Rancid celebrates three decades of skank-inducing sonic mayhem with “Boston to Berkeley II,” a co-headlining tour with like-minded Punk lifers Dropkick Murphys. As might be obvious given the title of the tour, Rancid emanated from Berkeley, California in 1991, while Dropkick Murphys rose out of Boston a few years later. The latter championed the former, leading to each being affiliated with Hellcat Records for a period.
Rancid — which currently includes founder and frontman Tim Armstrong, guitarist Lars Frederiksen, bassist Matt Freeman and drummer Branden Steineckert — has dropped nine studio albums since 1993, all teeming with righteous energy and ample hooks. Long driven by the Ska fervor of Armstrong’s previous band, Operation Ivy, the quartet has incorporated more of its obsession with The Clash on recent albums, the last of which was 2017’s sleekly produced Trouble Maker.
Yet 1995’s … And the Out Come the Wolves, which was released at the height of the mid-’90s Punk revival, remains the band’s finest hour, as a quick revisit of then-MTV staples “Time Bomb,” “Roots Radicals” and “Ruby Soho” attests.
“Looking forward to hitting the road with the Dropkick Murphys again for the second edition of our Boston to Berkeley Tour,” Armstrong said when the tour was announced. “Our good buddies The Bronx will be joining us on tour as well. See ya in the pit!”
And, an important note for those who wish to get in the pit — or into any MEMI concert venue, of which the ICON is: A negative COVID test result or proof of vaccination will be required for entry starting Oct. 4.
MEMI is just the latest in a slew of venues requiring vaccinations or negative test results.
In an email, MEMI says, "The policy is being enacted in an effort to safeguard the health of concert-goers, touring artists and employees, and to prevent another shutdown of live music which devastate the business amidst the pandemic in 2020 thru May of 2021."
For concerts prior to Oct. 4, COVID requirements will be enacted upon the discretion of the artist. So far, Rancid and Dropkick haven't posted any, but Ticketmaster will update ticketholders.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18 for the Rancid and Dropkick Murphys show.
ICON Festival Stage, Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center, 25 Race St., Downtown. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com.
Sign up for our weekly newsletters to get the latest on the news, things to do and places to eat delivered right to your inbox.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
