"...Singing Drunken Lullabies"

I was ecstatic in July when I read that Flogging Molly was on tour in Canada - as near as Saskatoon even! I immediately texted my brother Mike who had introduced me to the likes of Irish rock music. Minutes later tickets I ordered our tickets for the October 25th show.

My other brother Shawn and I arrived in Saskatoon early Sunday evening. After a delectable home-cooked meal of spaghetti squash, jalapeno sausage, and zucchini courtesy of Mike we were off to the Odeon. Walking up the street to the centre we were greeted by a fellow concert goer. Unmistakably drunk he announced that his bathroom break at O'Shea's would allow him to conceal his flask of whiskey in a place not worthy of mentioning. We bid him well and got in line. Once inside we hit the merch table which was packed with eager customers. I picked up a modestly priced t-shirt ($20) and the cd Swagger ($10). The first opening band, Dean Lickyer, was a hard hitting rock band from Hamilton with a singer resemblant of a young Mick Jagger, frolicking with brash intensity. He was clearly excited at the opportunity of opening for Flogging Molly. After a short intermission, Inward Eye from Winnipeg performed. Their musical style is influenced by The Clash and other English rock bands. Moshing broke out behind us and bodies were flying, mostly in anticipation for the headliner. After seven or eight songs the crowd was riled up.

The thirty plus minute intermission before Flogging Molly was difficult to bear. We ran into our intoxicated friend who complained that his flask had been confiscated (probably for the best). Around 10:30 Dave King led the band on stage. Opening with Every Dog Has Its Day the crowd erupted in jigging, jumping, moshing, and signing at the top of their lungs. There was no rest for the next thirty minutes. Songs such as Drunken Lullabies, Requiem for a Dying Song, The Likes of You Again kept the crowd dancing and highly engaged. King then declared it was time to slow things down and give the moshers a break because "we still had a long way to go." An acoustic play set followed with hits including Life in a Tenement Square and Float. (Not that this tamed the animated crowd). Soon after the seven member band returned to more high energy rock melodies like Rebels of the Sacred Heart and Seven Deadly Sins. Dave then paid tribute to a recently deceased friend "not to grieve his death, but to celebrate his life." He mentioned other talented late musicians - Johnny Cash, Bob Marley - breaking out into I Shot the Sheriff for a short gig before playing If I Ever Leave This World Alive. I was amazed at how King's vocals were still strong as the concert neared the end. As the band left the stage the crowd chanted "Just one more!" Minutes later Dave came out to begin Laura before the others joined in. An encore of Seven Deadly Sins left the concert goers feeling exhilarated and a little more Irish.

A two hour, twenty plus song play list definitely exceeded my expectations. If you ever have the chance to see Flogging Molly in concert you go for it!

Flogging Molly Website