Location made all the difference for Dave King when he worked with his bandmates to write and record Flogging Molly?s latest offering, “Float.”
The 11-track CD, slated to be released next month, takes the band?s mix of Irish and punk music to a new level both musically, with a mature sound, and emotionally, by expressing political hope.
“I want to stress that this is a positive album with very positive songs,” said King of the release, written and recorded in Ireland. “We?ve added six or seven of [the new songs] into our set, and you can see people in the front row singing along to a song that isn?t even [released]. It?s definitely positive.”
Of course Flogging Molly, which was founded in Los Angeles about a decade ago, has always been the ultimate grassroots band, drawing its fans not from radio play but from word-of-mouth due to what a critic for All Music Guide called “their explosive and passionate live shows [which are] the heart of the band ?”
The result is more than 1 million record sales in the U.S. and sold-out shows throughout the world.
King said his return to Ireland, which has recovered from the ravages of war, is what helped reaffirm to him that what he calls a “cloud over the U.S.” will lift and the hope and energy will return.
On a somewhat more modest level, King noted that the band has had its own positive breakthrough in the U.S. While mainstays on European festival stages, Flogging Molly has been largely ignored at U.S. festivals. This year, invitations were extended from Lollapalooza and other major events. While the exposure is gratifying, King noted he sees it as just another way to reach the band?s loyal following.
“Whether we play a small club or a big festival, it?s the same to us,” he said. “Physically festivals are a grander scale, but that doesn?t matter; we still give the same energy to our fans wherever we play.”
IF YOU GO
What: Flogging Molly, The Green 17 Tour, with The Reverend Peyton?s Big Damn Band and The Mighty Stef
Venue: Rams Head Live, 20 Market Place, Baltimore
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Details: $23.50 advance tickets, $25 day of show; 410-547-SEAT
