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Truth in the Barrel
UNFILTERED | In Conversation With Ken Casey Of Dropkick Murphys
00:36:43
In this special episode of Truth In The Barrel, Denver talks with Ken Casey, the lead singer/songwriter of Dropkick Murphys about their new album – dropping July 4th – traveling and recording in Ukraine, his veterans initiatives and personal...
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- [00:00]
Dan
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- [00:20]
Ken Casey
Sasha hated sand, the way it stuck to things for weeks. So when Matty shared a surf trip on Expedia Trip Planner, he hesitated. Then he added a hotel with a cliff pool to the plan and they both spent the week in the water. You were made to follow your whims. We were made to help find a place on the beach with a pool and a waterfall and a soaking tub and of course, a great shower. Expedia made to travel. Hey everybody.
- [00:59]
Dan
Welcome to a very special Truth in the Barrel. Today we're going to be interviewing Ken Casey, the lead singer Dropkick Murphy's. He has a new album coming out on July 4th, but we're going to talk about how personal that album is and all the things that he has done for veterans overseas, globally. But actually supporting Truth and Facts and fighting against the algorithm, it's amazing what we're about to do. So I hope everybody joins us with Ken Casey coming up right now, make sure you subscribe, make sure you're downloading your podcast and make sure you follow us on socials because this is going to be a banger. Well, buddy, welcome to Truth in the Barrel, man. And we call this a different kind of Whiskey rebellion, but it's just great to see you, buddy. And this is a very special edition of Truth in the Barrel because to have you on here, you know, after seeing each other in Ukraine and you know, I was telling the team and by the way, behind the scenes, everybody's applauding right now that you're on. I just want to let you know there's people, producers, our researchers, our writers, right? They're so excited to see you today. But it's so special that I got to meet you there. And I want to tell people when we get started, you know how we met. I walked across the border. I know you were already there in Ukraine. Walked across the border. The person with me was late. So we had to grab a taxi to the actual Polish and Ukrainian border and walk across. Then I had to negotiate a taxi on the other side to get the leave. Then we took an all night train, a red eye train from Lviv to Kiev. And two, three hours later, I was singing with you in a video in Ukrainian right in Kiev. It's just incredible, right, man?
- [02:33]
Ken Casey
Yeah, I just. Actually, they just sent me. The studio just sent me a little clip of, you know, because I've got some stuff to finish on that song. And they sent me the. And the chorus is already done. And you, you. You can hear you loud as loud and clear on that. Do I have a.
- [02:50]
Dan
Do I have a rock and roll voice? Should I have been a singer?
- [02:53]
Ken Casey
Ken, we can hear you. For better or worse.
- [02:59]
Dan
Can they use like auto turt, like auto tune or something like that for no in Ukrainian.
- [03:05]
Ken Casey
You sound good.
- [03:07]
Dan
Shit. Listen, thank you for sending me an advanced copy of your album. My wife and I listened to it and, you know, I'm taking her to your concert on her birthday, which is so incredible. Right? So. So we listened to it last night. Right. But I gotta ask you, buddy, you wrote for the people, and I want to start something. I want to start easy because it's going to get tough. Okay, Are you ready? Are you ready? So the first song I want to talk about is Chesterfields and Aftersh and it seemed like it was about your grandfather. Am I correct?
- [03:41]
Ken Casey
Correct. Yep.
- [03:42]
Dan
Yes. And I want to ask you. There was something that you told me when we were talking, right. And a couple times that we're texting and when I look at the album cover for the people you talk about, you know, people that are real, like people that care for others. And I'm definitely going to get to the who Will Stand With Us video. Right? So you talk about people that care for others, but when you go back to your grandfather. So for my grandfather was. It was old Milwaukee beer and aftershave. Honestly, that's why the song almost put a tear in my eye when I listened to it, man. What was your grandfather like? And how does that shape what you're doing today as far you're outspoken about workers, about veterans, which, you know, my heart is full as an Air Force veteran. What you do. How did your grandfather shape who you are today? I know this. I said I was going to start easy and I start question about your grandpa. But how does he shape, you know, the music that you write, what you believe in, and the people that you keep around you?
