Flogging Molly- September 12 @ The Greek

Sometimes the soul just needs a rollicking Irish band to facilitate pure, unadulterated joy. Really, how can life be bad when you're enveloped in the sounds of a penny whistle, an accordion, thumping drums, a fiddle, a mandolin, a banjo and a sick guitar? Did I mention lyrics like, "Swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o/ Swing a little more, on the Devil's Dance Floor" set to a heart-pounding pace? Flogging Molly did it fast, hard and rowdy, and I don't think one soul in the audience was left wanting.

As the sun set over the Los Angeles skyline, the Greek Theatre filled with punks and Irish alike, adorned in Social Distortion/Dropkick Murphys/Clash/The Dubliners shirts with the occasional kilt. Safety pins, torn jeans, patches and Dr. Martens abound, the venue was full of anti-establishement fans and simply put, it was glorious. People flocked to purchase $10 beers simply to sip the brew while watching the most popular Irish musical import this side of the Atlantic.

The show had two opening bands, the phenomenal Fitz & the Tantrums and Hepcat. Fitz and his crew put on a highly entertaining show, and I was so impressed I went up to him after their set and told him how much I enjoyed the band. Imagine the soul and swagger behind a Motown 50s girl group, put a lanky white man singing lead vocals and throwing in delightful dance moves, and you have Fitz & the Tantrums. The set was swingin' and fun, and I was impressed at the response they got from the sparse crowd trickling in before the main attraction. Please check out their MySpace, I promise you won't be let down (http://www.myspace.com/fitzsoulmusic). And if you ever get a chance to see them live, jump on it; Fitz is marvellous.

As for Flogging Molly, this was my second time seeing them and they were even better 5 years after my first time. I think the quality of a concert can be judged by the fan response, and by the end of the night, the entire crowd was linking arms, swaying and holding beers in the air, chanting with every lyric out of singer Dave King's mouth. Irish pride ran rampant, and even for us non-Irish, it felt blissful. The band sipped Guiness as they ran through old and new hits alike, spanning from 2000's Swagger to 2008's Float; they even did a lovely cover of T. Rex's "Children of the Revolution" which made me quite happy. The interesting part was seeing the entire band (7 people total) lined up on stage, with no one in front or behind (minus drumnmer George Schwindt); the level of commraderie and mutual respect was blatant. This band loves each other and they love what they do, which manifests itself through their music.

As they closed with "What's Left of the Flag," I caught a glance of a friendly, miniscule mosh pit in front of the stage. There was some crowd surfing and pushing and all that, but everyone seemed to be watching out for each other, being as careful as possible while still thrashing and dancing. I smiled and contemplated this blissful little moment where everyone was together and in agreeance that a solid Irish jig, a middle finger to the man and a good pint can cure all that ails you. Cheers.