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 Flogging Molly |
 Jake Burns |
 The Dropkick Murphys |
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Review and photos by Johnny Hall When you say "American Irish punk music," the first bands that usually come to peoples' minds are The Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. Both are synonymous with rowdy Irish influenced punk and boozy good times. Touring for their latest release, 11 Short Stories of Pain and Glory the Murphys set out on a summer tour with another Celtic punk influenced icon, Flogging Molly. Flogging Molly are currently out in support of their newest release, Life Is Good.The cool summer night at Tags Summer Soundstage in Big Flats, NY, started off with punk legend Jake Burns. Jake is best known as the frontman of the band Stiff Little Fingers. He opened the night playing a 30 minute solo acoustic set of Stiff Little Finger songs, giving listeners an intimate look into the iconic punk singer and his musical history. Flogging Molly, a LA based Celtic punk rock band who mix traditional Irish sounds with punk rock, were co-headliners for the night. They held the 7:30 pm time slot, opening their set full of raucous energy. It didn't take long to get the enthusiastic crowd whipped into a frenzy. Playing close to an hour long set, their song list ranged their entire catalog, playing early favorites as well as songs off their latest release. Their 11 song set opened with a "Crushed Nation / We Will Rock You" mix and "Float," followed by songs like "Drunken Lullabies," "The Hand of John L Sullivan," and "(No More) Paddy's Lament." The seven piece band is currently made of Dave King ( singer / guitar), Bridget Regan ( violin / fiddle / tin whistle), Dennis Casey (guitar / vocals), Matt Hensley ( accordion / keys / vocals), Nathen Maxwell ( bass / vocals), Bob Schmidt (mandolin / banjo / vocals) and Mike Alonso ( drums / percussion). The group had a polished and well-dressed look with the gents wearing suits and Bridget in a black dress, further promoting their polished punk rock sound. The Dropkick Murphys hit the stage at 9:30. The band of merry misfits hail from Quincy, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. They are also a Celtic punk band, fusing traditional Irish folk with more street-savvy punk rock. They are known for their wild fans and even wilder shows, and tonight's performance would prove no different, playing to a crowd of over 5,000 fans ranging in age from kids to folks well into adulthood. The band pleased them all, with moshing starting at the first song and lasting the rest of the night. The band fed into the energy of the crowd with Al Barroften leaning over the barricade while howling song lyrics into the mic with his distinctively coarse voice. The Dropkicks were configured on stage as Ken Casey, who, normally on bass guitar and vocals, was recovering from surgery, and therefore took to the stage as a vocalist. Clearly the stitches in his back were not slowing him down. Casey moved and sang as if he was 100% and never showed signs of slowing anytime soon. The rest of the band were in their element as well; they played perfectly and tight remaining in the pocket all night. The Dropkick Murphys played a massive 17 song set list, opening with the tin whistle and chanting song "The Lonesome Boatman" off their new release. They played fan favorites "The Boys Are Back," "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya", "The State of Massachusetts," and "A Rose Tattoo." Along with new songs "Sandlot" and "Until Next Time" to round out their explosive set. After leaving the stage, the band came back to the cheers of the crowd. Playing a five song encore starting with a cover of "The Body of an American" and bringing Dave King back to the stage to play along, they then played "I'm Shippin' Up to Boston" before opening up the barricades to the ladies of the crowd, filling the stage for the song, "Kiss Me I'm Shitfaced," and ending with a cover of the AC/DC song, "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap." The Dropkick Murphys are Ken Casey (vocals), Al Barr (vocals), Matt Kelly (drums), James Lynch (guitar), Tim Brennan (accordion, mandolin, tin whistle), Jeff DeRosa (banjo) , Lee Forshner (bagpipes) and Kevin Rheault (bass) while Casey recovers. Ken Casey joked during the show that Keith only has two more positions to fill in the band to have played every spot. It is evident that The Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly love their fans. They came out in front of the stage after their respective sets to meet fans for pics and to say thanks. They are bands that are for their fans, in an age where paid meet and greets are taking over. It was nice to see the "old" way of diehard fans waiting around, hoping to meet their favorite punk rock bands. |
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Flogging Molly Set List: Crushed (Hostile Nations) / We Will Rock You Float Devil's Dance Floor What's Left of the Flag Drunken Lullabies The Seven Deadly Sins If I Ever Leave This World Alive There's Nothing Left Pt. 1 The Hand of John L. Sullivan Requiem for a Dying Song (No More) Paddy's Lament |
Dropkick Murphys Set List: The Lonesome Boatman Captain Kelly's Kitchen The Boys Are Back Prisoner's Song Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya Sandlot Famous For Nothing Barroom Hero Caught in a Jar Buried Alive Cruel Out of Our Heads Rocky Road to Dublin (traditional cover) Rose Tattoo The State of Massachusetts |
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