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Boston Globe
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
‘This is what Dropkick Murphys has been about from the very start': Ken Casey talks punk rock, politics, and new album
According to a press release, the record is aimed 'against the injustices happening in the United States.' Casey noted that while 'some of the songs were written late last summer,' well before the election, several were written after he 'knew we were headed this way,' with 'three or four songs directly pointed at current situations.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The Dropkick Murphys drop their new album, "For The People," on Friday. @Chezphoto / Riley Vecchione 'I never even imagined we'd already be where we are at in terms of the cruelty and mismanagement, in my opinion, of our country,' said Casey, who described the new album as tackling issues that are both timely and timeless. 'It's the same old story of divide and conquer and get regular people divided and fighting amongst themselves over the same old tropes of immigrants, sexual identity.' Advertisement 'We're fighting amongst each other while the rich and the powerful are stealing everything out the back door,' he added. 'And I think that's obviously gone on forever in the world. It's just so blatant right now, and America is so divided.' Fearing what he calls 'a massive swing back towards authoritarianism,' Casey believes it's 'the most serious moment that has arisen since a band that speaks out politically has been around.' The first single from the new album, 'Who'll Stand With Us?,' released last month with a powerful music video, featuring visuals of missing persons posters and people getting kidnapped from their workplaces. It's taken on a new meaning with the rise of ICE raids across the country, although Casey revealed that the original intention of the music video was to serve as a metaphor for issues like veterans and the elderly losing benefits. 'The snatching of people was really supposed to be kind of symbolic in the sense they're disappearing … they might be gone, meaning that they're faceless to the government,' said Casey. 'And then here you are, fast forward a few months, and it's like, no, people are literally getting snatched off the street.' 'The images are right there in front of our face, yet the world has gotten to a place where even what you see with your own two eyes is not enough to kind of answer any doubts or questions,' he added. 'I thought the plan was to get rid of the worst criminals that were here hurting people. And now we're taking pregnant women and little old ladies off the street.' Advertisement In addition to the heavier subject matter at hand, 'For The People' has songs 'written in better times' too that the band is excited for fans to hear, Casey noted. The new album also features a cameo from longtime Dropkick Murphys singer Al Barr, who has been away from the band for the past few years while taking time off for family matters. He lends his vocals to the track 'The Vultures Circle High.' 'It was awesome to be sharing a microphone again and spend some time together,' said Casey. 'That song definitely calls for the trade off on the vocals like a lot of our songs, where the verses are just so rapid fire they connect well into each other.' The record includes a tribute to late Pogues frontman 'The Pogues really drew on that combination of the punk crowd, and just a regular townie crowd that grew up with Irish roots,' said Casey. The Bay State musician later got to work with MacGowan, who appeared on the track 'Good Rats' from Dropkick Murphys's 2001 album 'Sing Loud, Sing Proud!' Casey admitted that getting the chance to tour with the Pogues overseas also had 'a massive impact' on his life. 'As someone who never really left the 128 area before the band, all of a sudden, I've seen the world, and the Pogues were definitely a huge motivation for starting the band,' said Casey. Advertisement Ken Casey and Dropkick Murphys energized demonstrators during an anti-Trump/Musk rally at City Hall Plaza in Boston on April 5. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Dropkick Murphys are set to headline the But before the band hits the road, Dropkick Murphys will play a free album release show on July 12 beginning at 4 p.m. on Hancock Street in Quincy Center at the Common. The group first formed in Quincy nearly three decades ago, and the show also coincides with the city's Quincy400 festivities. 'Our very first practice space was only a half a mile, three-quarters of a mile, from where the stage will sit,' said Casey, explaining that the band used to jam 'in the basement of a little tiny barbershop.' 'We're coming up on 30 years of the band, and 30 years later to be doing a free show outside and shutting down the street that we started the band on, it's [a] pretty wild vibe,' he added. Matt Juul can be reached at
CBS News
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Dropkick Murphys to play free homecoming concert in Quincy
