Dropkick Murphys release "Memorial Day" single

Punk has been getting pretty damn ambitious lately, and it's not just limited to the art scene.

Boston blue-collars Dropkick Murphys' seventh album, Going Out in Style, is reported by Rolling Stone to be a concept album. The record, being released on March 1, tells the life story of an Irish ragamuffin immigrant. You can listen to the single "Memorial Day" here.

I've been listening to DKM a long time. It was the first modern punk band I was introduced to that didn't sound like blithering gaggle of brats crooning about their tough suburban lives. It seemed to be made in heaven; ah, to be young and Scotch-Irish.

But for the first time since I picked up Blackout and tried to sing like a nicotine-addicted curmudgeon, I'm a little worried about this. It's been four years since The Meanest of Times, the longest gap between albums that the band has seen. And the departure of hook machine Marc Orrell should send up red flags for longtime fans.

But still, the Boys on the Docks are making moves here. The album apparently has vocals from NOFX frontman Fat Mike and the traditional "Peg O' My Heart" will feature — wait for it — Bruce Springsteen.

Allow that to sink in, hold your breath, then rejoice.

EDIT: Or, better yet, you could roll down the window, and let the wind blow back your hair.

Circa Survive TONIGHT at The National in Richmond, VA

Going into one of my classes, I always sit down next to the same person; let's call him Matt. Anyway, Matt is one of the five Circa Survive fans that I know personally on the face of this earth, including myself. So you might imagine my jubilation when Matt tells me Wednesday that prog-punk band Circa Survive is going to begin their spring tour in Richmond tonight, co-headlining with Christian hardcore outfit Anberlin and the experimental Foxy Shazam.

Although this is completely late notice, you're still in luck. Tickets are not sold out, and the National is a fantastic, intimate venue. On top of all that, Circa Survive puts on a show that I can only describe as fucking sick.

Is It Live?: Grammy Performers Announced

Arcade Fire might want to make a record in the month of May, but they'll be performing it in front of the entire nation at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.

The Grammys announced the first line of its performances this morning. Those taking the stage at the Staples Center on Sunday, Feb. 13 will be Arcade Fire, Eminem, Cee-Lo Green, Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, and Katy Perry.

I don't really get excited about the Grammys. Actually, scratch that; I despise the Grammys. As the highest award of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Grammys have rarely lived up to its promise, generally considered by critics as a staple within the industry's top professionals to execute a self-aggrandizing event, as well as systematically ignoring the major efforts of many independent labels and/or non-established genres of music.

BUT, I'm going to see where this goes. Arcade Fire — who are nominated for Album of the Year, Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals ("Ready to Start") — are coming off the high of critically acclaimed The Suburbs, which was consistently on many critics' top 10 albums of 2010, including mine.

Eminem is carrying a whopping ten nominations for various ventures in his new album Recovery, including Album of the Year, Best Rap Album and Record of the Year ("Love the Way You Lie"). Cee-Lo is still reeling from the soul knockout "Fuck You,"which is instantly recognizable at any decent party, Miranda Lambert's Revolution was a critical, Nashville sensation, Lady Gaga's always a fun, hot mess to watch on television, and Katy Perry was ... well, she was on Sesame Street. Remember that?

Easy there, Elmo. Her eyes are higher up.

But if Arcade Fire's first Grammy performance is anything nearly as electrifying as the beautiful shitshow that was their YouTube Madison Square Garden concert, it'll be one hell of a gig.