The Dropkick Murphys brought their St. Patrick’s Day 2026 tour to Stage AE. This tour was for the people in the pit! It had punk, hardcore, reggae, and the Dropkick Murphys closing it all out. I love the mix of genres you get with a Dropkick Murphys tour, and this lineup was no exception.
First up was Slugger, and let me tell you, these guys came out swinging for the fences. I was stoked to see them representing traditional punk rock, and they brought that classic, raw energy that the genre is known for. In a world full of clean, on-the-grid metalcore, it was awesome to hear some grit again. There were even amps and cabs on stage! It’s been 84 years… Even though the room was still filling in, they played like it was standing room only. Their sound is just pure, aggressive, no-frills punk—fast riffs, loud drums, and aggressive vocals with a snarling attitude. They threw down a quick, tight set that totally got me ready for the night ahead. Slugger also donated a portion of their merch sales to support local immigrants, which they are doing on every tour stop, so get out there and buy some Slugger swag. It’s awesome to see a band put their money where their mouth is. Many are talking the talk, but the bands on this tour are walking the walk as well.
Next, things got seriously fast and chaotic with Haywire 617. These guys are proper hardcore, and they didn’t hold anything back. The second the first chord dropped, the pit went from zero to 100. That was after a quick sing-a-long to ‘Sweet Caroline’. It was a complete explosion of bodies in the pit. The front rail became vocalists. It was a DIY hardcore show set on a massive stage. I love seeing hardcore played with that level of sincerity and aggression. It proves that the genre is still totally vital. Again, we had more cabs and amps, more true grit, and more feeling in the music.
The Aggrolites came on next and were the perfect reset button. They shifted the vibe entirely with their “Dirty Reggae” sound. Seriously, these guys are masters of the groove. Hailing from LA, they brought this incredible blend of reggae, funk, and rocksteady that made you immediately want to start dancing. The bass and organ lines were so thick and soulful that it just washed over the crowd. It was great watching the hardcore kids trade their mosh moves for a dance shuffle. The Aggrolites proved that you can have an emotionally powerful set without needing to be a typical hardcore punk band. Their own take on Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’”, aptly named, “These Boots Are Made for Stompin’”, had the whole building singing along.
Finally, the stage was set for the main event, and the anticipation for The Dropkick Murphys was insane. When they walked out after the crowd was singing along to “If The Kids Are United”, Stage AE absolutely erupted. They launched into their signature Celtic punk fury with “Deeds Not Words”, “The State of Massachusetts”, and “Caps and Bottles”.
A Dropkick Murphys show is always about community, and this one was no different. They powered through more hits like “The Boys Are Back,” “Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya,” and “Barroom Hero.” The combination of punk guitars, bagpipes, and whistles is just massive, and the singalongs were deafening. This set had the perfect mix of old favorites and newer songs, and Haywire joined in for their new take on an old classic with “Citizen I.C.E.”
The band was super energetic, and Ken Casey did a great job of connecting with us in Pittsburgh, making the big venue feel totally intimate. “We may say a lot of things about Pittsburgh athletes, but the people of Pittsburgh show up!”, Casey said in between songs, and he was absolutely right. Pittsburgh showed up at Stage AE in full force, with all their aggression, and had nothing left after the night was over. In these uncertain times, we really needed a classic punk rebellion, and that is exactly what we got with this show. Don’t sleep on this tour and get more information on tour dates here.