Bad Religion and Dropkick Murphys bring the Summer of Discontent Tour to a packed Bank NH Pavilion in Gilford, New Hampshire.
There was a little relief from the hot summer temps in the Northeast for the show tonight. The last few weeks have been riddled with storms that created uncertain conditions for outdoor venues, but tonight the skies were clear blue, with streaks of orange and pink as the sun set.
Bank of NH Pavilion was buzzing with excitement as fans waited in anticipation for one hell of a duo: Bad Religion and Dropkick Murphys. We covered Dropkick Murphys for their St. Patrick’s Day celebration, and to say it was a wild time would be an understatement. The Celtic Punk band brought the houses down at MGM and House of Blues in Boston for a 4-day sold-out celebration for Bostonians ready to celebrate the Irish holiday DKM style.
It was a healthy mix of both Gen Z to Gen Xers in the crowd, proving that having two legendary bands on the same ticket was enough to bring the entire punk rock community together for this Summer of Discontent Tour. Even being just outside of Boston (albeit not by much) for this show didn’t deter fans from filling the pit, ready to rock early on in the night.
The first band up was The Mainliners. Hailing from Hollywood, California, they’re an up-and-coming force in the punk rock scene. Since forming in 2020, they’ve been cranking up the energy with raw DIY shows, stretching their creative energy, and taking inspiration from bands like The Circle Jerks and T.S.O.L. You can also hear the influence of Bad Religion in their sound, making them a perfect opener for the night.
Bad Religion, an LA-based band, formed 40 years earlier than The Mainliners. They’ve become foundational to the punk rock community, addressing politics, media, and religion in their lyrics, and paving the way for huge bands like Green Day, NOFX, and Rancid, to name a few. For punk fans in New Hampshire, this was a treat.
Bad Religion hit the stage at 7:45 PM sharp, kicking things off with “Recipe For Hate,” the title track from their 1993 seventh studio album. From there, they jumped forward to 2002’s The Process of Belief with “Supersonic,” before reaching all the way back to 1988’s Suffer with “You Are (The Government).” Clearly, fans were about to span the entire discography in the next hour of punk legend history.
Lead singer Greg Graffin remarked that in the band’s 40 years of playing, it was their first time in the Lakes Region. The band rolled through the set at a relentless 180 bpm pace.
A highlight of the night was when they dedicated “My Sanity,” from their 2019 album Age of Unreason, to Dr. Leo Marvin. If you’re a fan of What About Bob? from the ’90s, filmed in the Lakes Region, it was a great inside joke that got the crowd grinning.
They even went back to their very first record, playing “F**k Armageddon… This Is Hell” from 1982’s How Could Hell Be Any Worse?. At one point, Graffin joked that he had swallowed a bug, adding that if he sounded off, it was the bug’s fault – but only if he sounded bad – before diving into “Generator.” They powered through “21st Century (Digital Boy)” and “Infected” before closing their 24-song set with fan favorite “American Jesus.”
It was a special treat for fans to see such a legendary band still at the top of their game. With so many of their peers retiring (like NOFX, who recently wrapped their final tour with Dropkick Murphys), Bad Religion continues to carry the torch. Hints of new music are in the air, along with their Decades YouTube series that explores their history through the ’80s, ’90s, 2010s, and 2020s. Live, they still sound incredible – tight rhythms, razor-sharp solos, and Graffin’s vocals right on point.
Last up was Dropkick Murphys, hitting the stage at 9:30 PM. The packed crowd was already buzzing, and cheers rang out as the crew set up banjos, guitars, and drums. They kicked things off with “The Boys Are Back,” rolled into “The State of Massachusetts” from 2007’s The Meanest of Times, and then straight into “Who Will Stand With Us?” off their brand-new 2025 release For the People.
Released on July 4, For the People showcases everything fans expect from DKM. Speaking for the working class, the album dives into the struggles many families face today, with the single “Who’ll Stand With Us?” addressing the climate in a way only Dropkick can.
But it’s not all politics – this album also features collaborations with bands like The Scratch, who have toured with them in recent years, plus stories about Pennywise and tales from Ken Casey’s childhood. Their 13th studio album encapsulates everything DKM fans love about the band.
True to form, Dropkick wasted no time heading into the crowd. Ken Casey grabbed hands and sang face-to-face with fans while Jeff DaRosa and Tim Brennan followed him out. DaRosa, a wildly talented guitarist, banjo, and mandolin player, fed off the energy, even launching himself into the crowd.
They ripped through “Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya” and “Middle Finger,” with the audience screaming every lyric back at them. The way Dropkick connects with their fans is special – it’s clear so many of them feel like family. Just the crowd gathered side stage spoke volumes about the loyalty this band inspires.
“First Class Loser,” from 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory, was dedicated to the current political climate, with Casey’s sharp delivery echoed back by the crowd at full volume as video of showcasing current politicians played behind them. Then came “Citizen C.I.A.” followed by “Chesterfield and Aftershave,” a song rooted in Casey’s own childhood memories of his grandfather raising him. It turned into a crowd-wide showdown, each side of the Pavilion roaring massive “OOHHHHHs” back and forth, left to right, as the kick drum pushed the energy higher and higher. The moment became even more powerful when a young kid was brought on stage and joined Casey for a sing-along. A fitting echo of the song’s themes of youth and memory, and one that left the whole place grinning.
In a rare moment of comic relief, a bra landed on stage. Casey couldn’t help but laugh, joking that he knew exactly who had tossed it. Not long after, he turned the energy back to gratitude, speaking about how lucky the band felt to share the road with The Mainliners and Bad Religion. That sentiment carried straight into the unmistakable wail of the bagpipes that signaled “Barroom Hero,” sending the crowd into a frenzy, fists pumping and voices booming with every “Hey! Hey! Hey!”
The night rolled on with Dropkick staples like “Rose Tattoo” and “The Worker’s Song,” each anthem met with a roar that shook the venue. By the time the encore arrived, the floor was a storm of bodies moving in unison. “Shipping Up to Boston” ignited a massive circle pit, while “The Big Man,” off the band’s latest record, proved they’re not just leaning on nostalgia but continuing to carve new ground.
For years now, Dropkick Murphys have toured relentlessly, embracing punk’s political edge and turning their shows into something that feels bigger than music—equal parts concert and rally. From impromptu Boston pop-up gigs to commanding stages at international festivals, they’ve built a reputation for staying true to their roots while uniting fans in a sense of community. And if you missed this run, there’s still a chance to catch the fire: the band will play again on September 6th at Seisun, a two-day fest featuring The Pogues and a lineup of other heavy-hitting punk acts.
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