Category Archives: Live

Live

The Dolomites – Kells Irish Pub, Portland, OR (March 17, 2002)

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First off, Holy Shit!, secondly, What the fuck?! The Dolomites have become the most entertaining and bizzare band of all time! This show had nothing to do with St. Paddy’s Day, and neither did the music! In fact the band has turned into an evil circus clown/gypsy polka band! The show is just as much visual as musical. The gutiar/clarinet player was dressed up like Spiderman, the squeezebox/vocalist sat on a toilet for the whole show and sang songs from the semi-CD, “The Medicine Show”. The part time banjo player sporting a culinary chef jacket and blond Sammy Hagar wig, cooked up some fish n’ chips onstage in a garbage can and served it on the garbage can lid to the audience as they came up to the stage. The band kept yelling at the crowd “You fucking Germans!!” and “Have some fish flesh!!!” They played some newer songs like “Hop Scotch” and “Rose City….What The Fuck!” and “A Japanese Pop Song.”

More or less they were just playing around on a late Sunday night. It was the drummer’s last show after about four years. The Squeezebox-Singer was jumping in the air, setting a candle inside the toilet on flames with some kind of flammable powder! (non-dairy creamer maybe?) I wish I had a video recorder! If you see The Dolomites van pull into your town, call the authorities, and ask the mental ward if they have about six or seven padded rooms for some very insane individuals! I don’t know how often these guys tour, but, you won’t want to miss this show!!”

Review by Brian Gillespie

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Amadan, McGnarley’s Rant – Kells Irish Pub, Portland, OR (March 16, 2002)

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On Saturday, I stumbled downtown into the chaotic Kells Pub.On my way to one of the three (four?) tents that the pub had set up for music, I heard bagpipes playin’ everywhere (a good thing!), saw way too many of those goofy Jamison’s green and white “cat in the hat” style hats, and people in Notre Damn Fightin’ Irish sweaters asking me where the green beer was. I usually avoid this part of town anytime near Paddy’s Day, but, today there were a few bands that I wanted to see, and they were playing one right after the other.

Amadan took the stage at 6 o’clock and began their set with mostly songs from the excellent new album “Sons Of Liberty” such as ‘The Republic, Back Home In Derry, Morrisons-Cadence To A Drunken Arms Deal” They also did a few covers from The Pogues, such as “Rain Street”, Dropkick Murphys, “Good Rats” and even did “Will Ye Be Proud” that was cut straight from the cloth of a Real McKenzies kilt! The (older) sober crowd seemed like they each had an eyebrow raised, and were studying this band on stage. It was too early and most of the “Crusties” weren’t out yet! A damn good show anyway!

Then McGnarley’s Rant came aboard, and they had a hard time with the still sober crowd. By the end of their set, folks were more becoming loud, and loose, and finally began to dance. This band has been on the road since Jan. 4th, and still had the energy to produce a kick ass set. The lead singer, “Shameless” Tipsy McGnarley looked possessed most of the time, and the fiddler, Sally “MacIennane” McGnarley galloped back and forth across the stage. The rest of the band was just as solid. If these lads, & (lass), ever come to your town, go to the show! A big thanks to the band for that Swingin’ Utters song! (I was that guy screaming and clapping!)

Review by Brian Gillespie

Live

Flogging Molly, The Casualties, One Man Army – The Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR (May 9, 2002)

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The hubbub was tremendous, you could tell something brilliant would happen. The buzz in the air. Flogging Molly was in town. It was a typical spring night in the Northwest….Wet as fuck and getting wetter. Just to add to the night, I was sick as hell, coughing up lung butter all week, it may have been a bad case of scurvy. I debated even going to the show, if only for a moment. Instead, I went home and took a well needed rest. I woke up well after the show had started, and realized I better get my ass down to the ballroom before I missed too much! My head was pounding, my nose running like a water hose, sickasfuckinghell, but I didn’t care! I ran up the three flights of stairs of the ballroom like a banshee howling ninja. I missed the opening band, but I was just in time to finally see The Casualties. I had heard about these guys, but never their music. I was impressed! Great NYC streetpunk. I decided to hang back, and gargle some Scotch at the bar.