- [04:37]
Ken Casey
Sure. Well, I mean, obviously both my grandfathers, like most people, both my grandparents, grandfathers were World War II era veterans. And my father's mother, who that song was about, you know, my father died when I was 8 years old and there's a song about that on the record as well, Street Lights and about the day he died. I was actually at my grandparents house when I got the call that he died. But my grandfather just stepped into that role. So as an 8 year old he stepped into it to teach me, you know, everything from, you know, sports to how to defend myself and. And then as, as I grew a little older, he stepped into the role of like, you know, somewhat of a disciplinarian. When my mother like really couldn't control me, I was pretty wild stuff, you know, role like. Yeah. So to have that role as someone who kind of, you know, kept me in check, which you know, every kid needs, especially when they're, you know, rebelling and whatnot. So anyway, he was a label guy and just shaped my worldviews and he just, I think is probably the most responsible for the way I am today. For better or worse.
- [05:54]
Dan
You know. The other song that I want to talk about is Feeding for the Lies. And first of all, I want to say the intro, the intro absolutely blew me away. And when people listen to this album, I think they're just going to re. Listen to the intro for Feeding for the Lies a few times. Right? It's so freaking good.
- [06:07]
Ken Casey
Good man.
- [06:08]
Dan
But you know, I always said that mag is a bit of like crack, you know who. For the people who can't think or have the ability to discern. But in Feeding for the Lies, when I listened to it over and over again, I'm like, gosh, did Ken have a specific lies or specific things he was thinking about right when he was actually writing the song? And when you're talking about conspiracy theories and things like that, that's where I go to. But what were you thinking about Ken? Because Feeding for the Lie seems like you had some specific things in mind for that.
- [06:35]
Ken Casey
I mean now the overall arching theme of that song is just the algorithm, you know, the, the social media algorithm that takes so many people down a hole that in many times they never come back from it. We use them to, you know, QAnon or wherever they go next. But to have a song, I don't know, the word algorithm is like, yeah, it's a little too freaking scientific for a song. So we actually the words only sung at the very end. I, I say the lies, lies, lies on the algorithm and that's kind of stepped on by the backups saying lies, lies lives over me. So we just want to kind of have the word in there but not really focus on it too much. You know, it's just basically like, you know, you could be, let's say you're a gun guy, you're Just a gun enthusiast, you know, you're not right, you crazy conspiracy guy. But all of a sudden, because you're a gun guy, your feed is all of a sudden telling you a bunch of other shit they think you want to hear, you know, next thing you know, what are you talking about? That's got to be true because I see it, you know, every time. Let's go to the most extreme thing, that JFK is coming back from the dead and he's going to be friggin Trump's running mate. What you do, you were a normal guy six months ago, you know, and now Facebook tells you. And I'm just saying, like, I've watched so many people just. And now fast forward years later and now we can't even discern the truth when we can actually watch it with our own two eyes. Like it could be an actual video of something happening and people wouldn't even take that as fact. And so it's like, how do we ever get back to truth, reality when it can? People can always just use the narrative that, that they want to believe or that's fed to them over and over again. It's really scary, man. And you know, and you think, like, I love when I hear in other countries when they talk about, like in school, they're teaching kids how to figure out what a deep fake is or how to, to discern, you know, truth from, from fiction. And in America, we're doing the opposite. We're burning books and we're telling people they, you know, they can't teach certain truths anymore. And it's like, you know, there's that movie. What's that movie? God, it's that comedy.
- [09:06]
Dan
Was it Idiocracy?
- [09:07]
Ken Casey
Idiocracy. It's like, it's not even a comedy anymore. It's like the truth, but it's actually happening faster than they predicted in, in the movie. You know.
