“We’re still practicing for the shows,” he says. “Us Murphys always want to give the kids their money’s worth.”
One issue that won’t factor into the set lists is the potential war in Iraq, despite the strong military undertones in many Dropkicks songs.
“We’re not going to try to emphasize that in the shows,” Orrell says. “I’m sure we’ll send shout-outs, ‘cause I have some buddies out in Kuwait right now, but we’re not going to have some political lecture where everyone’s sitting on the floor Indian-style.”
After the four shows are over and the dust has once again settled in Boston, the Dropkick Murphys’ future will be as eventful as ever. They just finished work on their new album Blackout, which is currently being mastered for a June 10 release.
The new album will feature “something a little different,” says Orrell.
“It’s kind of mixing around everything. A couple of traditional Irish tunes, a couple of rockers, a couple of covers.”
Blackout will feature covers of two songs by Woody Guthrie, an artist whose working class ideals are kept alive by the Dropkicks.
“Woody’s daughter gave us some lyrics and was like, ‘Please put some music to this,’” recalls Orrell.
Work is also being done on the band’s first DVD, set to come out in 2004. It will have live footage from last year’s St. Patrick’s Day shows, as well as an assortment of their music videos.
The Dropkicks say they will continue touring while they adjust to the recent departure of one of their most important members—bagpiper Spicy McHaggis—who reportedly left the band to pursue a family with his girlfriend.
McHaggis’ temporary replacement is Joe Delaney, who played pipes on the earlier albums Do or Die and The Gang’s All Here. But Orrell says he doubts that Delaney will be able to return as a full-time member of the band.
“He’s like 40 year’s old and he’s got a good job and a wife,” Orrell laments. “Also, his wife doesn’t really like it that much.”
The band will play an extended stint on this summer’s Van’s Warped Tour. This will be the band’s second appearance on the ska and punk festival, which will descend on Boston’s Suffolk Downs on July 31.
“I can’t wait,” gushes Orrell. “It’s just a big goddamn circus with lots of friends I haven’t seen in a while.”
He launches into a list of fellow punk comrades whom he is eager to play with, but singles out one scruffy young rocker in particular.
“Andrew W.K., that guy fucking rules,” says Orrell, laughing gleefully. “Dirty fucking guy that the kids love. That guy’s going to save rock ’n roll.”
Provided, of course, that the Dropkick Murphys don’t beat him to it.