Guinness Record

Traditional sounds define the up-and-coming Los Angeles-based septet Flogging Molly, but in a way that's sure to upset musical purists. Devotees of old-fashioned Irish folk music might be dismayed by the band's upbeat rock 'n' roll drumming and adrenaline-fueled electric guitar, but fans of punk are packing into sweaty, beer-soaked clubs to pump their fists along to energetic rock heavily drenched in emotional Irish melodies.

courtesy of Girlie Action

Chug-a-lug sing-along: Flogging Molly.

Details

Performs with the Slackers, and Throwrag on Friday, March 22. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $13, through Ticketmaster, 480-784-4444.

Bash on Ash, 230 West Fifth Street in Tempe

Related Content

• First Five Bands Announced for Punk Rock Bowling 2012
  January 31, 2012
• Top Authentic Celtic Punk Bands
  June 22, 2011
• Flogging Molly's The Speed of Darkness Comes Out Today
  May 31, 2011
• Incoming: Flogging Molly, Dr. Dog, Steve Aoki
  December 5, 2011
• Pool Parties, First Friday, The Palace, Jeff Bridges, Dropkick Murphys, Face To Face, and Nightlands Over the Weekend
  July 5, 2011

More About

• Flogging Molly
• Steve Albini
• Molly Malone
• Matt Hensley
• Dave King

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Events Newsletter: What's happening in town? From underground club nights to the biggest outdoor festivals, our top picks for the week's best events will always keep you in on the action.

Privacy Policy Cancel Continue

Alcohol provides a big inspiration for Flogging Molly's successful melding of two genres. The band members took their name from their favorite local pub, Molly Malone's, and they even thanked Guinness in the liner notes for their 2000 debut album, Swagger, engineered and mixed by Steve Albini. Their just-released effort Drunken Lullabies contains more signature thrash-jig anthems and moshable drinking songs.

Flogging Molly's new album reveals influences by The Pogues and The Dubliners, as well as similarities to contemporaries like The Dropkick Murphys, but singer-guitarist Dave King's lyrics make every song uniquely personal. In his gruffly delivered brogue, Dublin-born King tells stories of triumph and loss that explore not only his ethnic roots but also his own life experiences. Songs such as "What's Left of the Flag" and "Rebels of the Sacred Heart" depart from standard punk rock with the nostalgic sounds of mandolin, a feisty fiddle and lilting tin whistle. Former pro skateboarding legend Matt Hensley joins in on accordion.

While Drunken Lullabies is sure to make new fans for Flogging Molly, it's the band's live shows that really win people over. Their appearances in last year's Warped Tour started a big buzz, and this time we predict that music lovers of all stripes will be begging for yet another round. Cheers!