Then it happened, after The Casualties finished, the crowd started chanting… Hey-Oh-hey-O-hey-O Heeeyyyy!!! Then came the foot stomping. The floor bounced. (The Crystal Ballroom used to host ballroom dancing back in the ’30, so the floor had tiny springs attached under it for an added bouncing effect) The clapping came! The crowd was intense. One of the amazing things about a Flogging Molly show is the crowd itself. Every type of person shows up at a FM show, everybody from the skaters, to the Micks sporting the derby caps, and scarves, to the punks, to the pirates. Arm over arm, chanting, stomping, clapping, drinking, dancing! Hey-Oh-hey-O-hey-Oheeeyyy! Another chant of Floggginggg Mollllyyy! Hooligan football style. I ran up into the front of the crowd. This was something you’d typically see at a World Cup qualifer match, not a FM show in Portland, Oregon!!! They lowered the FM banner, and it was on!

“Drunken Lullabies” opened the set and the we went beserk. It was folllowed by “Selfish Man” Dave was in great form tonight.Then, “What’s Left Of The Flag”, “If I Ever Leave This World” The brilliant song about “County Kilburn” in London, “The Kilburn High Road”, “Rebels Of A Sacred Heart”,and then one of my favs, “Another Bag Of Bricks”, “Worst Day Since Yesterday” And then came the greatest crowd pleaser…..”Devil’s Dance Floor”! The Bodies flying over me, & falling under me,i was pickin’ em up and throwing them around again! The slamming! Hell Yes!! It may have been the devil’s dance floor, but I was in bliss! It was one of those rare shows when you really feel alive, and glad to have witnessed it. (Cheesy, but true! John, you can edit this part if you like! – NEVER!!!!) My cold was fucking gone! Hey-O-hey-o-hey-Heeeeyyyy! They also played “The Worst Day Since Yesterday”, “Delila” (with horn!), “Black Friday Rule”, “Salty Dog” (my fav)” and “Sentimental Johnny” I could have stayed home sick and miserable, but I decided to go and enjoy one of the greatest bands live, who can also cure the common cold, and make you have a very, very, good night! I know I say this everytime, but I really mean it this time,…..GO SEE THEM PLAY LIVE!! They will be THE band to see at the upcoming Warped Tour!!

Review by Brian “Cured” Gillespie

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Shane MacGowan and the Popes – 930 Club Washington, DC (May 8, 2002)

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Come to think of it, maybe I HAVEN’T ever seen Shane play with the Popes. In all the times I saw performances by the legendary songwriter, he stood apart from the band and the audience alike, dribbling out lyrics as they came back to him, showing no sense of ensemble performance, stage presence, or the intelligent and elegiac lyricist who made the Pogues my favorite eighties band. Never did I see him dance about, beat the drum-set whimsically, or clown with a towel on his head and a necktie in his head.

Resisting the urge to ape some Dublin vernacular after the amazing show I just saw at Washington, DC’s nine-thirty club would be harder if Shane hadn’t impressed me so thoroughly. Articulate and dynamic, Shane owned the songs he covered as masterfully as those he wrote. Hank Williams’ “Angel of Death” and Ewan MacColl’s “Dirty old town” both afforded hiim opportunities to sing on key and he made them his own by holding their notes with tuneful conviction.

Likewise, material he coathored with the energetic Popes fared well because they all had some kind of understanding that he was no longer some poster child for irish intemperance and they were no longer a backup band, lucky enough to record with a legend who could get them gigs; rather, they rallied to champion rousing (and rowdy) numbers like “Mother Ma Chroi”, “Donegal Express”, and “More Kicks Than Pricks”. If some of my old favorite Pogues songs were missing from the setlist, I minded less because I knew that the catalogue of the present band was earning it’s audience, chord by rambunctious chord.

Still, the auld ditties never came amiss to my sentimental ears, and hearing Behan’s Auld triangle sung in the clearest voice I have ever heard from Shane nearly brought tears to my eyes, and the exquisite buzz of the “Sickbed of Cuchulain” managed that, even as it made me dance. missing songs like “A Pair of Brown Eyes” and “Sally Maclenane” number among those I’ve often heard live. Rarer treats like “Body of An American” and “Bottle of Smoke” made this show extra special. Seeing them performed with such robust enthusiasm and good humor took this performance to a new level.

