Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly bring the mayhem to Raleigh
What is the first thing you think of when you someone says "Celtic Punk"? Most likely you'll think about the two most well known bands of the genre, Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. Both bands are known for their rowdy Irish influenced punk. Still touring in support of their latest release, 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory, Dropkick Murphys are on the road this summer with Flogging Molly to celebrate 20 years of mayhem. Flogging Molly are currently supporting their own recent release, Life Is Good.
It was a hot one. Oh man, was it hot. With temperatures reaching the low 100's, the sun was beating down on a huge crowd for The cool summer night at Tags Summer Soundstage in Big Flats, NY, started off with punk legend Jake Burns.
Flogging Molly, LA based band lead by Irish vocalist Dave King, were co-headliners for the night. Playing a near hour long set, their song list touched on all albums from the past 20 years rather than focusing on their new music.
Flogging Molly is currently Dave King (vocals/guitar), Bridget Regan (violin/tin whistle), Dennis Casey (guitar/vocals), Matt Hensley (accordion/vocals), Nathen Maxwell (bass/vocals), Bob Schmidt (banjo/vocals) and Mike Alonso (drums). The band was dressed to impress in a more formal style with pressed pants and vests, while the crowd forming circle pits and dancing were clad in kilts and band shirts.
Finally the sun ended its assault on all of us and set behind the stage and, once darkness came, Dropkick Murphys blasted their way into our earholes with "The State of Massachusetts". You may recognize this song as the theme song from the Travis Pastrana action sports/stunt show Nitro Circus. The band from the burbs of Boston are probably the most notable Celtic punk band. They have a more hard hitting fusion of traditional Irish folk with more raw punk rock. The fans are dedicated and equally as rowdy as the music. There was a seemingly never stopping circle pit in the middle of the pit crow crowd, while vocalist Alexander Barr jumped onto the barricade to lean into the crowd and get some help from the crowd.
Dropkick Murphys played an incredible 16 song set list, opening with the tin whistle and chanting song "The State of Massachusetts" as I mentioned before. They played fan favorites "The Boys Are Back," "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya", and "A Rose Tattoo." Along with new songs "Sandlot" and "Until Next Time". The band left the stage before playing one of their most well known songs "I'm Shipping Up To Boston". Which is another song you may recognize, but this time from the movie The Departed. But after a short moment off stage, the band came back to the cheers of the crowd to play a five song encore kicked off with a cover of "The Body of an American". They then played "I'm Shippin' Up to Boston" before inviting all the ladies to jump up on stage for "Kiss Me I'm Shitfaced". They closed out the entire night and ending with a cover of the AC/DC song, "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap."
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The Dropkick Murphys are Alexander Barr (vocals), Ken Casey (vocals/normally bass), 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 is recovering from surgery so he took on a secondary 'lead' vocal roll.
Dropkick Murphys' 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory and Flogging Molly's Life Is Good are both available now through their respective outlets and websites.
Flogging Molly:
Dropkick Murphys:
