On A Flogging...
Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 7:52 amHey folks, Daniel and someone else asked me to post when I had a review of last night's Flogging Molly gig in Sydney... this is from my blog, hope you don't mind DzM. Sorry for the preamble ramble, but it's the way the grey works these days. I swear I chopped it back it Boss... 
Within A Mile Of Flogging Molly by Fintan
Earthdate: Monday, May 15th 2006
Time: 17:26
Yesterday 3.00pm - On my way to see Flogging Molly @ The Hordern Pavilion near the old Sydney Showground… The train, surprisingly enough, was actually on time; but -as with the best laid plans of small rodents and anthropoids- nothing can ever be easy can it?
As I sat awaiting the locomotive carriage thingy, the Voice of Doom rang out of the train station speakers [and I paraphrase here, just a bit] “Due to essential and completely vital trackwork of a monotonously and frighteningly regular nature - and a corporate disdain for your pathetic existence as commuters - the next train will be emptied of you vermin upon your arrival at a station approximately halfway to your actual destination. You will be transferred like sheep onto buses, and ANYONE who even MENTIONS Rosa Parks will be shipped to Gitmo Bay. These buses will convey you to your next location on The Island where a new challenge awaits.” But I digress…
... There are actually four bands playing tonight, and it is at this point, dear reader, that I will confess – I AM A VERY BAD PERSON in that I will NOT be staying for the entire evening.
I have really only come to see what Flogging Molly are like live, and to get some sort of a sense of what this ‘emo/screamo/memo/mimo/mumu’ thing is all about. I will not be seeing the ‘headline’ act -Story Of The Year- due to time constraints. Oh well...
...Most of the folks were still outdoors drinking, milling, flirting, spewing, crying, pouting… all the things folks do at concerts, apparently. It has been ages since I got out to a gig like this, practically forever. It was kind of fun spotting the different T-shirts in the crowd. Lots of devotees of The Headline Act and other things less well known to me, a few Pogues shirts and a substantial number of Flogging Molly shirts about… I ran into a couple of young punk types from Woollongong who were into The Pogues and had come just to see Flogging Molly (as had I), so after a chat in we went to get a good spot with a few minutes to spare. At this point nearly all of the estimated 5,500 ticket holders were in the building, man. The Hordern is a great big barn of a place, so there was STILL room on the floor in the dark to mill around.
Almost dead on scheduled time, out comes Dave King and the crew to a hearty and loud reception. They launch into their 50 minute set with gusto, plenty of songs from their latest album, and a few from their previous – all perfectly boisterous, hearty, professional to a T and full of big-hearted blarney (“Fuck Bush!” and all that)… a good lighting show (I went up back to watch from behind the light and sound operators later like a big middle-aged geek after getting stomped on in an impromptu mosh-hooley dance outbreak) and enthusiastic rendition of their material is only slightly marred by a crap sound mix which worsens as the set progresses. Not enough to ruin the experience for me, but just a bit of a letdown. Moving past that, a good time was had by all and the kids went nutsoid doing pogo/step dancing hybrids and air-punching like all get-out. They finish their set and, satisfied with a good night out, I bolt for a taxi to get to the return train home and another 3 hour journey through public transport limbo.
All up, a fun couple of bands and a decent night out... and unlike my own gigs, no hangovers to worry about, wooHOO!
Within A Mile Of Flogging Molly by Fintan
Earthdate: Monday, May 15th 2006
Time: 17:26
Yesterday 3.00pm - On my way to see Flogging Molly @ The Hordern Pavilion near the old Sydney Showground… The train, surprisingly enough, was actually on time; but -as with the best laid plans of small rodents and anthropoids- nothing can ever be easy can it?
As I sat awaiting the locomotive carriage thingy, the Voice of Doom rang out of the train station speakers [and I paraphrase here, just a bit] “Due to essential and completely vital trackwork of a monotonously and frighteningly regular nature - and a corporate disdain for your pathetic existence as commuters - the next train will be emptied of you vermin upon your arrival at a station approximately halfway to your actual destination. You will be transferred like sheep onto buses, and ANYONE who even MENTIONS Rosa Parks will be shipped to Gitmo Bay. These buses will convey you to your next location on The Island where a new challenge awaits.” But I digress…
... There are actually four bands playing tonight, and it is at this point, dear reader, that I will confess – I AM A VERY BAD PERSON in that I will NOT be staying for the entire evening.
I have really only come to see what Flogging Molly are like live, and to get some sort of a sense of what this ‘emo/screamo/memo/mimo/mumu’ thing is all about. I will not be seeing the ‘headline’ act -Story Of The Year- due to time constraints. Oh well...
...Most of the folks were still outdoors drinking, milling, flirting, spewing, crying, pouting… all the things folks do at concerts, apparently. It has been ages since I got out to a gig like this, practically forever. It was kind of fun spotting the different T-shirts in the crowd. Lots of devotees of The Headline Act and other things less well known to me, a few Pogues shirts and a substantial number of Flogging Molly shirts about… I ran into a couple of young punk types from Woollongong who were into The Pogues and had come just to see Flogging Molly (as had I), so after a chat in we went to get a good spot with a few minutes to spare. At this point nearly all of the estimated 5,500 ticket holders were in the building, man. The Hordern is a great big barn of a place, so there was STILL room on the floor in the dark to mill around.
Almost dead on scheduled time, out comes Dave King and the crew to a hearty and loud reception. They launch into their 50 minute set with gusto, plenty of songs from their latest album, and a few from their previous – all perfectly boisterous, hearty, professional to a T and full of big-hearted blarney (“Fuck Bush!” and all that)… a good lighting show (I went up back to watch from behind the light and sound operators later like a big middle-aged geek after getting stomped on in an impromptu mosh-hooley dance outbreak) and enthusiastic rendition of their material is only slightly marred by a crap sound mix which worsens as the set progresses. Not enough to ruin the experience for me, but just a bit of a letdown. Moving past that, a good time was had by all and the kids went nutsoid doing pogo/step dancing hybrids and air-punching like all get-out. They finish their set and, satisfied with a good night out, I bolt for a taxi to get to the return train home and another 3 hour journey through public transport limbo.
All up, a fun couple of bands and a decent night out... and unlike my own gigs, no hangovers to worry about, wooHOO!
So how many copies do you wanna buy for friends? 