, has been almost mind blowing to us. So it gives us this really different enthusiasm for the record coming out, just based on how people seem to have liked the songs having heard them for the first time live. We haven't been in that position since our very first record: we recorded that about a year before it came out, so we kind of had that situation then too. So it's been 16 years, and it kind of reminds me of how it felt back then, which is good."

Not one to turn down an opportunity to visit Irish shores, and never afraid to give a nod to his Gaelic roots, Ken is planning on making the most of this trip.

"Yeah between the band, and with Boston being five hours away, and being able to get here easier than California, I've probably been to Ireland like 15 or 20 times now. You know, some trips are better than others, sometimes you get time to see the sites and do your thing, and other times it's kind of in and out."

"Somehow we always seem to end up in the Temple Bar area, usually for a little too long, too often. I think actually the next trip we're doing is in January. We're doing two nights and we're coming a day early so that'll probably be the longest amount of time we've ever been in Dublin."

Is that a warning? We're not sure. But things look certain to get a little bit rowdy up Vicar Street way over the weekend. Those lucky folk with tickets, enjoy!