If this review strikes the reader as too personal an experience to give the reader a fair idea of what (s)he might have heard for himself, consider how personal Shane’s writing tends to be; whether moping into a pint glass over jukebox songs about love or celebrating an epecially good run of odds in “Bottle of Smoke”, these are songs which bear singing along because everyone in that club demonstrated a sense of personal communion with Shane. Everytime is the first time when dealing with an erratic genius who could come back from decrepitude and the loss of a longtime girlfriend, and we got some first class entertainment in the bargain. That’s as personal as it gets, and his offer to name a street, he’ll name you a bar and walk miles to buy you a jar rang true at every turn.

Review by Peter Burris

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The Real McKenzies and The Dwarfs – Berbati’s, Portland, OR (May 5, 2002)

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The Real McKenzies remind all of us how cool it is to be Scottish! Once again, these guys put on a god damn fantastic show! I remember very little, my review notes became my beer coaster as soon as I stumbled to the bar before the show! I remember writing the band names and the date on it and that’s about it! I give you this review from sheer memory! So I am sure it will be a shorty. My O my, If you have not seen these bastards before, do so now, or be damned for all eternity! The Real McKenzies put the C in Ceilidh if you ask me. They were the second act in a three-band show, and made the most of the too short set, and the too small stage. They tore up the stage in a pure Highland kind of way, with absolute chaos and mayhem, complete with kilts, a bagpipe and lots of alcohol! I think I remember that they insulted the English queen mum, praised Robert Burns, and sang about the forgotten subject of Scottish independence!! In my opinion, Berbati’s sucks for live music. And the happy hour also sucks. I tell you, mentally, the barkeep is a few beers short of a six pack, or about as bright as a burned out light bulb, or as sharp as a bowling ball, if you ask me, (Who actually is?)

Uhh, I remember the lads played “Auld Lang Syne”, “Scot’s Wha’ Ha’e”, “Mainland”, “King O’Glasgow” (My Favorite), “Wild Cattieyote”, “Bitch Off The Money”, and more, but I must apologize…. Did I mention I got shitfaced and don’t really recall much? Go see these guys right now! Get into a car and follow them from show, to show. They will spit beer at you, jump on you, flash you, insult you! And you will love it, because it’s The Real McKenzies, and they are here to remind the world that the Scottish can kick your ass!!!

The Dwarfs were the headliners, and my head was lined with alcohol by that point! Great band! They played a really good show and that is all I can tell you. Sorry!

Review by Brian “Beerbong” Gillespie

Live

Flogging Molly – The Underworld, Camden Town, London (August 27, 2002)

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Flogging Molly “Kings of the Camden High Street”
This was my first live experience of Flogging Molly, and the most positive thing to come out of it, was the fact that it certainly will not be my last.
The Underworld is quite a small venue and quickly filled up with people from all walks of life. Mostly spiky haired Punks, many of who were probably only there because the Underworld is mainly a Punk venue. They may not have been FM fans going in but they certainly were when they were leaving. There were Irish football shirts scattered around too and of course FM and Pogues tee shirts. There were 3 warm up bands, which were in the right order, as each one seemed better than the last.
The crowd got excited when Flogging Molly appeared on the stage around 9.30. After a brief instrument check, They steamed into “Drunken Lullabies”. The sound was excellent, the Underworld seemed to be the perfect place for FM to play. Dave briefly introduced each song, and they carried on as they started. “Selfish Man”, “The Likes of You”, “Rebels of the Sacred Heart” followed, with the moshers getting livelier with each song. The band then caught their breath with a perfect rendition of “The Worst Day Since Yesterday”. After a very long round of applause, off they went again “Black Friday Rule” , “Another Bag of Bricks”, “Devils Dance floor”, “What’s Left of the Flag”, “Salty Dog”, and the “Kings of the Kilburn High Road”, among others before the last song, “Delilah” Rocked Camden Town.
All in all, a very enjoyable evening. Watching them on stage, I could see that they really enjoyed what they were doing. Flogging Molly produced a unique self styled sound that was fuelled by pure adrenaline. Power packed songs performed to perfection. It was the kind of performance that even the master, Mr. MacGowan would have been proud of. To finish up, I’ll give one piece of advice to anyone who hasn’t seen Flogging Molly yet…..The next time they are playing near you, get yourselves down there to see them, and believe me, you won’t be disappointed.

