Street Dogs: State of Grace

After retiring from professional punk rock in 1998 to fulfill his life-long dream of joining Boston’s fire department, ex-Dropkick Murphys frontman Michael McColgan put together Street Dogs in 2002 to help him vent his creative urges. Now with the band is set to release their fourth album, State of Grace, McColgan has had to take a leave of absence from the BFD in order to keep up with the demand for Street Dogs live dates (they’re playing all summer on the Warped Tour).

The Dogs play street rock the way it should be; no nonsense, no pretense and no prisoners. One listen to this and I had no problem imaging a pub packed full of punks singing their hearts out.

The band excels at larger than life choruses, sort of like Mighty Mighty Bosstones without the ska, but they’re at their best when they let McColgan’s Irish roots show, as evidenced by quieter songs “Elizabeth” and “Free,” as well as the rebel-rousing “Two Angry Kids.”

The band use “The General’s Boombox” to pay homage to Joe Strummer (if you need a hint about what band he was in, you can just leave now) in grand style, and “San Patricios” makes a good case for Irish/Mexican solidarity, which just might explain why tacos and Guinness go so well togther.

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