- [09:20]
Dan
It'S almost like Idiocracy was a documentary, wasn't it, buddy?
- [09:23]
Ken Casey
Right? Yeah, but you can get away with it now because you can just see these constant barrage of a narrative that eventually wears a lot of people down and convinces them because they've heard it so many times over and over again. It must be true. They must. This immigrants are all pouring over the border to rape and murder everyone. You know, I came out of Lowe's the other night and I was trying to put an air conditioner in my car. And I'm sitting there and it's, it's just the boxes too. My back was full and I'M trying to fit it into the back seat, but the door is not opening quite wide enough. And I'm trying to hold it up while I push it in there. Four or five white people just walk right by me, right, well, let me out this summer. Who stops this, you know, probably Central American guy or something. They had broken English. You need help, you know, and helps me. I go and see, these are the people we're trying to run out of here, you know, And I'm not, You know, that was just one anecdote, but you know what I mean? It's like, you know, but, man, if you're listening to what Donald Trump says, you know, I better grab my wallet and clutch my pearls when that guy comes over to my car, you know, and that's just. That's. That's. That's a narrative that's just not true. It's just.
- [10:37]
Dan
Well, Kent, I don't know if Trump would stop to help you, man, right now, right?
- [10:40]
Ken Casey
No, Trump wouldn't piss. He wouldn't piss on me if I.
- [10:43]
Dan
Was on fire because I saw your concert. I saw you calling out the guy with the bag of hat. Trust me, brother, I. I don't. Yeah, I don't think Trump would be stopping or any of his friends. And, you know, it's funny when you talk about algorithms, buddy, listen, you know, you're a huge advocate for veterans. And, you know, I did a movie again called Against All Enemies about the algorithm radicalizing veterans. We also saw on January 6, there was just a huge amount of veterans, more than honestly the national percentage of the population. It was significant with veterans and law enforcement that were part of January 6th, with you being a big advocate of veterans, and I know this is a difficult question. I mean, do you see veterans? Do you see our ability with some of these people who are part of militia movements and things like that, which I know them very well. Do you see any way to bring them back? And I just know how much you love veterans, you know, and it just warms my heart. But do you see any way to bring them back? You know, especially with the radicalization you see based on your song Fending for the Lies, right, The algorithms that people sort of latch onto.
- [11:46]
Ken Casey
Well, as a non veteran, I don't want to, you know, overstep my boundaries, but as an outsider, you know, you have people that are obviously taught and trained to be fighters and that. And that's what they do on behalf of our country. And, you know, and even if they don't have to fight, they're prepared to. And they have my ultimate respect and they're signed up for their job, as you have, so that guys like me can, you know, play music and the debt of gratitude for that. But, you know, you, you train people for that skill and here they are on the home front and they're being riled up to, you know, a point of madness by what they're being told. And it makes sense that that would be the audience that would be most likely to, you know, maybe take up arms and take action because they've been in some ways trained to do it. I don't know if it's true, but I heard that Fox News has played on, in, in a lot of, on all the bases.
- [12:54]
Dan
Yeah, it is.
- [12:55]
Ken Casey
Okay, so then, I mean, to me that would be the, the, the main, you know, reason you could see people in the military because that then they wouldn't be getting the other side of the, of the coin. They would just be. And you know, in Fox News is just, it's so you could say what you want. People say, well, both sides. It's a narrative on both sides. Maybe there is, I, I, there's only one side that I see like screaming and yelling and just, you know, really, you know, making this like, almost like entertainment, like hate, hate based entertainment, you know, in the sense that it's really not news. It's a, it's a TV show. You know, so if that's what's played on all the bases, I, I would, I would think, of course, the, the rates of radicalization must be higher.