Review by Michael “Dublin Mickey” Fay

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The Tossers – the Hi-Dive, Champaign, IL (2002)

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“I can’t tell your songs from the traditionals, and that’s the highest compliment I can give.” So said my buddy Andy, a native of England/Scotland to Tony Duggins, lead singer of the Tossers. You could tell Tony was suitably impressed, as that is, I’m assuming, one of the Tossers goals – to be talked about in the same breath as the legends, and when it’s all said and done – Tony can tell tales in dark, dank bars – tales that go ‘hey, we wuz there, too, on the front line. And we made an impact…And we were good. Good enough for some drunken ex-pat one night, at the very least.’ It was good to see hometown boys The Tossers back in Champaign.
I don’t even know if there was an opening band. Could care less. I got there right as Tony and co. took the stage. Here I must add that since the last time I’ve seen the fellas, they’ve added a fiddler player, who is not only shit-hot on the fiddle, but just plain shit-hot. Great pick up, boys. Speaking of the band, they were as tight as ever on this night, too bad the crowd couldn’t keep up.

Yeah, the crowd was a bit mellow tonight, and even Tony’s drunken taunting didn’t get a lot of them moving. It could’ve been because it was an ‘early’ show and there was a fruity-ass rave DJ coming on after them, or it could’ve been the lack of drunken hooligans in the house, but it wasn’t as crazy as it could’ve been.

To be honest, the show was awhile back, I was drunk and the set-list in it’s entirety has escaped me – but I do know that the Tossers usual repertoire of Poguesy originals were in the house – “Buckets of Beer” “When You Get Here” “The Crutch” and “Mad Riot.” All sounded as good as ever, some even resulting in beer showers, and the usual covers were in effect as well with “The Irish Rover” among others.

In the end, the Tossers were cut short by some pud that was worried that the DJ was getting restless. And so ended a night when the Tossers were, as usual, up for it, but the crowd and the ambience of the evening just couldn’t keep up – like a college boy drinking with Shane.

After the set, we knocked back a few with the band, but as it was an early show’s end, they decided to head north for Chi-town. The mood was suitably high, thanks to the band, so we finished drinking and headed to the local Irish watering hole, Mike and Molly’s, and commented that hopefully next time the crowd is as up for it as the Tossers always are. No excuses next time, Champaign.

Review by Sean Holland

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Flogging Molly /The Supersuckers – The Crystal Ballroom, Portland, Or (March 28, 2003)

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WOW! What a performance! I have never been let down yet, out of the dozen or so times I have seen Flogging Molly. That’s why I think they are the best band out there at the moment. Remember this folks, You, and I, are both involved in something important. We are the fans who are involved in the most important band in music. We proudly cheer them on like the true fans we are. Take a look at MTV, take a listen to the so-called “Alternative” radio stations, read the Top Ten “Alternative” Charts. Do you notice anything? I do. I notice it’s all shite. It’s all bland, heartless, and dull. For the most part the music out there sucks. I’m glad to admit I have nothing to do with it. The most of the music covered in here, (Shite’n’Onions) on the other hand, is full of life, full of heart, and has a pulse that beats like a fucking machine gun.
As a fan of Flogging Molly, I am here to share my experience of a recent show here in Portland, Oregon. Sure, it’s not the mecca of the free world, but it’s an important location for Flogging Molly. It’s one of the first locations outside of California that Flogging Molly played. (finally, the west coast got a break!) It’s also a town that has an original solid fan base for the band since day one. A few years ago, Flogging Molly first came up here and played on a stage that was about the size of my doorstep.(for those with tape measures, my doorstep is very,very tiny.) To steal an old slogan describing The Clash back in the ’80’s, Flogging Molly has grown into the 21st century’s version of “The Only Band That Matters.” Now I may be a wee bit off base with that comment…I’m sure you’re smart enough to see that i’m not exactly serious, but i’m not exactly joking either. (In other words, I sure hope you see what I mean.) Starting up at Molly Malone’s, and those days of playing on small stages the size of doorsteps, to the moment they finally sold out a mid-size venue, The Crystal Ballroom, a few days ago. (They also sold out in Seattle the night before, and a few more venues across the country.) Who really knows how big this band may get. Who really cares? As long as they continue to play the type of songs they play, I could care less!

