Count Five: Dropkick Murphys Bassman Ken Casey's St. Paddy's Day Memories

Continuing an annual tradition, the Dropkick Murphys are playing a string of seven shows to celebrate St. Patrick's Day at Boston's House of Blues. To preview the event, bassist/vocalist Ken Casey shared his top five St. Patrick's Day memories with Spinner. As an added bonus, he gave us his five favorite Irish songs of all time. Grab a green beer and join the celebration.

1. Taking my kids to the parade in South Boston for the first time is one of my favorite memories. I took my daughter when she was three and then brought my son when he was two. We always watch it on Broadway and C Street, where there's a Dropkick Murphys mural on the side of a building. There's always a bunch of people there so it's probably a little crazier than when I went as a kid, but my children handle it well. You've got to teach them early not to be intimidated by crowds. Our fans are so cool; they just want to shake your hand and hang out, so it's not like the Beatles -- or should I say Fall Out Boy -- with all the high-pitched screams.

2. Any St. Patrick's Day as a teenager was great because that's when it seemed the craziest. The parade has a couple of faces: In the morning it's a family event, and then it gets rowdier as the afternoon goes on. I like that side of it as well. I would never want to confirm or deny that I was part of it, but there were a lot of people getting into a lot of trouble in those days. It's harmless trouble, though, so you get away with a lot more. I seemed to have a nose for being in the wrong place at the wrong time for many years, but you have to be a real a--hole to get arrested on St. Paddy's Day.

3. A few years ago, we played on a float in the parade. We didn't know what to expect, but right when we turned onto Broadway at the start of the parade, there was an overwhelming cheer and we knew it was going to be incredible. We only made it about halfway before we got kicked out of the parade, which takes a lot to do. An army of a thousand kids was following our flatbed, and there was room for that on Broadway, but when we turned down into the side streets, they started trampling over all these families who had chairs set up on the sidewalk. So the cops freaked out. The parade took a left at the Gate of Heaven Church, and we went straight. My only regret is we didn't film it. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I can say that for a fact, because I know we'll never be allowed to do it again. Anyone can play the St. Patrick's Day parade, but it takes a real band to get kicked out.

4. We do a homestand of shows in Boston around St. Patrick's Day that's the highlight of our year, every year. All of our friends and family come out, and we'll have Irish step dancers and the Boston Police Gaelic Column onstage with us. The biggest guest we ever had wasn't even a person. In 2005, the Red Sox were kind enough to bring over the World Series trophy. I carried it over my head when we came out for the encore to do 'Tessie,' a song about the team. Fenway Park is right around the corner from the venue, so one of their employees literally just threw a towel over the trophy and walked it over without any security. He did the same thing at the end of the night. A friend of mine who's a cop was working the detail that night, and he decided to play a practical joke on me. He left me a voicemail saying that the kid got mugged and the trophy was stolen, so now the whole city's up in arms and they're all pissed at Dropkick Murphys because they think we lost it. I didn't get the message until 3 a.m. after the show, and it was too late to call anyone about it. I lied awake until 7 a.m., called around and found it was all a lie. They would have burned us at the stake for that one.

5. This one hasn't happened yet, but when we play on St. Paddy's Day this year, my daughter will be part of the Irish step dancers that we have performing with us. She's seven years old now, and it'll be pretty wild to have her up there with us. I think my heart will be pounding out of my chest because I'm nervous, but I think it'll be really cool.

Playlist: For my favorite Irish songs for St. Patrick's Day, I made a playlist. Start with 'Body of an American,' by the Pogues. It's just my favorite Pogues song, a rowdy singalong song. I think St. Patrick's Day should have its fair share of singalongs and then some sad ones to cry into your drink at the end of the night, maybe. Then, the Dubliners' version of 'The Irish Rover,' which has Shane MacGowan with them on it. Van Morrison, 'Wild Night,' which St. Paddy's Day tends to be. For more ballad-type stuff, Paddy Reilly's version of 'The Fields of Athenry' and the Chieftains' version of the 'The Foggy Dew,' which we always play right before we go on.