Review: Flogging Molly's St. Patrick's Day Livestream from Dublin, Ireland

Who: Flogging Molly

Where: Whelan’s Irish Pub, Dublin, Ireland
When: March 17, 2021

What could be a more fitting way to spend St Patrick’s Day than by watching Flogging Molly perform from the Emerald Isle? The band put on a lively performance at the famous Whelan’s Irish Pub in Dublin, Ireland which was livestreamed for the world to enjoy. The world watched from Los Angeles to Detroit to Boston to Sweden, Greece, England, Finland, Serbia, Slovenia, Germany, and elsewhere around the globe.

The Celtic Punk band was founded in 1997 in Los Angeles by Dublin-born musician David King. It is comprised of Dave King (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, bodhran), Bridget Regan (violin, tin whistle, vocals), Dennis Casey (guitar, vocals), Matt Hensley (accordion, concertina, vocals), Nathen Maxwell (bass guitar, vocals), Spencer Swain (mandolin, banjo, guitar, vocals), and Mike Alonso (drums, percussion). They are known for songs like “Requiem for a Dying Song”, “Float”, and “Don’t Shut ‘Em Down”.

Flogging Molly’s members all currently reside in different cities. Dave King and wife, Bridget Regan, split their time between their hometowns of Dublin, Ireland and Detroit, Michigan (shout out to my home state). As the US was beginning to lockdown in March 2020, King and Regan hurriedly boarded a plane and flew to Dublin where they have been residing since. This livestream was the first time all the band members have been together in a year, but they didn’t appear to miss a beat.

The band has released 6 studio albums, Swagger (2000), Drunken Lullabies (2002), Within A Mile of Home (2004), Speed of Darkness (2011), and Life is Good (2017). Their set included songs from each of the albums with a heavy dose from Drunken Lullabies and Swagger. King is not as young as he once was and his hair has lost some of its redness, but he still manages to put on a fiery performance. The stage is his happy place and he made up for the last year on this night. This was the first time the band has played in Dublin on St. Patrick’s Day and King’s passion for performing was evident.

Dave King is the front man for the band, but he gave the other band members a chance to share the spotlight. Bassist Nathen Maxwell flashed a punk attitude when he shared lead vocals with King on “The Days We’ve Yet to Meet”. Regan took the lead on “A Prayer for Me in Silence” along with her husband. He also singled out Hensley, Swain, Casey, and Alonso letting each showcase their skills.

Flogging Molly’s fast paced Irish punk sound was on display all night. Whereas traditional punk bands strip down their instrumentation, Flogging Molly infuses traditional Irish instruments into their music to get their unique sound. Violin, accordion, and mandolin along with drums, acoustic and electric guitar and bass are central to their sound and were heard on most songs. Regan traded her violin for a tin whistle, which is similar to a recorder, for “Rebels of the Sacred Heart” and “Devil’s Dance Floor”. McSwain pulled out a banjo for “Drunken Lullabies”. King used a bodhran, which is a frame hand drum, on the night’s last song, “Black Friday Rule”.

On this night, the 25% Irish in me broke its self-imposed prohibition and downed a couple pints of Irish Ale while enjoying the show. I was not alone in this endeavor. The band sipped Bushmills Irish Whiskey, while the pints of gat (Guinness for you non-Irish) were appreciatively supplied to them throughout the performance. From the conversation in the chat room, Guinness was the drink of the night for the audience. There was plenty of “slainte” (toasts) throughout the show by fans. I am sure there were many a fluthered soul by the end of the show. It was a Grand Ould Time.

Mosh pits are part of a typical Flogging Molly concert. There was no live audience at this show but fans watching the livestream were having their own virtual mosh pits to imitate being at the show. One person posting on the livestream chat said “Moshing in my heart. My wife and I met in a Flogging Molly mosh pit 10 years ago this month”. Other chat comments included “I’m moshing by myself in my dining room, quietly, b/c my husband is on a work call”, “Definitely the best way to introduce Flogging Molly to my coworkers by blaring this show in my office”, “Sooooooo fukin gooooooood”, “Merci de realiser ce live. Vous etes excellents”, “THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING THIS!!! THE WHISKEY IS FLOWING THROUGH ME VEINS IN OTTAWA CANADA!!!”. It was obvious that the audience loved the show.

Seeing Flogging Molly live in person would be a great experience, but this live stream experience was the next best thing. While the experience would be enhanced by having the excitement of a live crowd, the band still managed to put on a fantastic performance. This was my first opportunity to see the band and I’m looking forward to being able to see them in-person one day in the future from the photo pit.

The livestream is available through March 21st. Tickets can be purchased here. A portion of the band’s proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to a favorite charity of theirs, Sweet Relief’s COVID-19 Crew Fund, which supports road crew members grounded and out of work during the global pandemic.

Setlist