The Dropkick Murphys are shipping up to Quincy, Massachusetts for a free homecoming concert. The Celtic punk rockers will play a street concert on July 12 in Quincy Center across from 1250 Hancock St. The free show, part of Quincy's 400th birthday celebrations, is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. "Over the past three decades, the band has become a beloved symbol of Massachusetts pride, known for their electrifying performances and fiercely loyal fan base," the city of Quincy said in a statement. "The Quincy400 concert marks a homecoming celebration, as the band returns to where it all began." The band got its start in Quincy in 1996 and practiced on Hancock Street, about a mile from where the concert is planed. "The Dropkick Murphys are not just a world-famous band - they're part of our Quincy story," Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch said in a statement. "We are honored to welcome home the Dropkick Murphys for what promises to be an unforgettable evening of music and community spirit." The band known for hits like "I'm Shipping Up To Boston" and "Tessie" is releasing a new album on July 4 called "For The People." Parts of Hancock Street and the surrounding areas will be closed starting Friday, July 11 at 11 a.m. to set up for the concert. The city says there will be random bag searches for attendees. Quincy400 Quincy400 commemorates the 400th anniversary of Quincy's settlement in 1625, with celebratory events planned all year round. The Maritime Festival on the July 4th weekend will celebrate Quincy's "storied maritime legacy and vibrant community spirit," the city says. Later in the summer, Darius Rucker from Hootie and the Blowfish will play a sold-out concert at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy on Aug. 2, followed by a show from "Creedence Clearwater Revival" singer John Fogerty on Aug. 3.
Extra.ie
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Dropkick Murphys announce new album and release single
The Dropkick Murphys have announced their new album, For The People, set for release on July 4. The record will be the band's 13th studio album. It includes 12 tracks featuring collaborations with musicians such as Billy Bragg, The Scratch, The Mary Wallopers and Al Barr. The album closes with a tribute to the late Shane MacGowan of The Pogues. The band also released a new single 'Who'll Stand With Us?', the first from their forthcoming longplayer. The song addresses themes of class division and social injustice in the United States. The music video shows people being disappeared, a reference to the Trump administration's recent mass deportations. 'Who'll Stand With Us?' is 'a call for unity, a return to sanity, and a look at what – and who–is really dividing us… When the billionaires and broligarchs get done neutering society, what's left for the rest of us? The song aims to frame class warfare for what it is,' read a statement from the band. Dropkick Murphys will launch their U.S. Summer of Discontent tour with Bad Religion on July 22. Ahead of that, the band known for their Celtic-infused punk sound will perform at Fenway Park in Boston on July 11.
Forbes
29-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Prosecutor Who Pioneered A New Path Home From Prison
Hillary Blout Hillary Blout founded For The People in 2019 to work with prosecutors to safely bring people home from prison, reuniting families and strengthening communities. Here, we discuss why pathways for second chances are important and how her team secured AB 2942—the first Prosecutor-Initiated Resentencing law in the United States. Michael Zakaras: Hillary, let's go back to the beginning. Why did you become a prosecutor, and what did you discover about the role? Hillary Blout: Being from a community that experienced violence and crime, I thought there was value in becoming a prosecutor who treated everybody fairly. After all, prosecutors are the most powerful actors in our justice system. They decide if someone should be charged with a crime, and recommend how long they should go to prison. Later in my career, as I worked with organizations addressing the root causes of incarceration, I realized something: for prosecutors, a case ends at sentencing, but that's just the beginning for each of the nearly 2 million people behind bars. How could I be part of a system that sends all these people to prison without wondering what happens after the gavel strikes? My job was about public safety, but I came to see that we're not getting safer communities by keeping rehabilitated people in prison. Plus, it's costly. In California, taxpayers spend over $130,000 per year to incarcerate each person. Zakaras: Seeing the broader picture, what did you do next? Blout: I pivoted to working on statewide reform and learned from leaders who had been doing this work long before me. Still, I couldn't shake the idea that prosecutors could contribute to system-wide innovations if given the chance. I searched for laws allowing prosecutors to revisit past sentences in the interest of justice, but found nothing. The very people who'd asked for long sentences had no authority to revisit them—even as sentencing norms evolved over the past 30 years. Zakaras: So you envisioned a different way forward. Tell us more. Blout: Yes. I approached fellow prosecutors asking, 'If we had a law allowing you to revisit past sentences at your discretion, would you use it?" They said yes, that sounded reasonable, and this became my starting point—getting a law passed. So in 2019, AB 2942 became the first law of its kind in the country. We've