(I owe Blogcritics a crapload of articles, so this is my concert review.)
Flogging Molly was at the House of Blues last night, and I’m still blown away. I’ve listened to their Drunken Lullabies album a bazillion times since being introduced to it by my son, but it’s nothing like seeing them live. Flogging Molly is the perfect band to go see and to salute with a raised mug of stout. But since I wasn’t there strictly for my own enjoyment (I took the kids), I was happy to see that they’re a fine group of live musicians, as well.
Take the elements of an Irish folk band (fiddle, tin whistle, accordion, mandolin, banjo), throw it into a blender with some heart-pounding buzzsaw guitars (and a little Guinness), and you’ve got Flogging Molly. One minute they’ll have you arm-in-arm with the stranger beside you, wailing out a chorus or two of “Death Valley Queen” or “The Sun Never Shines (on Closed Doors)”. The next, you’ll be slam-dancing to a hyperspeed version of “Drunken Lullabies.” The whole show was a rollercoaster ride of Irish drinking songs and scream-till-your-throat-hurts punk rock.
The opening act, Throw Rag, was a pleasant surprise, too. They’re a wild group of California punks that feature a half-naked fat guy on a washboard and spoons! Yeah, baby! I wasn’t familiar with their music, and I’m not really sure I’d enjoy it without the visuals, but they really put on an awesome show. They were rockin’ and funny–a Ramones-like combination that I love.
If you have a chance to see either of these bands live, you would be insane to pass it up.