Flogging Molly - Live at the Greek Theatre (2010)

At some point in the last five or ten years, Flogging Molly became the world's best rock-and-reel band, and perhaps one of America's best live bands in any genre. And here's one of their secrets: a bandleader who can be counted on to show up for gigs and isn't dead set on killing himself with laudanum and poitín. Dave King may not have the raw talent of Shane MacGowan, but genius is overrated in rock & roll; what makes a great band is mostly hard work, and very few bands have worked harder to become great than Flogging Molly. And on the evidence provided by this two-CD set (plus a DVD), they've made it. Live at the Greek Theatre is a tight, crunchy, raucous, but ultimately disciplined and professional celebration of punky Celtic-inflected pop music -- there are no instrumental sets, no jigs or reels, and the songs all seem to be originals, but the shapes of the melodies and certainly King's broad Dublin brogue add to the overall Irishness, as do Bridget Regan's fiddle and pennywhistle. The very large open-air venue was apparently filled to the rim with die-hard fans, who knew all the words to classic Flogging Molly songs like "Requiem for a Dying Song," "Float," "Salty Dog," "Drunken Lullabies," and, especially, "Seven Deadly Sins." The quality of the performances makes this set an excellent introduction to the band, and fans will be thrilled by both the sound and the performance quality.