since passed this law or rule in six states, Utah being the latest. What I've learned along the way is that our justice system values 'finality' above all. So what some saw as a 'small legislative fix" created questions about the overall design of our justice system, ultimately offering a new idea for updating and improving it. Zakaras: With implications for millions, we might add. Stepping back for a minute, why are there so many harsh sentences? Blout: Starting in the late 1970s and peaking in the 1990s, 'tough on crime' and 'war on drugs" policies took hold. Legislatures passed more laws enabling longer prison sentences. Prosecutors from that era tell me they were instructed to 'get the max," referring to maximum sentences, of course, and the 1994 Crime Bill incentivized prison construction with federal funding. Fast forward to today: now we see Republicans from conservative states talking about reentry programs. Over time, we've realized that in the majority of cases, keeping people in prison longer yields diminishing returns. Once rehabilitated, people should return to their communities as contributing taxpayers, parents, caregivers, and neighbors. And coming back to costs, we can also divert some of the $80B spent annually on incarceration to preventative measures that support mental health, housing, education, and recovery from substance use. Zakaras: What might a different justice system look like? Blout: The system historically relied on indeterminate sentences, 'life' or 'virtual life' sentences, which led to very low rates of release. Prison should be what we resort to after exhausting all other viable options such as diversion, jail, or workplace reentry programs. We should be working to get people ready to return home, not working to keep them inside forever. With over 600,000 people leaving prison every year and recidivism rates between 40–70%, a system that prioritizes dignity and rehabilitation would make our communities healthier—and cost less. Zakaras: You started your organization, For The People, in 2019. How does it support prosecutors involved in resentencing? Blout: First, we help pass laws that enable prosecutors to revisit past sentences. Then, we support implementation of these laws. We help prosecutors, prison officials, and others launch resentencing units to find people who are unnecessarily incarcerated. We provide technical support, analyze data, and help identify cases that fit their criteria. We also interface with incarcerated people and families to understand their stories—their childhood, what led to their crime, what they've done since incarceration, and their future plans. Prosecutors have to feel confident when they ask a court to release someone, so we apply our tested methodology, working together to find people who are ready to come home. Once people are home, we walk alongside them and help them access key services like job training, housing, and cash stipends so they can thrive. Zakaras: How do you help prosecutors see the broader implications of their decisions, including for public safety? Blout: Recently, we brought partner prosecutors to one of the largest women's prisons in the world. They heard about people's pathways to incarceration and the consistent themes of traumatic abuse, unstable homes, foster care, role models of violence, and gangs. The humility emerges when a prosecutor says, 'I can't say that I wouldn't have done the exact same thing you did, if my circumstances were the same. How then can I cast judgment on whether you're good or bad?' This humility is where growth happens. Zakaras: And this kind of realization has ripple effects through the system, no doubt. Blout: Right. The next phase is exploring how this work transforms the justice system as a whole. Is it changing how prosecutors approach a defendant in the courtroom? Are they rethinking prison versus diversion programs? We've had prosecutors tell us, 'I was in the courtroom, and the person in front of me reminded me of someone we resentenced. It had me thinking differently.' We want to measure what 'differently' means in practice. We are also focusing on tech innovations that can help prosecutors look back more efficiently. We've partnered with data scientists at UC-Berkeley to develop a tech tool that optimizes the initial phase of the case review process. And we're working to better understand how resentencing plays out across factors like race and gender—especially for women, who are often overlooked in the criminal justice system. Zakaras: Last question, Hillary. In our hyper-polarized times, how do you maintain bipartisan support and bring everyone along with the change? Blout: As a prosecutor, I worked with colleagues across the political spectrum and on different sides of the courtroom. We could agree to disagree respectfully. When starting this work, I knew we needed diverse support. One of California's most hardcore prosecutors told me, 'I support this law. We may not agree on other things, Hillary, but on this, I agree.' So we try to build a big tent. It's okay if we don't agree on everything, but very often, there is one thing we can agree on: there are people in prison who are simply ready to come home. Hillary Blout is an Ashoka Fellow. You can read more about her here. This interview has been edited and condensed by Ashoka.
