by Maggie O’Leary
Fresh off a European tour, riding high from the release of their fifth studio album Speed of Darkness, and set to kick-off a U.S. tour in February, the band Flogging Molly has a lot going on to keep them excited. Dave King, the Dublin born, Flogging Molly lead singer, takes time from his busy schedule to talk candidly with Irish American News. King shares with IAN his enthusiasm for the bands upcoming Green 17 Tour, Christmas in Ireland, and how he feels the Irish people have made their imprint on the world.
For those who are unfamiliar with Flogging Molly, they were formed in Los Angeles in 1997. Often described as an American-Irish punk band, Flogging Molly infuses elements of traditional Celtic music, punk, rock and the blues. King says “we are influenced by traditional music and inspired by it, but without question we put our own twist on it.” The seven piece band, whose members are Dave King, Dennis Casey, Matt Hensley, Nathen Maxwell, Bridget Regan (who also happens to be King’s wife), Robert Schmidt and George Schwindt each offers an eclectic variety of musical talents. In any given song, you can expect to hear a number of instruments ranging from the violin, mandolin, banjos, tin whistle, accordion, piano, drums and guitar to name a few. Topped off with King’s raspy, yet eloquent voice, Flogging Molly has a sound that is very distinct.
The band has come a long way since their early days playing at Molly Malone’s, the pub in Los Angeles where King and Regan first began playing together. “We played there every Monday night and we felt like we were just ‘flogging’ the place to death.” Hence, the band’s name became Flogging Molly. Their small fan base from the pub in L.A. has now grown into an international conglomerate of faithful fans.
Kicking off their 8th annual lead-up to St. Patrick’s Day, the 2012 Green 17 tour begins in Detroit, MI on February 17th. “We always wanted something that would coincide with St. Patrick’s Day and this tour has been a great thing for us. We always look forward to Green 17 and since we’ve been touring the world, it’s now good to get back to cities like Detroit, Chicago, New York and L.A.” The tour stops in over twenty cities across the states and will end in Tempe, AZ on March 17th. The entire tour is known from years past to be a bona fide celebration.
In hopes of catching a little R & R between tours, King and his wife traveled to their home in Ireland for Christmas. The couple whose primary residence is in Detroit, also have a home in Wexford which is about 85 miles south of Dublin. They were able to spend Christmas with King’s mother who still lives in Dublin. “It’s been three years since we could spend Christmas in Ireland because we’ve been touring so much. We live in this little village there and the people are just so ridiculously nice—it’s wonderful and always great to get back.”
When I ask King how he feels being “Irish,” he humbly and simply states he is proud. He points out the strength of the Irish community around the world. “Seeing how the Irish have integrated into so many cultures and countries around the world is a true testament to the nature of the Irish people. We’ve become big parts of communities in America, Australia, England, and Europe—wherever it is—you can find an Irish pub or an Irish community.” Exactly! Enough said!
Flogging Molly has been touring for over a decade and has maintained a hugely loyal fan base around the world. To hear them live is an unforgettable and remarkable experience. Check out www.floggingmolly.com for a complete list of tour dates. Follow the band on twitter @_floggingmolly and I-phone and Android users can download the Flogging Molly app onto their smart phones!
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