Dropkick Murphys Announce New Album ’11 Short Stories Of Pain & Glory’ for January 2017

Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat

The group of Celtic punk pioneers known as the Dropkick Murphys have announced the release date of what will be their ninth full-length studio album, titled 11 Short Stories of Pain and Glory due January 6th of next year. The tale-telling tracks within certainly stay true to the album’s title; each tells a story so genuine and straight from the heart that they’re practically still dripping in blood.

Speaking of blood, the band released a triumphantly loud track from the forthcoming album titled “Blood”, along with an official lyric video. The track is available for streaming via Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, and Google Play. Check it out below.

The group, consisting of Al Barr (lead vocals), Tim Brennan (guitars, accordion, mellotron, whistles, vocals), Ken Casey (vocals, bass), Jeff DeRosa (banjo, bouzouki, mandolin, harmonica, guitar, vocals),  Matt Kelly (drums, percussion, vocals), and James Lynch (guitar, vocals), will be embarking on a tour starting in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on February 21st, which will include their annual St.Patty’s week run (March 15-19) in their beloved hometown of Boston, MA.

11 Short Stories of Pain and Glory is the first album for which the band actually left Boston to record. It was recorded in the middle of nowhere somewhere in El Paso, Texas. Ken Casey explains “The whole journey starts with the fact we actually agreed to go – and then went – to Texas. Because we’ve never left home to make a record … As everyone’s lives have become crazier and busier with kids and families, it’s gotten harder to buckle down at home. We decided to leave Boston, go down to literally the middle of nowhere and lock ourselves in a room.” It was produced by Ted Hutt, who has worked formerly with bands including The Gaslight Anthem and Old Crow Medicine Wheel.

Many of the songs on this album are hope-inspiring tributes to the mass numbers of human beings suffering from helplessly inevitable circumstances such as parental abandonment and drug and alcohol addiction. The band even pays homage to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing in a song titled “4-15-13”, the date of the horrible tragedy that struck so close to home for this group of Bostonians.

Dropkick Murphys Spring 2017 Tour

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2/21 – Bethlehem, PA – Sands Bethlehem Event Center *+
2/22 – Columbus, OH – Express Live! *+
2/24 – Clive, IA – 7 Flags Event Center *+
2/25 – Hinckley, MN – The Grand Minnesota Taste Together *
2/26 – Sioux Falls, SD – The District *+
2/28 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater *+
3/1- Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom *+
3/2 – Little Rock, AR – Metroplex Live *+
3/4 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City *+
3/3 – Robinsonville, MS – Horseshoe Tunica – Bluesville *+
3/4 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City *+
3/6 – St. Petersburg, FL – Janus Live *
3/7 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Live *
3/8 – Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues *
3/10 – Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues *+
3/11 – Washington, DC – Shamrockfest Dropkick Murphys ONLY
3/12 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount *+
3/15 – Boston, MA – TBA
3/16 – Boston, MA – TBA
3/17 – Boston, MA – TBA
3/18 – Boston, MA – Agganis Arena
3/18 – Boston, MA – After Party @ House Of Blues with Pro Boxing
3/19 – Boston, MA – TBA

* w/ Blood or Whiskey
+ w/ The Interrupters

11 Short Stories of Pain and Glory is available for pre-order through the band’s website in vinyl, compact disc, and digital form.