Flogging Molly / Street Dogs

live in San Francisco (2004)
Side One Dummy Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Fuzzy
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on September 17th 2004

I've been in San Francisco all of 2 and half days as of the writing of this review. I got here at around 11pm on the night of the 12th, crashing on a friend's couch. While some may not enjoy the details of someone's life, it sets the stage for the concert quite well. While wandering downtown to get a new Social Security card, we walked past the Warfield and saw that Flogging Molly, The Street Dogs and the Briggs were going to be playing. This was kind of a breath of fresh air, because as someone who had previously only been as far west as Chicago, these two bands were nice and familiar. Old friends with whom you could relax and imagine you were sitting in the Newport Music Hall or the Axis.

Due to the newness in the city, we totally missed The Briggs. Completely. We got in as the conductor was alerting us that we had indeed reached the Savin Hill stop, just to see Mike and the rest of the 'Dogs burst into the title track of their first album. For those who aren't in the know on the Street Dogs, they are original Dropkick Murphy's singer Mike McColgan's return to music, sounding more like Do or Die than DKM has in ages. They played through a set of tracks mostly from Savin Hill, including a couple songs from their upcoming disc, Tale of Mass Deception, the title track and "In Defense of Dorchester," an ode to Mike's hometown. While this was the first time I had seen them, the feel of the Boston rock and roll is an old groove that feels good to relax in. Mike was jumping everywhere, Joe Sirois was tending to the skins with great care, and the rest of the band was top notch. They whipped out an "old boston hardcore" song according to Mike, as well as their rendition of "Boston (Borstal) Breakout" to close the set. It was a great set, punctuated by Mike's advice to the crowd that he wasn't going to tell us how to vote, what to think or do, but only that we all needed to get involved. It was as sincere as a plea against apathy that I've ever seen.

Next up we got a nice message from Jello Biafra and the folks at Punkvoter.com. A screen descended to play a video of the Dead Kennedys frontman telling us the evils of our President, a short cut of the Will Ferrell skit on the Rock Against Bush Vol. 2 DVD, and a compilation showing the waffling position of the Bush administration in regards to WMD, Iraq, and the war. It was good stuff, fairly short, and tastefully done.

This year at the Warped Tour, my brother and I were lamenting that while we loved Flogging Molly, after you've seen them more times than you have fingers, their set becomes less than new and exciting. While they are still amazing, I've passed up watching them at least 6 times in the last two years just because I wasn't in the mood. This being the first time I stayed still to watch them in two years, I was impressed at how much was the same, but also at how much is different. Gone are the duct-taped accordions, mandolins and guitars. Brand new are Dave's distinguished facial hair, shiny new instruments, and crowds big enough to fill a huge venue.

However, none of this has changed how hard they play. Flogging Molly consistently play their songs perfectly in my experience. You can't honestly ask for a stronger live band. Because this show was on the same day as the release of their new record, I expected quite a few new songs to be in the set. The opened with "Screaming at the Wailing Wall" from this album, followed by two tracks from their previous two cds. Their set was actually well balanced, relying on classics from Swagger and Drunken Lullabies to keep everyone happy, adding in sparse amounts of tracks from the new CD. Dave and company were on, hitting everything perfectly, keeping the crowd entertained and the set moving. All in all, it was one of the better performances I've seen by them, if not a bit polished.

It's odd to see how far the 'Molly has come since I first saw them. Bridget used to never speak, shying away at the back of the stage. Gone are the days when Dave would get so shitfaced drunk he would forget where he was. I'll probably never be able to see them in a club like Little Brother's in Columbus, OH where the band hangs out with the crowd afterwards, hugging and shaking hands with everyone possible. Times changes, bands get bigger, and you move from coast to coast. But the songs stay the same, and while the selection and the presentation can be altered slightly, Flogging Molly will always put on a show that makes me smile and makes me feel at home.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (February 12, 2005)

WOW so much hatred for people who just like to do what they do. You people have too much time to bitch. You don't know what selling out is because you suck too much for anyone to buy it!

Anonymous (September 23, 2004)

dear guy below me,
my sentiments exactly. it would have been so much more acceptable had he been 13, out of youthful idiocy.

Anonymous (September 23, 2004)

Anyone that feels the need to label themselves as "anarcho crust punk " is just as lame as the bands he/she tries to bash. DKM aren't "from" Boston technically, but bands call home where they got their start. When in a band from MA, there are 3 typical answers-Boston, Worcester and Springfield. It saves people the question of "where the fuck is [enter noname town]?"

Does living closer to Boston, in Allston make you any cooler? Not a chance. And how did they "fuck over" Darkbuster and other bands? Because they didn't hold their hands? What does the Y in D.I.Y stand for? That's right, YOURSELF. Not piggybacking on a band that is doing well, man. All of those bands are/were great, and I don't think anyone of them blame DKM for babysitting them. Success comes far and inbetween, and any band would take it if they weren't stupid and didn't have to fuck anyone over along the way.

