Street Dogs

Street Dogs

Street Dogs are a punk rock band from Boston, United States, formed in 2002 by former Dropkick Murphys singer Mike McColgan. The group is active from 2002 to the present and is associated with the Boston punk and street punk scenes. Their line-up includes McColgan, Johnny Rioux, Tobe Bean, Marcus Hollar, Joe Sirois and Paul Rucker.

Formation and early recordings

McColgan leaves Dropkick Murphys in 1997 to pursue a career as a firefighter with the Boston Fire Department, then returns to music in 2002 and forms Street Dogs. The band’s first recording is a seven-song demo featuring McColgan, former Dropkick Murphys drummer Jeff Erna, guitarist Rob Guidotti and bassist Bill Close. In 2003 they sign to CrossCheck Records, with Michelle Paulhus then on bass. By the time they record their first album, Johnny Rioux is on bass.

Albums and touring

Their debut album, Savin Hill, is produced by Nate Albert of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and includes guest appearances from Dropkick Murphys members Al Barr and Ken Casey. The record leads to support dates with Flogging Molly. In 2004 the group reshuffles: McColgan takes leave from firefighting to focus on the second album, Back to the World, while Marcus Hollar joins on lead guitar, Tobe Bean III adds rhythm guitar, and Joe Sirois, formerly of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, takes over on drums. The album is well received and leads to touring with Social Distortion, Tiger Army, Bad Religion, Millencolin in Europe, The Bouncing Souls in the US and Japan, and The Briefs.

The band plays the Vans Warped Tour in 2005 and later headlines in the US and Europe. In 2006 they release Fading American Dream, recorded with producer Ted Hutt, and continue to tour widely, including dates with Rancid, The Adolescents and The Bouncing Souls.

Later releases and label changes

In 2008 Street Dogs sign to Hellcat Records and release State of Grace, again produced by Ted Hutt. They continue touring, including another Vans Warped Tour appearance as a main stage act and a European run on the Eastpak Antidote tour. Their fifth album, Street Dogs, follows in 2010 on Hellcat Records.

The band performs an acoustic show in support of protests against Scott Walker’s Budget Repair Bill in 2011, alongside Tom Morello, Tim McIlrath, Wayne Kramer and Ike Reilly. That year they also return to the Vans Warped Tour for a third appearance and later play the Sham Rock-N-Roll Festival with Dropkick Murphys. McColgan also appears onstage with his former band for songs including “Barroom Hero” and “Far Away Coast”.

Breaks, side projects and final releases

In 2013 Street Dogs announce a break from recording and touring, while saying they are not splitting up. Tobe Bean III leaves touring duties, and the band later works with Lenny Lashley. McColgan and Rioux also form FM359 with Rick Barton; the project has an Americana sound and releases the album Truth, Love and Liberty in 2014, along with a split EP with Noi!se.

The band later records exclusively with Pirates Press Records, and releases the singles “Crooked Drunken Sons” and “Rustbelt Nation”. Their sixth album, Stand For Something Or Die For Nothing, arrives in 2018. In 2020 McColgan and Rioux announce that Street Dogs are disbanding after 17 years, with final shows planned before the run is cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Members

Line-ups across the band’s history include Mike McColgan on lead vocals, Johnny Rioux on bass, Pete Sosa on drums, Matt Pruitt on lead guitar, Lenny Lashley on rhythm guitar, Jeff Erna on drums, Rob Guidotti on guitars, Bill Close and Michelle Paulhus on bass, Marcus Hollar on lead guitar, Joe Sirois on drums, Tobe Bean III on guitars and Paul Rucker on drums.