First, they “Shipped Up to Boston” and soon, they’ll be “Streaming Outta Fenway.” The Boston-based Dropkick Murphys will be performing live from an otherwise empty Fenway Park this Friday.
Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey said they’ve been planning the coronavirus-era show since they first live-streamed their annual St. Patrick’s Day concert in early March.
“We had been setting our sights toward the nicer weather and to be able to use the distance to play together as a whole band and nothing says summer in Boston like Fenway Park,” Casey told Jim Braude on WGBH News’ Greater Boston Wednesday.
The concert is free, but the band will be raising money for organizations such as the Boston Resiliency Fund, Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston and Feeding America.
Not only will the band become the first ever to play a show in an empty sports stadium, but they’ll also become the first to play from the park’s infield diamond.
“In season, they got that infield like holy ground. So, the only reason they’ve been kind enough to let us in there is they don’t have a looming game coming up in a day or two. So, this has never before been done,” he explained. “We’re very excited.”
While the band is set to perform without fans in the stands, they’re expecting one special guest up on the jumbotron: Bruce Springsteen. Casey said the band will perform a “Fenway Double Play,” where they will cover one of Springsteen’s songs and he’ll sing one of theirs.
“He is such a musician’s musician; he does just want to play. This is for charity and when it comes to good causes there’s nobody better,” he said. “We’re grateful to have someone like him to be involved with us but also who taught us how to carry ourselves in music.”
When it comes to the future of live music post-COVID-19, Casey said the industry won’t go unscathed.
“I think speculation will drive you crazy. I definitely think we will be one of the most affected businesses in the long run. Because especially in our nature of music, we want people piled in on top of each other,” he said.
But he remains optimistic that one day, the Dropkick Murphys will be able to play for their fans in person again.
“I have a lot of belief in the scientists out there and I think that hopefully, we’ll come up with something to get us back to normal,” Casey said.
