You just never know what's going to be on tap when you sneak into a bar at 17.
"I was simply trying to find my way," says bass guitarist Nathen Maxwell of Flogging Molly. "I had just dropped out of high school and was trying to pursue my dream of being in a rock band."
It was some 15 years ago when he made it into Molly Malone's, an Irish pub in Los Angeles, to catch a Celtic punk band that Dublin-born Dave King was putting together. The music was free and the beer was cheap, and like so many ironies in life, Maxwell eventually was asked to become a part of King's lineup.
Since then, Flogging Molly has built a cult following around the world. They bring their annual Green 17 tour to the House of Blues at the Showboat in Atlantic City on Saturday.
FM mirrors the Pogues and marches in step with the Dropkick Murphys. If you're a fan, you know this. If you're not, check them out. A pint of Guinness says you'll become one.
"We used to play Molly Malone's every Monday night and we felt like we were flogging it to death, so we called the band Flogging Molly," explains Maxwell.
Everything about FM says Irish-American punk rock, but Maxwell disagrees.
"I think we play original music — soul music that digs deep," he says. "True, you can hear Dave's Irish accent coming through. And there is some punk rock energy in what we do. What we play is R&B, and rock 'n' roll and jazz with traditional Irish influences. But we are not an Irish punk band."
It's doubtful their fans would agree.
A lot of FM's songs are Irish narratives, such as "Requiem for a Dying Song" from the band's 2008 CD, "Float." Their music has ranged from the rowdy ("Salty Dog") to the reflective ("Far Away Boys"), and touches on Irish history, drinking, politics and death. And the music is infused with fiddles, accordions, tin whistles and even on occasion spoons.
Besides Maxwell and front man and chief composer King, Flogging Molly consists of King's wife, Bridget Regan, Dennis Casey, Bob Schmidt, George Schwindt and Matt Hensley, a daredevil who doubles as an extreme skateboard superstar.
"We've fought hard to get to where we are," says Maxwell during a phone chat from his California home. "Sure, we occasionally have disputes. Things sometimes get emotional when you're creating. But we love each other. We tour for about five weeks at a time in a bus. That's a lot of time in a little space. So we've learned to bond."
The Southern California-raised Maxwell says, "All I ever wanted to be was a punk rocker in a band. I couldn't be happier." Now 32, the married father of three girls — "the 8-year-old plays guitar, the 4-year-old plays piano and the 8-month-old is, well, just a music fan" — is convinced the band is making "the best music we've ever created." Citing "Drunken Lullabies" and "If I Ever Leave This World Alive" as "pretty much emotional music."
"I feel we are in the right place," Maxwell says.
At least, he no longer has to sneak into bars.
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