Seven-inch split albums were originally done on vinyl, with music from one artist on one side of the record and music from a second artist on the opposite side. Since the early 1980s, the format has been used widely by independent record labels and punk bands. When you pair two bands in one release or on one tour, each gets exposure to the other’s existing fanbase. Like a a split release a co-headlining tour is more affordable because you’re sharing production costs with another band. Finally, a split bill is more appealing to fans on a budget. Getting to see two great bands for the same ticket price give fans more of an incentive to purchase.
Denver was the twenty-third stop on a thirty-four date tour that has crisscrossed across the country from the east to the west. Friday nights “Boston to Berkeley II” tour had the same benefits of a split EP. On this co-headlining tour, the bands would switch off on different dates on who would headline the show. First up on Friday was Rancid – the band from Berkeley. Formed by Tim Armstrong (vocals, guitar) and Matt Freeman (bass, vocals) after the demise of Operation Ivy, the band, along with Lars Frederiksen (vocals, guitar), have been bringing their brand of Punk Rock to crowds since the mid-nineties. With songs like “Roots Radical,” “Ruby SoHo,” and “Fall Back Down,” the band bounced between minimal chord changes, high energy Rock, Reggae and Ska wrapped up in a little bit of Blues that kept fans both old and new happy with their set.
Next up for the evening was the boys from Boston – the Dropkick Murphys. Before the tour started Dropkick Murphys’ Ken Casey said, “Can’t wait to get back out there and kick the touring door open again. This is a great lineup and we are gonna take the country by storm.” That’s just what Al Barr (lead vocals), Tim Brennan (guitars, accordion, mellotron, whistles, vocals), Ken Casey (lead vocals, bass guitar), Jeff DaRosa (banjo, bouzouki, mandolin, harmonica, acoustic guitars, vocals), Matt Kelly (drums, percussion, vocals) and James Lynch (guitar, vocals) did. Playing a Celtic tinged Punk, the band performed the kind of music that’s meant to be chanted in bars during last call, in packed concert venues, and during ball games. Blue collar themes along with love and loss permeated the set that included songs like “The Boys are Back,” “Barroom Heroes,” and “Rose Tattoo.” Just like I can’t wait for the release of new seven-inch splits from my favorite artists, if Friday’s show was any indication of things to come, I definitely can’t wait for the next co-headlining show to roll through Denver. See you in the pit!
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