A proper mix of Irish and punk, Flogging Molly essentially created a niche. As Irish culture continues to grow in popularity with movies like “The Departed” and the recent sequel to “The Boondock Saints” so has one of its best exports: Irish-punk.
Mixing Irish folk tunes with distorted guitar and the scowling, gritty voice of lead singer Dave King, Flogging Molly’s catchy tunes hearken back to simpler times in the land of the shamrock. Whether it’s the boozing or the general good-times atmosphere of their shows, Flogging Molly has been selling out venues for almost twenty years.
A&E talked with original member and accordionist Matt Hensley to discuss the rise in Irish popularity, atypical rock instruments and confused Nazis.
You guys have politicized lyrics — do you think your brand of music can make real political change?
If it doesn’t, it’s not going to stop me from trying. We’re just one band. Before [America] invaded Iraq, we went on tour, we did shows with bands like The Dead Kennedys and we did like a full movement to not go to that war. But we still went to that war. Flogging Molly isn’t really a political band unless the situation demands that any conscious person becomes [political]. We’re not a blind band. We see what’s going on in the world and it affects what we write.
You play the accordion in the band. How does that affect your role in the band?
I’m one in seven you know? It takes us all to make Flogging Molly. I feel like my job has always been to kind of fill in the gaps. When there’s nothing going on, I’ll play just some kind of chord or dissonant chord and make the whole band sound full.
Do you do any improv?
Yeah, I don’t think any of us play the same song twice. I take certain liberties, I’m not going to [expletive] with the chord progressions, but one night I’ll play a third and the next I’ll play the fifth of the chord, you know.
Do you ever feel like it’s difficult to make an instrument like the accordion cool?
I don’t. What, you don’t think it’s cool, man?
What advice would you have for kids playing atypical rock instruments?
When I first started playing accordion, all my friends, including my wife and everyone around me, thought I was an idiot for doing that. Now I make a proper good living doing that. So I just say screw it, believe in yourself. If you feel it, I would go with it. The world’s big enough to have all kinds of instruments.
Is Irish punk actually popular in Ireland?
I don’t know, man. It doesn’t have the same quirkiness and specialness there than it does in other parts of the world. Some of our biggest shows are in like Holland and Germany. Why would that make any sense? I don’t know. They’re into it.
It seems like Irish culture has been becoming more popular. What’s behind that?
I’d say it’s been going on for a while. I don’t know why that is. I’m happy that’s the case and to be in an Irish band. If everyone is into being Portuguese, I’d be out of a job. Sometimes it is a little bit weird and funny. I mean I’m not Irish; I’m American. Like, if I had to go back and talk about my great grandfather, I come from Scotland. I think it’s stereotypically a culture that has a quirky good time and isn’t afraid to have a couple beers. I think that’s attractive to people. But it’s weird because like 100 years ago, the Irish were considered terrible in America. It’s funny when I meet people with this crazy Irish white pride where they mix it all up.
Like skinhead Irish pride?
Like Nazi skinhead Irish pride. A lot of those guys will show me their Irish shamrock and then I’ll be on stage and they’ll throw me a swastika and I’ll be like “Oh my God, this man is confused.” But that’s not at all what this music is about or this band is about. Most of our songs are about Dave [King, guitar/vocals]’s struggle as an Irishman and the struggles of that nation.
Do you think alcohol and Flogging Molly compliment each other well?
I do. In the band, we have some drinks before we play. I’m not going to advocate anything; I’m just advocating having a good time.
What’s in the future for Flogging Molly?
We’re going to do this tour. Then we have three weeks off. Then I believe we go to Europe for a while. Then we’re going to start to write another record. I don’t know a lot of dates on that stuff, but I know we’re going to start getting together and writing a better record than the last one.