- [13:43]
Dan
Yeah. I mean, buddy, I know you're gonna be like, oh, God, Dan, really? You know, I've been on every network, right? I've been on abc, NBC, cbs, msnbc, cnbc, Fox Business, Fox News, newsmax. I was even on One America News once where the guy actually hit me with a conspiracy theory, Ken. And I, that was the last time I was on One American News because I pushed back. Like, are you nuts? Right? And why I'm no longer Republican, as you know, you know, me and you've had some of those discussions when you talk about veteran causes. I feel like it's veterans too, that might be able to pull us out of some of this funk. But there's just, you know, so little of them. And, but I know that you're big. What are some of your favorite veteran causes for us to support and things like that that you're actually part of right now or where you want people to go?
- [14:36]
Ken Casey
Well, I've our foundation not to put, you know, Direct things to what we do. But the, the Bands foundation, the Collatta Fund, part of who we raise money for is to help veterans and I niche in it is substance abuse treatment. You know, you have obviously mental health and suicide, but what, what we do is focus on substance abuse treatment because obviously you can't get the mental health you need if you're, until you, I mean it's a hand in hand problem. Get, you cannot get proper mental health if you're self medicating. So we're, we're pretty hands on with the veteran community and trying to send people away to some treatment places that we have access to that are not like insurance based. I'm talking, you know, mostly 12 step based out in the woods, in a cabin down there for four months. No frills, you know, no, no petting horses and yoga, you know, just a boat like, you know, trying to really get better. And you know, that's, that's kind of, I think we take a lot of pride in when we can help a veteran get, you know, because it falls back to what we're talking about with Trump's cuts because, you know, they're falling through the cracks with the VA in a lot of instances and it's probably only going to get worse.
- [16:04]
Dan
Well, I know the administrator for the va, Doug Collins, actually served with him, Ken. And to say there's a lack of talent there would be an understatement.
- [16:12]
Ken Casey
Right.
- [16:12]
Dan
I mean he, he doesn't even know what his own organization is doing. But I got, you know, thank you for sending me. I'm going to be the, the golf tournament stuff. I'm, I'm coming, brother. Right? I'm going to be there. Oh yeah, yeah. So I'm going to be there, right? And I'm going to get a five some. But I saw that you had this top line like I saw the sponsorship packages because I want to, you know, because I'm all into helping these, you know, as, you know, as a former, as a former Air Force member and what you're doing is hero work. But I saw that there's this top line on your golf thing, man. It says that coming soon that you can pay, you know, to play golf with a celebrity. So I'm like, do I get the five some now and do that sponsorship or do I wait for the celebrity, right, to help veterans? So I don't know what to do here, Ken. So I'm going to ask your opinion. Should I just go ahead and sign up or should I wait?
- [16:59]
Ken Casey
The sponsors all get A celebrity. So, you know, if you want to get a celebrity, you know, truth be told, why we started doing that is making the only that next level get a celebrity. Because, let's face it, it's Boston. We got. We got some celebrities, but it's not LA or New York, you know what I mean? So. And we have 27 holes, so there's something like 40 foursomes. And when I had to go find 40 celebrities for every group, you know what, you know, we're down to like the Sunday morning weatherman, you know what I mean?
- [17:31]
Dan
And, well, hey, buddy, if you need. If you need like a Z level celebrity for a group, I can help you out. I know a guy.
- [17:38]
Ken Casey
I know a guy. And I. And I would firmly put you in the E to F level celebrity.
- [17:44]
Dan
Oh, well, thank you, man.
- [17:47]
Ken Casey
I'm right with you in that level. So, you know, but, you know, we, we do have a bunch of former, mostly athletes that put, you know, play that. Boston's been great and all the, the great athletes have mostly stayed and, you know, live here now because it was such a good place for their career that they stay around. So it's a lot of, A lot of Boston legends. So.
- [18:09]
Dan
Oh, I. I can't wait. And, you know, I want to. So listen, there's this. First of all, I gotta ask you, because you're a big enough celebrity, I mean, can you get Leo DiCaprio? I know that your song and the Departed really set the tone for the entire movie. Is Leo gonna be there?
