Hudson River Park
31 July 2008, 1915
Why 1.5 shows for one event? Because the opener played almost as long as the main event and I was there for it all! Hudson River Park hosts River Rocks, a free summer concert series on Pier 54 at 14th Street and the West Side Highway. Basically, it is as close to New Jersey that you can get on the west side of Manhattan without getting wet or actually being there. The breeze was fantastic and wafted a river water mixed with stale beer scent through the crowd.
O'Death was the opening act for our heroes, Flogging Molly. O'Death reminds me of a cross between Gogol Bordello and an Irish fiddling band. Their tunes didn't sound polished, but maybe they weren't supposed to. Their act certainly had charm and was a tap your foot opener for the Flogging Molly faithful. The most interesting description for the band, which can be found on their website, is a quote from Daytrotter, "Brooklyn's O'Death shares some commonalities with a shootout that winds up leaving a saloon worse for wear and without a single glass capable of holding any liquid. The band is like the cry of a cougar and the sharp, invigorating pain that would be produced as a glass was smashed into your forehead." They have also been described as taking inspiration from The Pixies, The Pogues, Tom Waits, and Iggy Pop. Perhaps you should just give them a listen.
Following the eclectic performance by O'Death, Flogging Molly rocked the stage. I have been a Molly's fan for several years now and I have never been disappointed. Their music is an Irish punk variety featuring Dave King (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bodhran), Dennis Casey (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals), Matthew Hensley (accordion, concertina, piano, vocals), Nathen Maxwell (bass guitar, vocals), Bridget Regan (violin, tin whistle, classical guitar, Uilleann pipes, vocals), Robert Schmidt (mandolin, mandola, tenor banjo, five-string banjo, vocals), and George Schwindt (drums, percussion). Don't get tempted ladies and gentlemen, Dave and Bridget were just married, and most of band beat them to the altar and already have wee versions of themselves running around. Flogging Molly tours most of the year. During the school year they are part of the Green 17 tour promoting their music on college campuses around the states. The rest of the time they spend visiting various venues around the world. The set list for the evening was as follows: (No More) Paddy's Lament, The Likes of You Again, Swagger, Requiem for a Dying Song, Whistles the Wind, Drunken Lullabies, Selfish Man, Tobacco Island, Float, Rebels of the Sacred Heart, Lightning Storm, If I Ever Leave This World Alive, Salty Dog, Within a Mile of Home, Devil's Dance Floor, What's Left of the Flag, Black Friday Rule, and Seven Deadly Sins.
Clip of Float
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