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
UFC 315: Belal Muhammad vs Jack Della Maddalena fight preview, fight card, streaming info
Montreal will play host to the Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) most anticipated fight on May 11 as America's Belal Muhammad gears up to defend his title for the first time. Belal, who made his UFC debut back in 2016, had to wait for his shot at the welterweight title — eight years, to be precise. And when the opportunity arose, he stepped up and seized it with both hands. True to his nickname 'Remember The Name', Belal secured a statement unanimous decision win over Leon Edwards at UFC 304 to clinch the belt. Like a fine wine, Belal has improved with age and has become a master strategist inside the cage, combining endurance with relentless pace. He pairs this suffocating pressure with ever-improving striking technique to systematically break down and overwhelm his opponents. His fight record is indicative of his wait-and-strike approach — just six out of his 24 professional wins have come via finishes and the rest have been decisions. The strategy was evident in his bout against Edwards. Twenty seconds into the fight, Belal initiated a successful takedown as he pinned the Englishman towards the cage and dropped him in a flash. That was perhaps an indication of what was about to unfold. ALSO READ | UFC Des Moines: Sandhagen beats Figueiredo via TKO, calls for shot at bantamweight title With a total of nine takedowns and 68 significant strikes, Belal dominated his opponent for the majority of the fight and took home a convincing victory. That win marked his sixth straight triumph, extending an impressive unbeaten streak that now spans 11 fights over the past five years. REMEMBER THE NAME 🏆@BullyB170 defeats Leon Edwards by unanimous decision to become the NEW welterweight champion of the world! [ B2YB @ForThePeople | #UFC304 ] — UFC (@ufc) July 28, 2024 Standing across from him will be Perth's Jack Della Maddalena, a fighter who is also riding a massive wave of momentum. Initially scheduled to face Edwards earlier this year, circumstances now pit him against Belal. Della enters this title opportunity on an incredible 17-fight winning streak in professional MMA. Since joining the UFC roster after impressing on Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS) in 2021, he has had seven consecutive wins, including five finishes. Belal will likely deliver grappling exchanges with relentless pressure, while Della will rely on his knockout power and finishing instincts. For Della, a victory would make him only the third Australian fighter — after Robert Whittaker and Alexander Volkanovski — to capture UFC gold. In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko prepares for the first title defence of her second reign against French contender Manon Fiorot. Shevchenko decisively reclaimed the championship from Alexa Grasso at UFC 306 last September. Now, 'Bullet' aims to demonstrate her enduring dominance as she enters her remarkable 12th consecutive flyweight title fight. Challenging her is the patient and powerful Fiorot. Since losing her professional debut, Fiorot has been undefeated, stringing together 12 wins on the trot, including seven victories within the UFC. She cemented her position as the No. 1 contender by dominating Erin Blanchfield last March. UFC 315: Muhammad vs Della Maddalena full fight card Main Event: Belal Muhammad vs Jack Della Maddalena Co-Main Event: Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fioro José Aldo vs Aiemann Zahabi Alexa Grasso vs Natalia Silva Benoît Saint Denis vs Kyle Prepolec Prelims Mike Malott vs Charles Radtke Jessica Andrade vs Jasmine Jasudavicius Modestas Bukauskas vs Ion Cutelaba Navajo Sterling vs Ivan Erslan Marc-Andre Barriault vs Bruno Silva Daniel Santos vs JeongYeong Lee Brad Katona vs Bekzat Almakhan Streaming information UFC 315: Muhammad vs Della Maddalena will be streamed live on the SonyLIV app/website. The event will also be telcast across the Sony Sports Network.