- [18:26]
Ken Casey
You know, I. When we started this tournament 16 years ago now, Barbie or hosted with me for probably the first 10 years. And, and when we would. When we were talking about, like, who should we go after for celebrities? And he said, fuck those. A list is. They all want flights and hotels and limos. He goes, are we trying to raise money for a good cause? Are we trying to fucking rack up bills paying for a list celebrities? So, no, no offense to Leo.
- [18:57]
Dan
Well, I was going to say I need a private plane if I'm coming up, by the way. So I just want to let you know, you know, if you could send me one of those. But, you know, it says. So there's a lot of people say, you know, musicians, right, they should just shut up and sing and not be political or something like that. I mean, is that, you know, it's interesting to me when you see the people that speak up for maga, but if you had people come at you with that, with everything you're doing for veterans, with you speaking up with calling out the hypocrisy and incredible songs that you're doing right now. Do you have people like, you know what, Ken? You should just.
- [19:27]
Ken Casey
Can.
- [19:27]
Dan
You should just shut up and sing, man. You're just a fricking musician. Do you get any of that anytime? Because I do hear it from some of those folks.
- [19:34]
Ken Casey
Yes, of course. Then I hear it all the time. And it's basically for the people that, like, they don't want. They want to be able to listen to us, but they don't want it to ruin their vibe, you know what I mean? Because they want us to. They want us to stay apolitical. And I get that not every listener, you know, goes that deep on the band's history or inner workings to know that, like, we've always, you know, been political. The first. The first line of the first song on our first album is the one Steel type fabric of the union man was sold and bought it away Led by Money Wolves and the Raggin Years Cut adrift in these greedy greed and lies or something. I forget what the last one goes, but, you know, we're right off the rip in the first line of our first song on our first album. And it's like, you know, but, you know, when you're singing about Reagan or you were singing about Bush, you know, for guys in punk bands, you didn't have an army of trolls coming after you like you do if you talk about Donald Trump. So a lot of people keep their head down in bands. And then the other flip side is the fans are just outraged that we would speak our mind. And I say, hey, this is what makes America actually great, that we can speak our mind and sing about what's inspired us. And since when did it have to be, if you. You don't like my president, you can rot in hell. I'll burn your records. I won't come to Thanksgiving dinner with you. It's like, what? Like, you know, I. You know, I've always had political differences with people, and it was always a laugh and a, you know, like, whatever, like a conversation. And now it's like, I can't listen to your music because I don't like your politics. I can't be your friend anymore because I don't like your politics. It's like, what has happened? And here's the thing. If America gets a more kind and caring and empathetic person in the White House next time, none of it matters if we can't find common ground as people again, because what is it going to be? Just this constant ping pong back, back and forth from dictatorship to not to bet, you know, so it's like, I feel like we really got to start to, like, tone down the rhetoric. But how do you tone down the rhetoric when, you know, Minnesota lawmakers are being murdered in their homes and the president can't even offer, you know, sincere condolences, you know, refused to do it. That's why I always put it back to him. He's, you know, when. I'm not saying that the pump wasn't ready to be primed, but he came and he primed that pump of hate and division, you know, and he keeps stoking it.
- [22:37]
Dan
Do you think?
- [22:37]
Ken Casey
Along with many others, you know, but.
- [22:39]
Dan
Oh, my goodness, yeah. And I, you know, and I'm gonna. It's interesting that you said that because, you know, when I listen to Kid Games, right. When on, on the album, it seemed like that was the. That literally was the new anthem of We Didn't Start the Fire by Billy Joel, right. That you sort of wrote it because there's a, There's a line that says we watch it all burn down in flames playing silly kids games. And, you know, when I was listening to kids Games, you know, I was. It just seems to be a much more realistic and hard version of We Didn't Start the Fire, but with really the, the slant of what's happening right now in the 2000s, not the 1990s. Right. Are you optimistic? I mean, when I, When I, When I hear Kids Games, right? I'm like, man, I don't think Kenny's that optimistic about what's happening, but is there still some optimism down in there? Or we. Are we just fighting a rear guard action here? You know, as we go forward, I.
