MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES BRANDISH A VIBRANT INTESITY AT THEIR HOMETOWN THROWDOWN

Over the course of it’s now 22-year run, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones have used their time with their legendary Hometown Throwdown weekend to showcase bands from all over the world. However, the 2019 installment had a much heavier Boston-centric presence throughout the bill, and more specifically, this year’s matinee finale was as much of a hometown show as you can have – and it felt damn good.

With the help of Big D and The Kids Table, as well as appearances by Doped Up Dollies, The Dogmatics, Dave Fredette of the Upper Crust and The Titanics, and Mike McColgan of Street Dogs peppered into different points of the show, the Bosstones closed yet another banger of a weekend – and the decade – with a roaring setlist that delved into a healthy dose of both hits and deep cuts, which seemed like a fitting way to entertain the multi-generational crowd full of ska dads and skankers-in-training alike who filled Boston’s House of Blues.

Big D and The Kids Table

Dave Fredette

Doped Up Dollies

The small army of plaid-clad ska punks took the stage together at nearly 6:15 on the dot on Sunday night, and wasted no time getting things started with “The Magic Of Youth,” as frontman Dicky Barrett strutted his way to the edge of the stage to greet the crowd with his “scary voice,” thick shades, and open arms. What followed over the next hour and a half was a true team effort, which only gives further credence to the band’s good-natured and inclusive vibe, as Barrett shared the spotlight with each and every member of the iconic nine-piece as the show steamrolled its way down Landsdowne Street.

Mighty Mighty Bosstones

MMB

Although Barrett took a number of opportunities to chat with the crowd throughout the show, the band steadily burned through the setlist with their youthful energy and veteran intensity, as they scorched through tunes like “The Rascal King,” “Someday I Suppose,” “Everybody’s Better,” “Don’t Worry Desmond Dekker,” and “They Will Need Music” before closing out the first part of their set with, of course, “The Impression That I Get.”

MMB

Every year of the Throwdown has its own special ingredient that keeps it fresh and unique. In terms of its 22nd year as Boston’s best ska-punk holiday party, though, the plaid boys of Boston were better than ever, and even after nearly 40 years, their power, excitement and energy – not only with their fans, but with each other, as well – is still potent as all hell, and shows no signs of slowing down.