On November 19, 2022 Dropkick Murphys finished their This Machine Theater Tour at The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The tour began on October 20 in Concord, NH, and hit several major cities along the way such as Tulsa, Brooklyn, Denver, and Reno. Supporting acts for the This Machine Theater Tour included long time friend of Dropkick Murphys, Jesse Ahern, and country music singer/songwriter Jaime Wyatt.
The energy at The Ryman Auditorium was pleasant and inviting as Boston based musician, Jesse Ahern, walked on stage. Ahern, who has previously toured with Dropkick Murphys, captivated the crowd with not only his beautiful voice, but also his amazing storytelling. He had the crowd’s undivided attention as he spoke about how he got his start, his children, and how he appreciates Dropkick Murphys for giving him a chance to live his dream. During his 35 minute set he performed the songs “Pray,” “I Drive A Truck,” and closed out with fan favorite “Logging Miles.” He also made sure to pay attention to a special fan, the first child he noticed when he walked on stage, and tossed him a shirt as a token of his appreciation. With his guitar case stating his name in bold white letters, and his humble demeanor, Ahern absolutely made several fans that night.
Second musician of the night was Nashville, Tennessee based country music singer and songwriter Jaime Wyatt. Wyatt opened the show with her hit song “Rattlesnake Girl,” and also performed “Goodbye Queen,” “Fugitive,” and The Rolling Stones cover “Wild Horses” during her 35 minute set. However, the crowd went wild when she performed her most popular song, “Neon Cross,” which is also the name of her second studio album that was released in May 2020. As the show went on it was evident how much Wyatt loves performing; with a mix of country meets soul Wyatt had couples dancing and children clapping. It was an all around amazing experience for all.
Finally it was time for Dropkick Murphys to take the stage at the beautifully restored church now known as The Ryman Auditorium. The fans packed the church pews for the final date of this tour, and began chanting “DROPKICK, DROPKICK, DROPKICK.” As the lights went low, and the first note began to play the crowd was immediately on their feet. The claps and screams roared across the venue as vocalist Ken Casey began singing the first song titled “Ten Times More.” During the approximately 1 hour 20 minute set, Dropkick Murphys performed a total of 18 songs, which included multiple fan favorites such as “Two Sixes Upside Down,” “Rose Tattoo,” “CIA,” and “Talking Jukebox.” During the song “Middle Finger,” Casey took the chance to talk to one of the children in the crowd stating, “I forgot what song I was singing, I look down, and there is a child flipping me off …you be sure to only use your middle finger during a Dropkick show, and no where else” which had the crowd wiping away tears from laughter. Casey also took the chance to recognize his mother, who was located on the front row center stage, even allowing her to have her chance with the microphone. Fans old and young were serenaded by this celtic punk band who gave it their all on stage, swaying back and forth to the music, and screaming the words to every song. The atmosphere was energetic, including the mesmerizing stage setup that consisted of multiple framed photos, beautiful rugs, and large round spotlights. With over 2.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, the energy in this venue would make you believe that they were all there. Unfortunately, the This Machine Theater Tour ended in Nashville, but luckily Dropkick Murphys have announced new tour dates for late 2022/early 2023. Click HERE for more information on where you can see them next.
Photos by: BrittMae
Keep up with Dropkick Murphys: Website //Facebook// Instagram
Keep up with Jaime Wyatt: Website// Instagram//Twitter// Facebook
