There’s something to be said for the knowing surprise. That sense that there’s something that you know is going to happen but you aren’t prepared for how it’s going to go down. Before Wednesday night at The Anthem in DC I knew Flogging Molly and had an appreciation of their music but I had never witnessed them perform before. And though I had been encouraged in the past to see them live, it wasn’t on my radar… but all that changed, and a twinge of regret for not jumping on the opportunities of the past set in almost immediately after the first chords were struck.
But I think I’m getting ahead of myself a bit. Having arrived at The Anthem shortly before the rains made a moat of most of Wharf Street, I was able to catch most of the first of four bands, The Skints, from the UK, who sounded fantastic with their blend of pop punk and ska. In fact, I found myself wanting more and hoping to catch them around these parts again soon.
Following was three piece from LA, Tiger Army, whose brand of psychobilly punk had the growing crowd moving while they played to the audience. Playing off each other, they were exceptionally tight and driving.
Then another welcome surprise came when The Interrupters ran onto the stage and proceeded to put on one of the most exciting performances I’ve seen in this hall. Made up of front person, Aimee Interruper on vocals, Kevin Bivona on guitar, and twin brothers Jesse (drums) and Justin (bass) Bivona, The Interrupters put on a brilliant performance as both Kevin and Justin took turns jumping, dancing, and launching themselves across the stage while Aimee reached out across to the crowd, pumping up the screaming fans. In addition to the ska inflected rock that produced one earworm after another, the spectacle of their live performance was on another level with fountains of smoke and confetti cannons going off at the end of their set.
Just as the speakers played The Who’s “Baba O’Riley” the banner that was up on the stage came down and Flogging Molly – which includes Bridget Regan on violin/flute; Dennis Casey on guitar; Nathen Maxwell on bass; Matt Hensley on accordion; Mike Alonso on drums; and Spencer Swain on banjo – took the stage to frantic applause, and after an introduction by way of “The Wrong Company,” the band jumped right in to everyone’s favorite, “Drunken Lullabies” as Dave King (vocals/guitar) ran from one side of the stage to the next with an energy that was infectious. With a full band that was one-part punk frenzy and another part tradition with just as much accordion, banjo, and fiddle as drums and electric guitar. And just like a man on a mission, Dave started stamping the opening for “Hand of John L. Sullivan” without a breath in between. Getting the crowd to sing along, Dave yelled out, “Fuck, yeah!”
As a sort of master of ceremonies, Dave King is, among many things, a brilliant story teller as he was just as captivating introducing songs as singing them. Jokingly dedicating the song, “Selfish Man” to himself, Dave said, “it’s about one asshole and one asshole only, and that’s fuckin’ me!”
From “These Times Have Got Me Drinking” – a new song off their forthcoming album, Anthem, fittingly dedicated to the past three years to old favorites like “Devil’s Dance Floor,” Flogging Molly took the audience on a trip with a seemingly unending stream of energy, even as Dave humorously explained after having “a quick drink.” “I just turned the ripe old age of 60, but I’ve had this beer belly since I was born.”
Flogging Molly’s set was a great end to an brilliantly exhausting night of music – just the way it should be. The band continues their tour through the East Coast and then off to Europe. Definitely catch them near you.
The set list included:
Drunken Lullabies
The Hand of John L. Sullivan
Selfish Man
These Times Have Got Me Drinking
Float
A Song of Liberty
Tobacco Island
Croppy Boy
Devil’s Dance Floor
Crushed (Hostile Nations)
If I Ever Leave This World Alive
What’s Left of the Flag
The Seven Deadly Sins
FLOGGING MOLLY
THE INTERRUPTERS
TIGER ARMY