You sound like another typical old punk that bitches and moans that "punk is dead" and "none of MY bands would have done this and that". Yes, it's a different day and age, and bands won't be the same as then, so if you don't like the new shit, don't listen. Lock yourself in your Allston shoebox apartment, and crankall the Reagan Youth your little heart desires. If you are as "anarcho crust punk " as you say you are, you should have better shit to do than post on this site. Go damn the man, or freak out the establishment, and let the kids listen to what they want to.

Anonymous (September 22, 2004)

-How old are you?Like 13 you fucking dumbass kid!You call yourself punk?Thats sad Go get a life

Actually try 30 born in 74 I aman anarcho crust punk (if you need my definition) and was probablypunk before you (not that it really matters you did however try to call me 13) unless your older than me. Most really old bands would never have done something like warped tour. so how was I wrong about it? I have a life and a kid too!

Fuzzy (September 22, 2004)

I was at that same show! We hung with the folks afterwards, and Dave gave me and my girlfriend a big hug, since that show was our Valentine's date that year.

treetsux (September 21, 2004)

Man, I only got to see them once at Little Brothers, I remember it very well; Feb 13, 2001. The crowd that shows up now compared to then is VERY different.

Anonymous (September 20, 2004)

"I'm almost glad that all of you like these poser bands who play warped tour (and if you don't think the warped tour is selling out than you are wicked pathetic being on warped tour is helping selling shoes and other crappy sponsers who don't care about the music but to advertise IE selling out) I am sometimes ashamed to be punk with all these band leeching off the scene. Im just glad real punk bands would break up before selling out."

-How old are you?Like 13 you fucking dumbass kid!You call yourself punk?Thats sad Go get a life

Anonymous (September 20, 2004)

Pwnd.

Fuzzy (September 20, 2004)

How did they fuck them over? From what I've seen, the majority of those bands you mentioned weren't into the whole fame and fortune thing to begin with. Certainly not Mung or Darkbuster. Both of those bands broke up right when they were getting big(ger). Without the DKM talking about Showcase, The Ducky Boys, and all those bands, I doubt there'd be as much interest in them, causing more than half of them to reunite or start playing shows again.

Anonymous (September 20, 2004)

"Both bringing so many lame people into the boston punk scene. Both bands have totally shit on all the good bands that helped them get where they are"
is what I said. I live in Allston actually, Dropkick aren't even from Boston anyway there from Quincy, and if you know Mass you already know that allston is much closer to boston than Quincy is! At least Gang Green Admit there from Braintree. I said they shit on the scene how many Boston bands have they helped? 2! no more than that, and certainly not any of the bands that originally helped them out. They fucked over darkbuster, mung, the nothings, the showcase showdown, toxic narcotic and 30 seconds over tokyo. All great boston bands that helped out DKM anyway. Bostons biggest joke next to the Street Dogs and the Bosstones

Fuzzy (September 20, 2004)

Totally. He's just a nice, fun guy. There's none of the macho, posturing bullshit with him.

Cos (September 19, 2004)

Does Mike still do his silly faces? I saw him w/ Dropkick waaaaaaay back in the day in SF and he was jumping around, throwing the mic in the crowd, nodding in approval of the audience participation, and just acting like the opposite of what one would expect a "street punk" band to act like. He was such a great frontman to watch.

--Cos

Fuzzy (September 18, 2004)

Anyone who says that anyone in DKM or the 'Dogs have hurt the Boston scene probably doesn't live in Boston.

Anonymous (September 18, 2004)

The street dogs (what a lame name by the way) are just as retarded as there countrerpart Dropkick. Both bringing so many lame people into the boston punk scene. Both bands have totally shit on all the good bands that helped them get where they are. What have they done for the Swingin Utters, Toxic Narcotic, August Spies, and Showcase Showdown who all brought them on tour and gave them shows when no one else would. I'm almost glad that all of you like these poser bands who play warped tour (and if you don't think the warped tour is selling out than you are wicked pathetic being on warped tour is helping selling shoes and other crappy sponsers who don't care about the music but to advertise IE selling out) I am sometimes ashamed to be punk with all these band leeching off the scene. Im just glad real punk bands would break up before selling out.

TheOnetrueBill (September 18, 2004)

I was thinking about going just to see the Briggs and Street Dogs, but then decided it wasn't worth $20.

Anonymous (September 18, 2004)

great review, fun band

i cant wait for the chicago show

Anonymous (September 18, 2004)

too bad it was at the warfield. place is too fucking big.

Anonymous (September 17, 2004)

Flogging molly tore up the warfield that night !! the street dogs did a great job of delivering a really professional show and the briggs made me run to the lobby to pick up thier e.p. I am happy i did !