Dropkick Murphys Bring Celtic Punk Fury to Mohegan Arena

Scranton's own The Menzingers Join Celtic Punk Legends For Hometown Performance

Dropkick Murphys rolled into the Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza on Tuesday, March 11th, delivering a high-energy night of Celtic punk rock that left the Wilkes-Barre crowd roaring for more. There’s no better time to catch the lads from Massachusetts than during their annual March run, when the spirit of St. Paddy’s Day is in full swing — and the Dropkick Murphys know exactly how to make every night in March feel like a holiday.

Joining the tour this time were Scranton's own punk rock heroes, The Menzingers, and openers Teenage Bottlerocket, setting the stage for a raucous night of punk-fueled celebration.

Teenage Bottlerocket Ignites the Night

Teenage Bottlerocket kicked things off with a blistering set of pop/skate punk anthems, though the early crowd was still trickling in from the parking lot tailgate scene. Those who showed up on time were treated to a high-octane performance, with fast-paced riffs and singalong choruses that warmed up the arena for the chaos to come. The energy was palpable, and it was clear the band wasn’t holding anything back — even if some fans were still outside nursing their pre-show beers.

Hometown Heroes, The Menzingers, Deliver

By the time The Menzingers hit the stage, the floor was packed with a sea of green tees, kilts, and Guinness-fueled enthusiasm. Opening with "I Don’t Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore," the Scranton natives instantly had the crowd in the palm of their hand. Frontman Tom May joked about trying to watch his language with so many family members in the crowd — "but it just wasn’t fucking working!" The band’s 13-song set leaned on fan favorites like "Good Things" and "After the Party," but it was a particularly timely and biting performance of "America (You’re Freaking Me Out)" — dedicated to the Dropkick Murphys — that brought the loudest cheers. The local connection was strong, and the crowd responded with deafening approval.

Dropkick Murphys Bring the House Down

When the Dropkick Murphys finally stormed the stage, the arena erupted. Opening with "Captain Kelly’s Kitchen," the band wasted no time getting the crowd moving before launching into the rowdy fan-favorite "The Boys Are Back." Frontman Ken Casey wasted no time bringing the show to the fans, leading the first few rows through the rousing chorus while fan's fists pumped in the air.

Dropkick Murphys - Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre, PA

The Murphys brought the full force of their Celtic punk catalog to the Wilkes-Barre faithful, while Casey took a moment to acknowledge the long-standing love affair between the band and their Wilkes-Barre fans, shouting, “You guys are always here for us, and we love you for it!” The crowd’s deafening response proved the feeling was mutual.

As the band closed the night with a raucous encore, it was clear that the Dropkick Murphys had once again left it all on the stage. The 2025 tour continues with a stop in Uncasville, CT, before their traditional Boston takeover — a triple-header at MGM Music Hall at Fenway from March 14-16, wrapping up in style on St. Paddy’s Day at Citizens House of Blues.

March is Dropkick Murphys season — don’t miss your chance to see them before the month is up!