Flogging Molly @ The El Rey Theater - April 8, 2003

By Brian Yaeger

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Flogging Molly is one of the best bands to come out of L.A., period. And to rejuvenate my point, I brought a virgin Flogger to their first of two shows at the El Rey the other night. She was a convert right from the get-go. Duped by the opening strains of Bridget Regan’s fiddle, she was aghast when, seconds later, the pit turned into a swarming sea of clover-eyed fans singing along, pumping fists in the air.

If Dave King’s mic was a breathalyzer, he would’ve been Five Oh’ed away, but the Dublin-born front man melted our hearts with his Celtic poetry, singing to us of his late father (“The Likes of You Again”), the land so many Irish ex-pats left behind (“Black Friday Rule”), and unforgiving hangovers courtesy of Alec Guinness’ elixir (“The Worst Day Since Yesterday”).

Introducing “Rebels of the Sacred Heart” as a song about the one word everyone in Ireland knows all too well, violence, Flogging Molly tore into the song as a damning critique of Bush’s jihad against Saddam and the Muslim world. With Dennis Casey on electric guitar, Bob Schmidt on mandolin and Nathen Maxwell on bass, King took advantage of the stringed assault to hold his acoustic guitar in the air which he had adorned in electrical tape on the back to spell out “No War.” Sheryl Crow, eat your heart out.

Always a highlight of their live set, Bridget moved to the tin whistle to usher in “Devil’s Dance Floor,” and any doubts my friend had about what a rockin’ band Flogging Molly is were permanently quashed. She was also impressed by the way they can bring it down a bit, such as on “If I Ever Leave This World Alive” allowing skater Matt Hensley’s buttonbox a chance to shine. Indeed, they always make sure to play most of the tunes from both of their albums including the slower ditties and the mostly rollicking songs. They even late Nathen sing his pirate song, “Cruel Mistress.” And while they didn’t close out their set with their patented cover of Tom Jones’ “Delilah” featuring their manager Gary Schwindt on trumpet (who also happens to be drummer George Schwindt’s brother), Gary did help them close out the show in fine form. Nothing less has ever been my experience. Nothing less would be expected.

Flogging Molly @ The Warped Tour, San Diego - July 3, 2003

By Jenifer Hanen