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)
Tobe
Street Dogs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Had our ups, downs, and near throwdowns
You were the center of attention
That mayor of party town
But that ended forever more
When your Les Paul crashed the Troubadour floor
Tobe's got a drinking problem
Joined every late night drinking team
The life of every party, first to show the last to go
How that reputation grew, until everybody knew
Tobe's got a drinking problem
Tobe's got a drinking problem
As the years they move along
And all your chaos carries on
Remember down in Florida we had to bail you out
Maybe now's the time to choose
Between serenity or booze
Tobe's got a drinking problem
Tobe's got a drinking problem
"Hey, give the guy a break, he wasn't that bad.
It isn't make or break, so give him his bottle back."
Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey
Tobe's got a drinking problem
Tobe's got a drinking problem
I swear by almighty God
That I'm never drinking again
I'm gonna get back my girlfriend
I'm gonna get back my job
I'm never drinking again
Tobe's got a drinking problem
Tobe's got a drinking problem
Tobe's got a drinking problem
Tobe's got a drinking problem
Tobe's got a drinking problem
Tobe's got a drinking problem
The song "Tobe's Got A Drinking Problem" by Street Dogs is a tribute to a friend who has a problem with alcohol. The lyrics describe the ups and downs of their friendship and how Tobe's drinking habit has affected their lives. The song starts with reminiscing about the fun times they had together as drunken roustabouts, but it all ended when Tobe's Les Paul crashed the Troubadour floor. The song then highlights how Tobe's drinking habit started when he was a wayward teen and how his reputation for being the life of every party grew until everybody knew that Tobe's got a drinking problem.
As the years moved along, Tobe's drinking habit only worsened. The song then describes an incident in Florida when they had to bail him out, and it suggests that now is the time for Tobe to choose between serenity or booze. The second last verse has a bit of a sarcastic tone with the lyrics "Hey, give the guy a break, he wasn't that bad. It isn't make or break, so give him his bottle back." However, the song ends with Tobe acknowledging that he needs to change and swearing by the almighty God that he will never drink again.
Overall, the song is an honest portrayal of the struggles of addiction and how it can strain and ruin relationships. The lyrics have a deep message about the importance of recognizing when one has a problem and seeking help to overcome it.
Line by Line Meaning
We were always drunken roustabouts
We were always heavy drinkers and prone to uproarious behavior.
Had our ups, downs, and near throwdowns
We had our share of good and bad times, and almost got into serious fights.
You were the center of attention
You were the life of the party and always attracted everyone's attention.
That mayor of party town
You were known as the person who runs the best parties in town.
But that ended forever more
However, that all ended when you had an incident with your Les Paul guitar at Troubadour club.
When your Les Paul crashed the Troubadour floor
You destroyed your guitar at the Troubadour in front of everyone.
You started a wayward teen
You began as a rebellious teenager.
Joined every late night drinking team
You enthusiastically participated in all-night drinking groups.
The life of every party, first to show the last to go
You were always in the spotlight, arriving first and leaving last at every party you attended.
How that reputation grew, until everybody knew
Your reputation grew, eventually becoming well known by everyone for your excessive drinking.
As the years they move along
Over time, as the years passed.
And all your chaos carries on
And your wild behavior continues to this day.
Remember down in Florida we had to bail you out
We recall having to bail you out of a legal hold in Florida due to your actions.
Maybe now's the time to choose
Perhaps it's time for you to make a decision.
Between serenity or booze
To choose between a peaceful life or continued heavy drinking.
"Hey, give the guy a break, he wasn't that bad.
Some may argue that you were not too bad and deserve leniency.
It isn't make or break, so give him his bottle back."
It's not a matter of life or death, so it's alright to return his bottle of alcohol to him.
"I swear by almighty God
I swear in the name of God.
That I'm never drinking again
That I will never drink alcohol again.
I'm gonna get back my girlfriend
I'll take steps to recover my relationship with my girlfriend.
I'm gonna get back my job
I'll work to get my job back.
Tobe's got a drinking problem
Tobe is struggling with alcoholism.
Tobe's got a drinking problem
Tobe is struggling with alcoholism.
Tobe's got a drinking problem
Tobe is struggling with alcoholism.
Tobe's got a drinking problem
Tobe is struggling with alcoholism.
Tobe's got a drinking problem
Tobe is struggling with alcoholism.
Tobe's got a drinking problem
Tobe is struggling with alcoholism.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind