Flogging Molly show was like a night at the pub

By Jeff Maisey

Los Angeles-based Celtic punk rock band Flogging Molly turned The NorVa into a rollicking pub on Thursday night. For the second time in six months, they sold the joint out.

Before the band took the stage, there was little doubt a party was to unfold. Cans of Guinness Extra Stout were placed on amplifiers and in every nook and cranny on stage. No musician would have to look far to stumble across a pint of the heavy.

Flogging Molly - Dave King (vocals/guitar), Bridget Regan (fiddle/uillean pipes), Dennis Casey (guitar), Matt Hensley (accordion), Nathen Maxwell (bass), Bob Schmidt (mandolin/banjo) and George Schwindt (drums) -- was touring in support of "Float," the band's fourth studio release and its best charting record when it debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 album chart in March. It was also the first album the band recorded in King's native Ireland.

True to form, the group relied on its highly energetic mix of punk angst and traditional Irish instrumentation to entertain the audience, which sang along word-for-word and chanted as if they were at a boisterous soccer - make that football - match in Dublin.

Fans certainly got to the Irish spirit as only Americans can, with green Mohawks, plaid kilts and shamrock necklaces. Thankfully, no one dressed as a leprechaun. Although…

Singer Dave King was his usual charismatic self, whether he was dancing a slightly sloppy jig between singing parts or sharing witty humor before introducing the next song to be performed.

Flogging Molly got things off to a rousing start with the energetic "(No More) Paddy's Lament." Other highlights included "Requiem for a Dying Song," "Rebels of the Sacred Heart" and "Salty Dog." All three reeling tunes induced widespread dancing, an act not always allowed in downtown Norfolk establishments.

Things wouldn't be authentically Irish if ballads were omitted. Flogging Molly offered three of its finest slow tempo ditties: "If I Ever Leave This World Alive," "Whistles the Wind," and the anthem-like "Float."

As far as drinking music goes, nothing beats lively Irish tunes, even if most of the musicians are American-born. Nothing is better than "Drunken Lullabies."

Britain's Beat Union, who recently played Virginia Beach as part of the Van's Warped Tour, was the first act to perform. Though they never waived their Union Jack, everything else about their sound smacked of the early days of English punk. The tone and melodies sung by frontman Dave Warsop were oddly similar to the English Beat. Hmmm, similar Beats?

Throughout their set, the crowd was totally engaged. Songs like "Calling" and "Can't Stop the Radio" showcased the band's punchy, Jam-like guitar chords. During "Pressure Zone," a song they dedicated to people who hate their jobs, the quartet slipped into "Can't Stand Losing You" by The Police. By the loud cheers from the audience, that most everyone in attendance was unsatisfied with their place of employment.

Performing between Flogging Molly and Beat Union was The Love Ones. Not only was their lackluster set a big yawn, when singer Dave Hause screamed at the crowd to "wake up," most everyone remained stubbornly mum.

Reach Jeff Maisey at (757) 222-3934 or jmaisey@pilotonline.com