History
In 1997, McColgan left Dropkick Murphys "to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming a firefighter for the Boston Fire Department." In 2002, McColgan decided he could no longer stay away from music and formed Street Dogs. They first recorded a seven song-demo, which feature McColgan along with his former Dropkick Murphys bandmate Jeff Erna on drums, Rob Guidotti on guitar and Bill Close on bass.[1] They signed with CrossCheck Records in 2003,[2] with Michelle Paulhus now on bass. By the time they started recording their first album, they yet again had someone else on bass, this time Johnny Rioux. Savin Hill (which was produced by former The Mighty Mighty Bosstones member Nate Albert[3] and featured guest appearances by Al Barr and Ken Casey from Dropkick Murphys) was a success and resulted in a supporting tour with Celtic punk band Flogging Molly.
The band underwent a complete shuffle in 2004 when McColgan took a leave of absence from his firefighting career to devote time to recording and promoting their second album Back to the World.The Street Dogs at this time enlisted Marcus Hollar on lead guitar, and expanded the range of their sound with the addition of rhythm guitarist Tobe Bean III. The drummer's spot was filled by Joe Sirois, formerly of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
Their second release, Back to the World, proved to be even more of a success for the band. It was hailed critically in the United States, Europe and Japan and opened the doors to touring with Social Distortion, Tiger Army, Bad Religion, Millencolin (in Europe), The Bouncing Souls (US And Japan) and The Briefs. The band also toured on the Vans Warped Tour in the summer of 2005 and embarked on their first headlining tours in the US and Europe.
2006 saw more shows, both headlining and opening for the likes of Rancid,[4] The Adolescents[5] and The Bouncing Souls.[6] Also in 2006, released their third album, Fading American Dream. It was recorded earlier in the year with producer Ted Hutt (Flogging Molly, Madcap, The Bouncing Souls).
While on tour opening for Flogging Molly on February 27, 2007 show at the Sokol Auditorium in Omaha, NE, bass player Johnny Rioux collapsed on stage due to an apparent seizure. McColgan stopped the show and called for paramedics. At the start of the Flogging Molly set, lead singer Dave King dedicated the show to Johnny and announced that he was all right and would be well enough to play the next night in St. Louis. Following that tour, more dates came headlining as well as European shows.
In February 2008, it was announced that the Street Dogs signed on to Hellcat Records. Their fourth album, State of Grace, for Hellcat, which they started recording in early February 2008, once again with Ted Hutt[7] was released on July 8, 2008.[8]
At recent shows, Street Dogs have been promoting Oxfam America, a humanitarian organization fighting poverty and hunger. McColgan spoke to the crowd mid-set at the Bamboozle Festival in New Jersey in May 2008 about the organization while wearing an Oxfam T-shirt. In support of State of Grace, the band toured at the Vans Warped Tour 2008 as a main stage act. Following their Warped tour stint, the group set out on their successful fall State Of Grace headlining tour and then went to Europe for the European Eastpak Antidote tour.
The band released their fifth album, Street Dogs, on August 31, 2010[9] on Hellcat Records.
On February 21, 2011, the band performed at an acoustic show with Tom Morello, Tim McIlrath, Wayne Kramer, and Ike Reilly in Madison, WI in support of the ongoing protests against Gov. Scott Walker's proposed Budget Repair Bill.
In March 2011, the Street Dogs announced a five-week stint on the 2011 Vans Warped Tour, from June 24 until July 30. This would be their third time on the tour, after 2005 and 2008. After the Warped Tour, the band planned a European festival tour in August, and then Australia and Japan in October.
