Music > Interviews
Flogging Molly
28/07/15
Flogging Molly
For 18 years now, Irish band Flogging Molly have been earning themselves a reputation for putting on some of the best live shows out there. Bashing out potent and powerful tunes with an energetic intensity, they play songs that range from expressing the political to capturing more personal tones of love and loss. With four studio albums, a live album and DVD under their collective belt, and another album due out this year, this seven-piece band show no signs of stopping any time soon. Before they shake up Norwich’s Waterfront with a sold out show this August, we had a chat with guitarist Dennis Casey.
As a seven piece band that has been together for 18 years; how did you all get together and where did it all start?
We all met at the Molly Malone’s pub in Los Angeles, California.
You’re signed to your own record label; how did this come about?
We aren’t anymore, however, we decided to start a label to give it a shot and see what it would be like to do everything ourselves. We also wanted the opportunity to sign other bands that we believed in.
As an Irish punk band, what other bands or artists would you say influence your music?
The Clash, The Pogues, The Dubliners, The Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Bob Marley, ACDC, Sex Pistols and The Kinks. There’s a lot of mutual admiration for these bands but the list can go on and on.
A lot of your songs touch on Irish politics, history and religion; what are you trying to communicate with your music?
It’s hard to sum up in a few words all that we are trying to communicate but we like to celebrate life!
You went on a European tour with Frank Turner back in 2014; how did you find that?
It was fucking awesome! Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls are great friends and great people that play great music. It was a pleasure to share the stage with them and hang out with them every night.
You play in America a lot, especially on your annual Green 17 tour, how do they compare with the UK shows?
The accents are different for starters. The beer is better in the UK and there’s nothing like a nice hot fish and chips after the show.
You’ve been touring for almost two decades now; what keeps you going through it all?
The love of the music.
I’ve read that your lead singer Dave is ‘one of the most cheerful and dynamic band leaders out there’; but what do you think is your biggest strength with your live performances?
It’s all about the energy and the good time we are having.
How would you describe the experience of going to a Flogging Molly concert?
Fun, great music, high energy, and booze!
What songs would you say receive the best reaction from the crowd?
Drunken Lullabies and If I Ever Leave This World Alive.
You’re known to play in both small pubs and large capacity venues such as the Greek Theatre and festivals; what type of venues do you guys prefer to perform in and how do you think they compare?
There is not really a preference in venue size; both small and large capacities are great, however, there is nothing like playing in front of 30,000 or more people. It is also great playing small venues or pubs when you can jump down from the stage after and share a drink with people.
You’ve been together as a band for 18 years now; how do you feel the music industry has changed over that time?
It seems to be lying a little bit. No one is buying records anymore and you really have to have a good live show these days to have longevity and survive.
In what ways do you think your music has developed over that time as well?
We’ve gotten closer and the chemistry or alchemy of the band has gotten stronger.
Your next album is to be released this year and will be the first new material we’ve heard since 2011, what have you been doing between now and then?
As a band we’ve been touring and individually raising families.
What can we expect to be different from when you played here back in 2011?
We are going to be playing some new songs and pull out some old songs we haven’t played in a while.
Flogging Molly play The Waterfront on the 13th August.