Bands: Bad Religion, Dropkick Murphys
Tour: The Summer of Discontent
Venue: Pier 17, NYC
City: NYC
Date: Saturday, August 9, 2025

The Rooftop at Pier 17 is a pretty wild place for a punk show — skyline views, the Brooklyn Bridge right there, and enough breeze off the East River to keep the August heat from turning you into soup. The night kicked off with The Mainliners, who came in hot with a sound straight out of the early LA punk scene. They had that raw, snappy energy that immediately reminded me of The Adolescents. Their set was short but tight, and their closer, “No Mas Tequila,” had the crowd laughing and singing along. It’s always a win when an opener leaves you wishing for a few more songs.

Bad Religion was next. These guys have been at it for decades, and they’re still razor-sharp. The setlist was everything I could have hoped for: “No Control,” “Supersonic,” and a personal favorite of mine, “I Want to Conquer the World,” all hit with the same urgency they had the first time I heard them. “21st Century (Digital Boy)” got a huge crowd singalong, and they closed with “American Jesus,” sending the whole place into a frenzy. They’re proof that when a band truly loves what they do, the energy never fades.

Dropkick Murphys playing on their 2025 Summer of Discontent tour stop at The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Sat, 9 Aug 2025. (Photo by James Zambon / James Zambon Photography / @_thejames)

There’s something about seeing Bad Religion live that makes you appreciate the simplicity and directness of punk. No filler, no overproduction, just smart lyrics, tight playing, and a mutual respect between the band and the audience. Even in an open-air rooftop venue, their sound felt like they were playing for you and your friends. That’s a rare trick to pull off.

Then came Dropkick Murphys, and… where do I even start? The second they hit the stage, it was like a switch flipped. They opened with “Who’ll Stand With Us?” and the energy just skyrocketed from there. You could see how much they love their fans and playing together — it’s in every grin, every stomp, every shout into the mic. From the pit in front of the stage to people strolling the Brooklyn Bridge in the background, everyone stopped to take in the show. Even a couple of helicopters seemed to hover a little longer than usual.

Ken Casey’s crowd banter was as sharp as ever, leaning right into the Boston vs. New York rivalry. At one point, he asked which New York institution the crowd wanted him to (ahem…) “trash”: “the Yankees, or Trump?” If you’re reading a review about a Dropkick Murphys show, you know which one got the louder cheer. The back-and-forth with the crowd added a layer of fun you just don’t get from every band, and it made the whole thing feel like a bunch of drunk friends enjoying one of those special nights that they know will only happen so often.

By the time the night wrapped up, it felt like one of those shows you’re going to think about for a long time. Three very different takes on punk, all in one perfect setting, with an absolutely epic view. Pier 17 might not be a typical punk-rock venue, but it turns out punk rock looks pretty damn good against the Manhattan skyline.