The band embarked on the nine date Sham Rock-N-Roll Festival in September 2011 where they were the co-headlining act for the Dropkick Murphys. Other than appearances on various Warped Tour lineups, this was the first time McColgan toured with his former band since quitting thirteen years earlier. McColgan would even join the Dropkick Murphys onstage for performances of such songs as "Barroom Hero" and "Far Away Coast" from the Do or Die album.[10]
In an interview with AMP, Johnny Rioux was asked about a new album from the street dogs. Rioux said, "We want to do a labor standard solo record with Mike, release the large number of B-sides with the records they were recorded for, mix our live in Boston DVD and record, prepare for our first trip to Australia, return to Japan, get back into some Celtic festivals, and just be happy and grateful people are still loyal after almost 10 years."
On November 26, 2012, McColgan wrote on the band's Facebook account that starting January 1, 2013, Street Dogs would be taking a break from recording and touring, but he assured fans that the band was not breaking up.[11] Later that day, Tobe Bean announced that he would no longer be a touring member of Street Dogs, but he will "always be a Street Dog".[12] In February 2013, it was announced that McColgan and Rioux would form a side project with original Dropkick Murphys member Rick Barton called FM359. In March, it was announced their break from touring would be ending in July when they tour Europe.[13] In March, McColgan mentioned that the band would exclusively work with the Pirates Press Records label in the future, and they planned to release a 7-inch single, a live album, and a DVD. He also mentioned that the band was hoping to get Lenny Lashley from Darkbuster to replace Bean on guitar, and on April 9 the Street Dogs Facebook page announced that Lashley had officially joined the group. They also announced their next single, "Crooked Drunken Sons", a song named after their annual tour, which will be released on Record Store Day 2013. Another single, "Rustbelt Nation", followed a month later.[14] Later in the year, Hollar was replaced by Matt Pruitt (Have Nots).
Members Mike McColgan, Johnny Rioux and Pete Sosa started a side project called FM359 with former Dropkick Murphys guitarist Rick Barton, Street Dogs collaborator Hugh Morrison and Halston Luna. The group, which has an Americana sound, released their debut album Truth, Love and Liberty in January 2014. In April, on Record Store Day 2014, they released a split EP with Noi!se.
On June 22, 2018, the band released their sixth album, the first in eight years, Stand For Something Or Die For Nothing. McColgan said of the album, " "The dumbing down of America is a reason to write songs in 2018. The theme is wake the fuck up and the working class needs to unite across all colors, creeds, nationalities, genders and realize that we are being pitted against each other by snake oil salesmen and autocrats."[15]
On February 13, 2020, via the band's Facebook page, McColgan and Rioux announced the group was disbanding after 17 years. The final round of shows was expected to include a small St. Patrick's Day tour with Flogging Molly and Mad Caddies as well as two headlining shows, one in Long Beach, CA on March 16, and their final show to be announced in their hometown of Boston, MA. However on March 12, the band announced the cancellation of the Long Beach show alongside Flogging Molly's cancellation of their tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[16][17]
Former members
Mike McColgan – lead vocals (2002–2020)
Johnny Rioux – bass (2003–2020)
Pete Sosa – drums (2012–2020)
Matt Pruitt – lead guitar (2013–2020)
Lenny Lashley – rhythm guitar (2013–2020)
Jeff Erna – drums (2002–2004)
Rob Guidotti – guitars (2002–2004)
Bill Close – bass (2002)
Michelle Paulhus – bass (2002–2003)
Marcus Hollar – lead guitar (2004–2013)
Joe Sirois – drums (2004–2007)
Tobe Bean III – guitars (2005–2012)
Paul Rucker – drums (2007–2012)
Justifiable Fisticuffs
Street Dogs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I try to mediate diplomatically, but you don't even care
It's time to put them up and throw them down
Take this squabble round to round
Have a row, time to throw, can't see nothing but red
High time for the justifiable fisticuffs
No more debate games, justifiable fisticuffs
When it's viable, call their bluff, we need to get it out!