Speaking of big, at this show, I saw many, many, more fans this time around. Tons more. Sure, not everyone sang all the words of every song like some of the previous shows did, but the important thing is that they were there. All of them, all wide eyed, laughing, and generally having a great fucking time. People from just about every walk of life showed up.Old and young. From the paddypunk fans jigging, to the hardcore fans slamming, side by side, arm over arm. From the somewhat normal-looking fans at their first FM show, not knowing the words, to the seasoned veterans screaming the lyrics louder than Dave, side by side, arm over arm. It was a great thing to see, especially nowadays. When people ask me about a Flogging Molly show, I tell ’em it’s quite possibly the best show I have ever seen. The crowd has the energy much like a football (soccer) match. The only difference is everyone is rooting for the same team! How great is that? Every person I saw fall down in the pit, never hit the ground. Two, sometimes three, fans helped them up before they even had a chance to hit the floor and get trampled. Before the show at the pub downstairs, I talked with an older Irish gentleman who was a big time Dubliners fan. He told me he was a bit intimidated by the whole experience he was about to witness. I told him when he was at those early Dubliners shows in the 60’s, the older guys felt just like he did tonight. It’s just the passing of the torch, so to speak. I wonder what he thought of The Supersuckers?

Speaking of The Supersuckers, I was glad they got to open the show. (Throw Rag actually opened the show, but I was downstairs still talking to the Irish guy about The Dubliners.) I hadn’t seen The Supersuckers in about 7 or 8 years, when they opened for Bad Religion, and blew them off stage! I knew that couldn’t happen this paticular evening, but it was nice to see those jokers on the stage “spreadin’ the evil” with those cowboy hats, & the cheesy two-horns-up finger salutes. The Supersuckers released an album a while back called “Motherfuckers Be Trippin’ ” And they still rock. Some of the tracks they played included “Bad,Bad,Bad”, “Pretty Fucked Up”, “Born With A Tail”, and plenty of others. Sure I wish The Tossers (who opened up at some mid-west gigs) could have made it out west, but The Supersuckers, were good enough for me. And when it comes down to it…When Flogging Molly hits town, no other band matters!

Review by Brian Gillespie

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The Real McKenzies – B Complex, Portland, Or (FEBRUARY 28, 2003)

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I’ve been really lucky as of late. Every gig I have wanted to see has been on a weekend. The Real McKenzies show was no exception. The funny thing was I had to be reminded about the show by my local barkeep! After work I went down to my local Public House, (The Liberator plug-plug) and had a pint of our local stout. I was starting to make plans for the night when the bartender reminded me about seeing “another fuckin’ Celtic punk show.” I had forgot completely about the gig! I pulled a 180 outta my current plans in the making, and changed them for the concert.

The show was at The B Complex. An all-ages venue a few blocks from The famous Burnside Skatepark. We got to the show late, and didn’t really care about the opening band, The Flipsides. As we walked into the place, it was obvious all the Real McKenzie fans were way out of place. A couple of punks in kilts pacing back and forth waiting for the “good band” to play, but not knowing how to kill time without a bar around. It was actually kind of funny to watch. You could almost hear them talking to themsevles, “no bar-no fun”, or “I need a pint!” As it turns out the Real McKenzies showed up late, (up the street drinking, maybe?) and because of the venue, they had to drink water of all things on stage!! The guys started out with the typical bagpipe-drum-guitar trio, and we all rushed up to the front of the stage like Highlanders at The Battle of Stirling Bridge!! I’m pretty sure most of the people there had never heard of the band before, (or if they did, they didn’t show it.) The band played the usual set, but included a few new songs, like “Get Lost”, and a couple others I didn’t catch the name of. (The Real McKenzies will be releasing a brand spanking new album “Oot & Aboot” this May.) By the end of the set it was obvious they had made some new fans, because the pit grew larger, and larger, with alot of kids not knowing the words, or the songs. They simply just enjoyed what they heard, and were getting into the music. That part I was happy about. The other thing I was happy about was seeing those kilted bastards play again. The part I wasn’t happy about was the location, the other bands on the ticket, and the lack of beer!

