July 13, 2010 – Los Angeles, CA – The Boston bred punk band Street Dogs return to champion the working class and to re-ignite punk rock with their finest and most urgent record to date, their self-titled fifth studio album, due out on August 31 via Hellcat Records. Following the release, the band will be touring in support of the new album along with Matt Freeman’s (Rancid) side project, Devils Brigade, and this year’s Celtic punk heroes Flatfoot 56.
Co-produced by bass player Johnny Rioux and Rick Barton and engineered and mixed by Jason Livermore (Rise Against, NOFX) at the infamous punk rock recording studio The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, CO., the self-titled Street Dogs album is a vigorous testament to the band’s longevity and ability to write inspiring punk rock that touches the soul and raises the fists.
Having spent time as a soldier in Gulf War and serving his community as a firefighter, the original Dropkick Murphys’ singer Mike McColgan sings from experience and from the heart on punk anthems like “Rattle And Roll,” “Up The Union,” “Yesterday” and “The Shape of Other Men.”
“We have songs about personal empowerment, personal freedom and the search for personal redemption on our record,” explains McColgan. “We have a song called “Hang Em’ High” that talks about the corruption of Bernie Madoff and a song called “Wild In Portland” that speaks of economic downturn and it’s fallout.”
“There are also songs that eulogize our fallen friends who didn’t fair too well in the game of life and songs that praise our family and our roots. And a song entitled “Up The Union” for EFCA (Employee Free Choice Act) legislation which would make it less difficult for employees to organize labor unions and lessen the chance of employer reprisal for organizing. We’ve got a Saturday night, punk rock throwdown anthem in our song “Punk Rock And Roll” and with “Rattle And Roll.” I pay homage once again to Dorchester and Dot Rats!”
“The album is self-titled because it’s collectively as a group coming forward and saying this is our best and most definitive work so far.”
Punk rock runs deep in the veins of Street Dogs, with McColgan’s uncompromising lyrics alongside bassist Johnny Rioux, guitarists Marcus Hollar and Tobe Bean III and drummer Paul Rucker’s fist pumping street punk anthems. The band burst onto the scene in 2002 and has released a string of classic albums including 2008’s State of Grace, which critics called “a raucous and purposeful working man’s ride” (Dallas Morning News) with “the kind of political streak rarely heard since the Clash” (Cleveland Scene).
After incessant tours around the world alongside bands like The Offspring, Alkaline Trio, Anti-Flag, Reverend Horton Heat and headlining tours in US and Europe in support of State of Grace, Street Dogs will once again lead the fight against social and political injustices with their signature style of rabble rousing punk rock and the release of their fifth studio album on August 31 followed by a headlining US tour.
Raise your fists and pint glasses with Street Dogs this fall!