The battle starts, the two engage
Toe to toe, they vent their rage
Hooks from here, leads go there, the battle now ensues
But they could be more, another fight
Passions flare and skin grows tight
Thank the lord there are two more bouts on the undercard tonight
The boxing stops, the fight concludes
Blows were tossed and insults cued
It's all over, it's all through, the judges make the call
Card to card, point to point, the judges make no sense at all
Malay starts, the crowd goes nuts
A donnybrook has come
We've had enough, we've called your bluff
We've had enough, we've really had enough
In "Justifiable Fisticuffs" by Street Dogs, the listener is presented with a scenario in which a conflict has escalated beyond the point of resolution through conversation. The opening lines make it clear that the situation is tense and that the singer is attempting to find a peaceful solution, but the other individual is not responsive to reason. This leads to a physical altercation: "It's time to put them up and throw them down / Take this squabble round to round / Have a row, time to throw, can't see nothing but red." The chorus emphasizes the idea that sometimes violence is the only option when words fail: "High time for the justifiable fisticuffs / No more debate games, justifiable fisticuffs / Justifiable fisticuffs, you've got to know when enough's enough / When it's viable, call their bluff, we need to get it out!"
As the fight continues, the lyrics describe the adrenaline-fueled energy that emerges: "The battle starts, the two engage / Toe to toe, they vent their rage / Hooks from here, leads go there, the battle now ensues / But they could be more, another fight / Passions flare and skin grows tight / Thank the lord there are two more bouts on the undercard tonight." The fight eventually ends and the outcome is left uncertain due to the judges' indecision. The final lines of the song indicate that the singer and their allies have had enough of the other party's behavior and are willing to stand up for themselves: "We've had enough, we've called your bluff / We've had enough, we've really had enough."
Overall, "Justifiable Fisticuffs" presents a situation in which violence may be seen as a last resort, but still a viable option when faced with an unyielding opponent. It depicts the physical and emotional toll that a physical altercation can have, as well as the complexities of resolving conflict in a constructive manner.
Line by Line Meaning
We've passed the point of argument, the tension fills the air
The two parties have argued enough and the tension between them is palpable.
I try to mediate diplomatically, but you don't even care
The singer attempted to resolve the conflict in a diplomatic manner, but the opposing party did not care about this approach.
It's time to put them up and throw them down
It is time to engage in a physical altercation.
Take this squabble round to round
Continue the fight in multiple rounds, like a boxing match.
Have a row, time to throw, can't see nothing but red
Get into a heated argument, start throwing punches, and become blinded by anger.
High time for the justifiable fisticuffs
It is now appropriate to engage in physical combat.
No more debate games, justifiable fisticuffs
The time for talking is over, it is now time for fighting.
Justifiable fisticuffs, you've got to know when enough's enough
Fighting is only justifiable up to a certain point and must be stopped before going too far.
When it's viable, call their bluff, we need to get it out!
If the situation calls for it, challenge the other party to a fight and let out the aggression.
The battle starts, the two engage
The two parties begin fighting.
Toe to toe, they vent their rage
The two parties confront each other directly and express their anger.
Hooks from here, leads go there, the battle now ensues
Punches are thrown from all angles and the fight commences.
But they could be more, another fight
The intensity of the fight could increase and lead to another altercation.
Passions flare and skin grows tight
Emotions are running high and the fight becomes more aggressive.
Thank the lord there are two more bouts on the undercard tonight
Thankfully, there are two other fights scheduled later in the event to keep the crowd's attention.
The boxing stops, the fight concludes
The fight ends and the boxing match is over.
Blows were tossed and insults cued
Punches were thrown and insults were exchanged during the fight.
It's all over, it's all through, the judges make the call
The fight is finished and the judges are called upon to determine the winner.
Card to card, point to point, the judges make no sense at all
The judges' decision makes no logical or rational sense.
Malay starts, the crowd goes nuts
A big fight erupts and the crowd becomes very excited.
A donnybrook has come
A big fight has occurred or is about to occur.
We've had enough, we've called your bluff
The artist is fed up with the situation and calls out the other party's lies.
We've had enough, we've really had enough
The singer has reached their limit and can no longer endure the conflict.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind