St. Patrick’s Day 2009 Concerts, Green Beer: Optional

 

It’s that time of year again!

Cities around the world are preparing to celebrate everyone’s favorite Irish holiday: St. Patrick’s Day! (C’mon, could you even name another Irish holiday?)

While most people use the day as an excuse to over-indulge in corned beef, green beer and Guinness, we’d like to offer an alternative to parades and cloggers: Irish rock music.

From Irish folk-punks the Pogues to Boston’s popular Dropkick Murphys to Morrissey(?!), we’re running down the list of St. Patrick’s Day concerts for folks who know there’s more to Irish music than just U2.

Black 47 @ B.B. King’s Blues Club & Grill (New York, NY)

If you can’t go to Ireland, spending St. Patrick’s Day with Black 47 might be the next best thing.

The band will be ringing in the holiday at B.B. King’s Blues Club & Grill in NYC.

This Irish American band has been making noise for nearly 20 years. With biting lyrics and a firm grasp of their Irish roots, politics and music are inseparable for this outspoken group. Black 47’s latest effort, Iraq, changes the focus from the Emerald Isle to America’s infamous desert war, but singer/guitarist Larry Kirwan’s lyrics remain sharp and unrelenting and, most of all, catchy.

This sounds kinda heavy, but rest assured that after two decades on tour, the band knows how to have a good time, too.

Dropkick Murphys @ House of Blues (Boston, MA)

For those who prefer their Irish music with a little more punk attitude, the Dropkick Murphys are playing a St. Pat’s show in their hometown of Boston at the House of Blues. The band is just back from a sold-out nationwide tour, so buy your tickets in advance to make sure you can get in.

(Although, even if you can’t get into the show, you’ll find plenty of ways to amuse yourself in Boston on St. Patrick’s Day.)

The Pogues @9:30 Club (Washington, D.C.)

We’re not sure if President Obama is a Pogues fan, but maybe he should check them out. The legendary Irish/English rabble-rousers will be celebrating St. Pat’s in the nation’s capital at the 9:30 Club. Led by endearingly shambling singer Shane MacGowan, the Pogues are the rare blend of folk and punk that manages to be genuine and vital on both counts. Hoist a mug and sing along with “Fairytale of New York,” but be warned: the sight of MacGowan’s ragged visage might turn you off of green beer for good.

Morrissey @Carnegie Music Hall inPittsburgh, PA

If you live in the Iron City, you can check out former Smiths leader Morrissey (yup, his parents were Irish) when he plays Carnegie Music Hall on St. Patrick’s Day, y’know, in case you’d rather mope than party.

U2…sort of. @ Romano’s Concert Lounge in Riverside, CA

After a seemingly endless promotional blitz leading up to the release of No Line on the Horizon, U2 is taking some time off to prepare for its upcoming world tour.

However, if you go to Romano’s Concert Lounge on St. Pat’s you’ll be treated to plenty of U2 favorites, courtesy of U2 tribute act, the Joshua Tree. It’s not the same as seeing U2, but that might be a good thing since this band probably hasn’t bothered to learn “Get On Your Boots,” yet.

Similarly, Europa in Brooklyn, NY is offering a tribute to ’70s Irish rockers, Thin Lizzy of “The Boys are Back in Town” fame.

 

Got a better idea about how to spend St. Patrick’s Day 2009?

Leave a comment and tell us about it!