On March 17 every year, millions toast Ireland and its patron saint at St. Patrick's Day festivities around the globe — but few do it with the same ardor as Celtic punk band Flogging Molly.
For five years running, the Los Angeles and Ireland-based septet have embarked on their "Green 17 Tour," a jaunt across North America in celebration of Paddy's Day. The 2009 edition began Feb. 15 in New York and wrapped up on March 17 in Chicago. Many feel rough come the morn of March 18; imagine the hangover after feasting on drinks for a month.
Currently in the midst of recuperating, the group will soon travel to Japan in support of their fourth album proper, last year's "Float." While their CDs are good, the band have yet to capture their amazing live energy in the studio. No doubt, though, their fifth visit since 2004 — as anyone who's been at one of their club concerts or partook of their acclaimed appearances at Fuji Rock and Punkspring will quickly attest, Flogging Molly's acoustic guitar, mandolin and accordion-driven working-class drinking anthems are best experienced while bouncing alongside other intoxicated revelers on floors soaked with spilled beer and spirits.