Honky Tonk | Dropkicks
Motion Design Illustration
Client: Dropkick Murphys (2025)
I was commissioned to create a series of music visuals for Honky Tonk Tuesday - a weekly live music night at Dropkicks, a bar known for its gritty, late-night energy and charm.
I developed a set of looping animated neon-style visuals. The result is a motion piece that feels bold, rough around the edges, and full of character - just like Dropkicks itself. The style draws influence from vintage Vegas signage, Nashville’s Broadway, and the retro charm of classic Americana.
The Design Process:
Research:
When Dropkick’s asked me to create music visuals for their Honky Tonk night I was excited but a bit stumped. Dropkick's has a vibe but it is very hard to pin down in terms of animation. It's rough around the edges, loud and a bit chaotic (in the best way).
My early drafts were too clean and polished so I came along to Honky Tonk Tuesday to find out what makes Dropkick's feel the way it does (I did participate in some line dancing ). I noticed the bar was filled with neon lights and, Donal - the lovely owner takes great pride in them.
This lead me to the idea of having an animated neon sign animation. This style reminds me of old Vegas signs and Broadway in Nashville. It’s nostalgic, gritty, and, in my opinion, unapologetically Dropkicks.
This one took a few wrong turns, but I’m proud of where it ended up.