- [23:39]
Ken Casey
Think the majority of Americans have that empathy, have a view, you know, Like, I just saw a poll the other day of, like, how many people, like, consider themselves, like, ashamed to be American. Like, it's 4th of July and I haven't put my flag out yet. And I fight that battle because it's like, I don't want to let the far right take my flag away from me. I'm a proud American. But at the same time, to put a flag out right now is almost like saying it's. It's cool. You know, we can just. We can just pretend that these wrongs aren't happening and I'll go have my hamburger and hot dog, you know? You know, America's in distress, you know, so I think the majority of Americans want to. And it was. We'll always have disagreements of how far we should go with, you know, whether it, you know, immigration and all that. But, but like, if we can we bring some empathy back to it. I think that there's, I think the majority of Americans do not want this cruel treatment. They don't want alligator Alcatraz. Cut the shit. You know, like treat no matter who they are, like with some decency. And I think that that is what gives me hope, that I think that, and I think you'll see that in the next election that clearly a lot of Americans that voted for Trump are going to go. We didn't vote for this, you know, God, I hope.
- [25:15]
Dan
Because, buddy, they're selling merch for Alligator Alcatraz right now. I don't know if you saw that or not. Yeah.
- [25:21]
Ken Casey
If you're a big enough shit bag to wear that merch, then you deserve to friggin burn in hell.
- [25:27]
Dan
You know, I'm actually completely in line with you on that, my friend.
- [25:31]
Ken Casey
So this, it probably ain't made in America.
- [25:35]
Dan
It's probably made in Nicaragua, right, buddy? It's. Listen, I'm tracking, I'm tracking what you're doing. And so you got four of the people. What's incredible is you don't want, I don't want them to take our flag either. Right. I, I salute the flag. I put my hand over the heart of the tension, right. When we play the national anthem. Right. It's part of my military training and it's part of my respect for the flag, my love for this country. Right. And the service. Right. That I gave to our country. And what's amazing about what you're doing is that for the people, releases on the 4th of July, which I think is you saying you're not going to take, you know, me being an American away from me. And I just think that's an incredible thing that you're doing there, buddy.
- [26:19]
Ken Casey
Yeah, that was definitely for. There was a purpose to that, you know. You know, the impact they'll actually have is minimal. Somewhat like the impact I had on Mark Zuckerberg when I decided to get off Facebook and Instagram on my own, as in a form of protest. And his stock still seemed to be doing well. But, you know, but sometimes little protesters, you know, all little statements, they add up if enough people are thinking like that. And so we, we wanted to kind of, yeah. Reclaim fourth of July for the people, you know, I hope that people.
- [27:00]
Dan
I hope everybody gets this. I think there's something about somebody who, who writes so close to the bone Right. Not to use bury the bones right, as part of the pun there, but you really write close to the bone, right? When I was listening to all this and, you know, your love for veterans, your love for this country, seeing Ukraine, but there's a song on here that you really end with, which is One Last Goodbye. And I noticed that you had names in the song, but also I wondered, was this about your grandfather, your dad? Was it a corollary about somebody else? Was it also. Was the country put in there? Cause you talk about Joe, Sinead and Kirstie in that song. And I wanted to know about One Last Goodbye because I, I listened to the album, but I went back to that song. Like, how. What is. Where do you. You know, it's incredible, right? The way that you do, you end the album, but with One Last Goodbye. Was that also about grandfather, dad? Was that about your family? No, that's such a.
