Flogging Molly is a force to be witnessed. Led by Dave King, the band is steeped in both Irish folk and the punk rock ethos of The Clash. It’s a mix that’s kept this band going strong for nearly 30 years. And with a new album, Anthem, having been released this past Fall, King and company rolled up their sleeves and got to work at The Hall at Maryland Live at the Maryland Live Casino.

This evening it was a packed roster of some fantastic bands. From the London-based Skinny Lister’s in-your-face folk punk to the punk rock fury of Anti-Flag, whom I hadn’t seen before but became an instant fan after an incendiary set, it was a night that went hard and fast and didn’t skip a beat.

And as for Flogging Molly, well, having had the great fortune to see them last year, I had a bit of an advanced warning but they still blew my socks off, hitting the stage with “The Likes of You Again,” as Dave started the strummed intro before the band kicked in (quite literally) with a manic thrum that was just a taste of what was in store as they went into “Swagger” without the slightest pause between songs.

And as the band frantically played on, King raced across the stage in the way on he could – skipping along the edge of the stage and at times reaching across the divide to call to the crowd and gleefully reeling in the crowd. As guitarist, Dennis Casey and mandolin and bajo player, Spencer Swain traded riffs on the other side of the stage accordion player, Matt Hensley and bassist Nathen Maxwell held court on the opposite side with Mike Alonso leading the pack with that thundering train of drums.

Flogging Molly founding band member, multi-instrumentalist, and Dave’s partner, Bridget Regan was conspicuously absent. As Dave told the crowd at the onset, she was healing from a recently fractured shoulder. Even though her absence on-stage was felt, in spirit she was very much a large part of the performance.

“I’d like to dedicate this next song to the beautiful and resilient people of the country of Ukraine,” Dave King told the packed hall as Flogging Molly began “A Song of Liberty” with the crowd clapping along to the bouncing tempo.

And that wasn’t the only dedication, as they Dave told the crowd, “This is the last year of our friends NOFX…” as he called out, “Everybody lets see those hands in the air!” as the bass drum started off the thump, thump of “The Hand of John L. Sullivan,” a song about the boxing legend called “The Boston Strong Boy.”

Watch the official video for “A Song Of Liberty” by Flogging Molly

There were plenty of outstanding moments, but the biggest crowd pleaser was the food stompin’ “Drunken Lullabies” as everyone in the place clapped and stomped to the pinnacle of Celtic punk. But I think my personal favorite was “If I Ever Leave This World Alive,” a song that starts off deceptively quiet but is probably one of the most emotional rollicking numbers that ends much too soon. And with an encore capper of “Salty Dog” that was the perfect send off.

Flogging Molly continue their tour around the country and then it’s off to Europe, and this is one experience you can’t miss.

The setlist included:

The Likes of You Again
Swagger
The Kilburn High Road
A Song of Liberty
The Hand of John L. Sullivan
No Last Goodbyes
Drunken Lullabies
Tobacco Island
The Croppy Boy ’98
Float
Life Begins and Ends (but Never Fails)
Crushed (Hostile Nations)
Seven Deadly Sins
If I Ever Leave This World Alive
What’s Left of the Flag

Encore:
Black Friday Rule
Salty Dog

Here are more photos of Flogging Molly performing at The Hall at Maryland Live! Photos by David LaMason.

And here are photos of Anti-Flag performing at The Hall at Maryland Live! Photos by David LaMason.

And here are photos of Skinny Lister performing at The Hall at Maryland Live! Photos by David LaMason.