One of the last — and best — Celtic punk bands to emerge from the genre’s mid-’90s heyday, Flogging Molly was formed in Los Angeles by expatriate Irish singer-songwriter and former metal vocalist Dave King. The seven-strong unit fosters a more positive, inclusive vibe than brethren such as Dropkick Murphys and The Tossers without surrendering any of that whiskey-soaked Irish élan. “Punch Drunk Grinning Soul,” from 2008’s Float, may endure as one of rock’s most life-affirming party anthems, and naturally, Molly boasts an arsenal of music-making bells and (tin) whistles that would be the envy of any Emerald Isle marching band. Before their yearly “Green 17” go-round, King and companions wrapped Float‘s Detroit-written follow-up with Red Hot Chili Peppers and Avett Brothers producer Ryan Hewitt.
This article appears in Feb 3-9, 2011.