- [28:03]
Ken Casey
That it's actually about Shane McGowan, the singer of the Pogues who passed away, you know, oh, my gosh. And, you know, he was just kind of, you know, you know, poet for the ages, as the song, as the line in the song says. And he kind of inspired so much of my generation, especially a kid growing up in a city like Boston where, you know, here I am, a young punk rock fan, but I'm also raised in this, like, extreme Irish saturated culture. And, you know, in the 80s and in Boston, it wasn't, you know, oh, you're Irish because you might have a last name and, you know, you know, they came over in the family. No, like, everybody, you know, around me, parents, grandparents, like that, they were born in Ireland. And the, the music was just ingrained in me. And so when the Pogues came along and combined the two styles of music that I liked, it was like. And even the words in this songs, it was like they were telling my life story. So the song was like my, My personal view of, like, first hearing the Pogues, first seeing the Pogues live that experience, and then going on to get to record with Shane McGowan with Dropkick Murphy's tour with the Pogues and be, you know, become someone that, you know, we got to know each other. And so it was just a tribute to him. And, you know, he's a special. I mean, you know, he's effective when, you know, I'm. I'm lucky enough to call Bruce Springsteen a friend and, you know, but you don't. You don't blow up Bruce if you got Bruce's cell phone, you know, you don't blow up Bruce all the time. It better be important or a good cause if you're calling Bruce and. And I. And on occasion Bruce will reach out to me, but you never hear from Bruce Springsteen at 11 o' clock at night. And I get a call the night after Shane died from Bruce Springsteen at 11 o' clock at night. And he was, you know, have. Having a few drinks and listening to Pogue's album and he was all sentimental and talking about how much Shane had impacted him. And he actually visited Shane at his house not long before he passed. And you know, so that's the kind of effect it had on, On a lot of. On musicians top to bottom, you know what I mean? In terms of how great a songwriter he was. And on the bridge of that song, we switch the melody and go into a traditional song called Mogao Mea. And the. The reason we did that is that was the song that was played and sung as his casket left the church. So we wanted to kind of give an, you know, an ode to that. And then we go back into our chorus but keeping the melody of that song. So. And that song sung and sung in Irish. We have an Irish band that we're friendly with called the Scratch. Singing Irish. Hey, but if I could sing in Ukrainian, I'll be able to learn to sing those pots in Irish too.
- [31:18]
Dan
You know, I was gonna say you were great in Ukraine. I don't know how to even how to follow up on the story you just told there, Ken. It's so powerful. I mean, you just wrapped a story about the Pogues, your album, the song releasing on 4th of July with getting a call from Bruce Springsteen 11pm at night and going to sing with another group in Irish and linking that to our Ukrainian trip. I don't know how to beat that.
- [31:45]
Ken Casey
All roads all crossed right there.
- [31:48]
Dan
Yeah, everything crossed it. It was incredible. Is with that. Do you think this is your most personal album?
- [31:57]
Ken Casey
That's a good question. It feels it. You know what I mean? It definitely feels it, you know. Yeah, in a while. Anyway. I. Yeah, we. We had, I think throughout the years and when you tell them, you know, we've always, like you said, tried to write Close to the Bone and we've always written about things that we were moved by and inspired by and angered by and uplifted by. So it's been a theme that we've tried to do. But I think, you know, if you talk about the last five years, the last two albums we did prior to this were acoustic albums. Where we took Woody Guthrie's unpublished lyrics and put them to music because there was no music to them. So well, so their lyrical content wasn't even us. And then the album before that, which was our last original album, Turn up, that Dial, was in Covid. And we didn't want to write about COVID because it was kind of depressing. So what we turned to for that album was writing about the music that inspired us. Because I listened to more music during the cold, you know, the old vinyl came out, you know what I mean? And you really got to think about music and stuff. And so that's what was the kind of motivating theme of that. So you're going back a long time in our lives since we got like personal like this, you know. So in some of these songs that are personal, like I never thought I'd write a song about the day my father died. You know what I mean? I just didn't, you know, I can remember it like it was yesterday, you know, in the street lights. I was at my grandparents house, you know, I stayed with them that night and my father took his own life and our home and my, you know, my. One of my uncles called my grandfather and I was sitting at the table. My grandfather immediately went to shave, to go to the funeral home. And my grandmother took me in and we prayed. They had a statue of Mary in their living room and we. She had me kneel down with her and we said 10 Hail Marys. And then he told me he died. And so like, you know, and it's, you know, I don't have super clear memories of a lot at that age, but I do of that moment. And you know, this is our 13th album and I didn't write that song for 13 albums. It's like it always kind of goes to show you that like, if you're creative, you never know when the time's gonna happen that you might, you know, be ready to tell a story about your life. You know.
