2008 Woodie Awards
High-spirited Irish-punk in Stockton, of all places
Flogging Molly's performance at the Bob Hope Theater was a spectacle Stockton music fans want to have around more often
Cory Pittman
Issue date: 9/29/05 Section: No Limits
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If I could think of a word that completely covered the awe, and excitement I experienced at the Bob Hope Theater, Friday evening, I would use it now.
Flogging Molly, a band that combines the feel and sound of traditional Irish folk music, with the raw speed of energy of punk rock; put on the first true rock performance that the Bob Hope Theater has ever seen, thanks to the Associated Students of University of the Pacific. Judging from the atmosphere in the theater all night long, the show was a complete success.
In attendance, were close to a thousand people, and certainly not the normal type of crowd that the theater is used to having, but, obviously, the show wasn't either.
Opening acts were Hanover Saints, from Sacramento, and Communique, out of San Francisco. The range of styles from all three bands was quite large, and as expressed by Rory Henderson, guitarist and singer of Communique, they enjoyed playing shows where all the bands on the bill were different.
During the first two bands, security was pretty good about keeping the audience in the seating area, leaving the space between the stage and the front row open. Just before Flogging Molly hit the stage, thought, people were allowed to pack in, bringing them right to the front of the stage.
The dropping of the huge Flogging Moll banner at the back of the stage and the intro song, "Screaming at the Wailing Wall," signaled the beginning of the show, and as the show began, the theater came alive.
With the stage lit beautifully, and the sound mixed well, the band jammed away through their list, comprised with a nice balance between older and newer songs, stopping every once in a while to chug a nice, frosty Guinness, and for Dave King, acoustic guitarist and lead singer, to address the crowd.
There was a true sense of unity and understanding between the crowd and the band. I felt the bond between the crowd and the band stronger at this show, than any show I have ever witnessed. The crowd appreciated the band being there, and the band equally appreciated the crowd being there, and the feeling was in the air all night.