After the very short set. I stuck around a while to see the band, Rise Against. They were okay, but not a way to spend a Friday night, if ya know what I mean. I absolutely wanted to be long gone from The B Complex before the headliners, The Mad Caddies, took the stage! I really don’t like the music much. Mainly because they call their music, Pirate-punk. An incorrect title that is nowhere near hitting a bulls-eye. Sure, they have a song “Weird Beard” on the album “Rock The Plank”, that is Pirate material, but the rest of the album is not. (If I am missing something, please let me know.) And when you play in around these parts, you better have yer scallywag on, or it’s “off with yer bluddie head!!”

A job well done by the Real McKenzies. I just can’t wait for them to have a long set, where they are the headliners, because they sure as hell deserve it, way more than those “poser-pirate” Mad Caddy bastards!!

Review by “Barnacle” Brian Gillespie

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Suspect Device, Kings of Nuthin’ – Middle East, Cambridge, MA (April 12, 2003)

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Here’s the deal. The Street Dogs and the Hudson Falcons played this show. But that afternoon I heard a rumor that the Street Dogs weren’t playing. “So,” I reasoned. “I don’t need to get there until 10 to see the Falcons.” At approximately quarter to nine I began preparing a ridiculously elaborate Italian-style dinner in my kitchen. It was a task that, once begun, couldn’t be broken off halfway through. Then there was the eating of it. Long story short, I walked through the door of the club as the Falcons were carting their stuff offstage. To make matters worse, Mark told me later that it was their last show of the year (they’ve played 600 shows in the last three years and are ready to take a step back, he said). I also learned that the Street Dogs did indeed play. Great.

Anyways, now the big question was, would the Kings of Nuthin’ light stuff on fire as they used to? The answer was no, and frankly, that makes sense. (Especially considering the Cambridge fire marshall was in attendance.) The Kings can and did play a kick-ass set without the use of lighter fluid.

If for some odd reason (detox stay, space travel) you haven’t seen or heard of the Kings of Nuthin’ before, I’ll sum up with the boilerplate description that they look like 1930s gangsters and sound like the rival saloon’s windows shattering from a blast of dynamite tossed out of a screeching black sedan. Chuck Berry on speed vs. Jerry Lee Lewis on downers. Or “Tom Waits and Slapshot” in the words of singer Torr, who phlegm-roars himself hoarse every show, backed by a finger-snappin’ maelstrom of drums, guitar, upright bass, piano, and saxophones. (The band currently has three saxes)(and no more washboard.)

Highlights: They rolled out a new song named after their two favorite things, “Women & Cadillacs.” Closed with “Fight Songs for Fuck-ups,” then for an encore brought out Kevin Stevenson (Shods) to sing “Born to Lose” by the Dead Boys. Fans onstage threw beer on everyone.

Suspect Device played last. Overall for the night there was a fantastic turnout. Unfortunately, half the crowd jetted after the Kings. Their loss, because they missed a great set by Suspect. (In fairness, many may have been trying to catch Mung and Gang Green at the Linwood that same night.)

Like the Falcons or, yes, Stiff Little Fingers, whose hit song gave this band of Roxbury punks their name, Suspect Device play catchy, moving street rock songs that are fun to drink to and sing along with, and sometimes even give you the chills. They played a new one tonight that singer/guitarist Jason said will appear on a split 7″ with Fit For Abuse, Tommy & the Terrors, and I forget who else. During that song, a fan doused Jason with water.

“The fact that I have an electrical appliance strapped to my body completely escaped you, didn’t it?” Jay asked.

Next up was a cover of Cock Sparrer “Take ‘em All” that got everyone jumping around up front, followed by a new one sung by guitarist Matt. “This goes out to everyone who left – it’s called ‘Fuck ‘em.’”

Well, those who stayed would not regret it.

By Pat Kennedy