- [34:37]
Dan
I think, you know, it's really difficult listening to story about your dad, grandfather, you know, because, you know, I think all of us have some of those memories, right, that are difficult and things like that. But yours are, you know, particularly painful. And I think it does come out in your music, Ken. And I think it's part of why you're so God dang tough. I think it's why you support veterans the way you do. I think it's why you're not afraid to go into harm's way. If you think it's the Right thing to do. And I think you're the very reason why a creative musician with the life that you had should be speaking out, you know, and it's something where, you know, it's something I talk to you forever about, you know, your dad and how it shaped you and your grandfather and your family and the Pogues and everything we talked about here. But I think it goes back to the inspiration of you are for the people who actually are real and living their lives and have to deal with idiots that are, you know, trying to manipulate them and the things that happen. It pisses you off. And I think you have this huge anti bully soul. And I tell you, I really appreciate it. And I think I feel very fortunate that I got to meet you in Ukraine, Ken, and the support that you have with so many people. And what we're going to do, I'm going to make sure we put up the link for your veterans group. Going to make sure we tell people about your album because I think your album is more than music. I think it's so close to the bone. I think it's so relevant to today. I think it's so personal that I hope this is the biggest thing you've ever done. It's not because I just like you. I think it's important. So sorry if I wax a little philosophical there for you, buddy, but you.
- [36:14]
Ken Casey
Really touched me today. Thank you. Thank you for inspiring being one of the people that inspired us, how you stood up for the country when. When we needed you the most, you know, so, you know, people who put the country over their job and they want, you know, like that's that. That's when it's. That's when you know you're dealing with a real one. So thanks for being a real one, buddy.
- [36:38]
Dan
You're a real one. And on August 16th, I'm going to celebrate with my wife and I a real one. When we listen to you play, brother. Right, man. And I got you.
- [36:46]
Ken Casey
That's her birthday. It's not about you. It's whatever she wants. She wants a song. She wants anything. It's not about Denver. It's always about Denver. Not on the 16th.
- [36:54]
Dan
That. On the 16th.
- [36:56]
Ken Casey
See you.
- [36:58]
Dan
God. She's gonna listen to the show because God dang, I should have married Ken Casey. So, you know, but brother, I love you. Thank you for taking your time today, you know, and I hope people sign up and our pod sort of exploding. We do have tens of thousands downloads. I mean, a lot of people are gonna hear this, but I want them to hear it. Not you Are for the People. But it's not just about the album. I think it's about your soul, buddy. And I appreciate everything that you do and I can't wait to see you here next month.
- [37:25]
Ken Casey
Appreciate you too, buddy. Look forward to seeing you. Psst. Here's a list of reasons to use Instacart. The game is on. The game just ended. The next game is on. Life is busy. But with Instacart you really don't ever have to leave the couch. Do with this information what you will. So download the Instacart app and get whatever you crave for the game and whatever else you need delivered in as fast as as 30 minutes. Plus enjoy. Zero dollar delivery fees on your first three grocery orders. Instacart we're here. Service fees apply. Three orders in 14 days. Excludes restaurants.
- [38:02]
Dan
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