The roar heard coming from Niagara Falls last Friday night wasn’t from the famous cataract. It was Flogging Molly at the Rapids Theater. The venerable Irish folk/punk/rock band brought their traveling road show to town and shook the walls of this beautifully remodeled room. If you have never been to a Flogging Molly show, you must attend what is not exactly a concert but more like a gathering of faithful party-goers who had too much to drink and started a raucous mosh-pit of a celebration complete with flying beer cups, ripped shirts, and a few black eyes.
Led by wiry Dubliner Dave King, Flogging Molly mixes traditional Irish music staples such as the accordion, fiddle, whistle and banjo into a modern mix of folk tales played with a wild abandon. Starting the show with “Screaming at the Wailing Wall,” King danced a jig to the microphone and blasted right into the song. For the next two and a half hours, the musical pace was frantic and at the same time meaningful. While the crowd up front sang, danced, and moshed all night. The balcony took in the show with a bit more serenity. Not all Flogging Molly fans are moshers. There is a genuine interest in the message in their songs. “Revolution” is a tribute to those who served in the Armed Forces. “Life in a Tenement Square” remembers what it was like to grow up poor.
On the other hand, “Drunken Lullabies” is an ode to drinking and there was a lot of drinking. The Rapids Theartre has a very large bar right in the middle of the ground floor and it was as busy as ever. Much beer and whiskey was consumed. The Flogging Molly faithful were entertained and they loved it. Song after song had the crowd screaming, dancing, and crying for more. The band ripped and roared and the crowd roared back. It was as close to chaos as you can get.
A sweat-soaked King bid farewell to Niagara and promised to be back, as did the faithful crowd.
Setlist:
Screaming at the Wailing Wall
(No More) Paddy’s Lament
Every Dog Has Its Day
Revolution
Whistles the Wind
Drunken Lullabies
Life in a Tenement Square
Saints & Sinners
Requiem for a Dying Song
This Present State of Grace
The Son Never Shines (On Closed Doors)
Us of Lesser Gods
Tobacco Island
The Rare Ould Times (The Dubliners cover)
Devil’s Dance Floor
The Likes of You Again
Swagger
Float
Salty Dog
What’s Left of the Flag
Encore:
Black Friday Rule
The Seven Deadly Sins
If I Ever Leave This World Alive
We would like to Lindsey Rae Thompson from All Eyes Media for the credentials to review the show.
