Street dogs.

WHO EXACTLY ARE the Street Dogs? I will begin by hijacking the usual tactic, mentioning that singer Mike McColgan used to be the lead vocals for Dropkick Murphys. Anyone who's heard "Get Up" (early Dropkieks tribute to the Stiff Little Fingers) knows the impact of Mike's lyrics and delivery. But the Street Dogs are no sequel.

Ex-band affiliations aside, Street Dogs are simply the best punk-Oi! band to work their way up in a long time. After Mike left Dropkick, he served in two Gulf Wars and was a Boston firefighter, eventually returning to music by forming Street Dogs in 2002. "Being a firefighter was a rich and rewarding experience," McColgan says. "I know it sounds cliche, but it was a genuine honor serving the citizens of Boston."

Now with tours logged alongside bands such as Social Distortion, the Bouncing Souls, Flogging Molly, and three full-lengths to their credit, it's clear that getting shot at and charging into burning buildings only served to hone the precision and strength of McColgan's music. Along with bass player (and skater) Johnny Rioux, Joe Sioris (former drummer of Mighty-Mighty Bosstones), Toby Bean, and Marcus Hollar (guitars), Street Dogs have an energy and fury that pushes crowds over the boil point on every song. You simply don't see frenzy and movement on the floor of a show like the kind that Street Dogs achieve.

"We mandated from the beginning that our shows weren't going to be chill Shakespeare readings," McColgan says. "We take our message into your face. Life's rough; people go to a show to have a good time, but to also get that frustration out. Also, I want to go on record to say that we don't endorse celebrity status. We hang out and talk to the people that come see us. We're dead serious about the gratitude we feel for our fans."

Listen to the most recent album, Fading American Dream (Streetdogs.com, Brass Tacks Records), and you'll realize that their message goes far beyond a rowdy, all-inclusive time. "When I was growing up, skateboarding and punk rock were my life," Rioux says. "People expected me to go to college--but I wanted to play music and go skateboarding. I followed my heart. It's a tough road, but I believe you should follow your dreams, whatever they are. You'll get there eventually. If you do listen to the people that tell you you're going to fail, you'll fail. I know that much."