Flogging Molly with Anti-Flag and Skinny Lister
Old Forester’s Paristown Hall
Louisville, KY
February 11th, 2023
Spirits were high this past Saturday evening when beloved Irish-American Celtic punk band Flogging Molly brought their current tour to Louisville. Having formed in 1995, the band has amassed a passionate fanbase that is filled with a mutual love and respect. The venue, which can accommodate up to 2,000 people, was filled with fans this evening who were ready for a fun-filled evening of music! Opening the show this evening was British folk punk band Skinny Lister! Their live show is always fun and high-energy, with this evening being no exception! Singer Lorna Thomas, clad in a pale yellow body suit with flowers and red heels, danced about the stage while singing, with each band member having fun on stage with each other and with the crowd. Leading the crowd in plenty of sing-alongs, they made sure everyone was having as much fun and they were. Taking a picture with the crowd towards the end of their set, they announced they would be back at the merch table after the show and to come and say hi. They also announced that they would have a new album out later this year and played a couple of new songs!
Next up was Pennsylvania punk rock band Anti-Flag, known for their progressive political activism. Having just released their latest album, Lies They Tell Our Children, this year, they performed some tracks from the album this evening along with some older tracks. Bassist/vocalist Chris Barker, a.k.a Chris No. 2, and singer/vocalist Justin Sane chatted with the crowd throughout their set. “It’s good to be here tonight,” announced Justin. “Every time we play here it feels like coming home! Thanks for being here.” With a set that was filled with lots of energy, sing alongs, and jumps and leg kicks, these guys were having fun with the crowd that was filled with fans singing along with their fists in the air. Talking about how many people in the crowd may have differing political beliefs, Chris told the crowd how if there is one thing we can all agree on is that politicians lie and use their power to take away peoples’ bodily autonomy. He later said “Here we are on a Saturday night in Louisville! And better yet at a Flogging Molly show! People are drinking tonight and you may be in church tomorrow praying away your sins, but I’m going to skip that step because I’m already in church! As we enter week 2 of tour, we feel privileged to be a part of the punk rock community!”.
Closing out the show this evening was Flogging Molly! Sadly, due to an injury, Bridget Regan (violin/tin whistle/backing and lead vocals) was missing on stage, but her presence was still felt and vocalist Dave King (to whom she is married) gave her a shout out! Attending a Flogging Molly show is always such a fun and special experience. The love they have for their fans, and that their fans have for them, always fills the venue, as does the FUN! Starting the show off with “The Likes of You Again” from 2000’s Swagger, they performed a set filled with many of their classic hits, like “The Kilburn High Road”, “Drunken Lullabies”, “Swagger”, “What’s Left of The Flag”, and “If I Ever Leave This World Alive”, as well as songs from their latest album Anthem, including “These Times Have Got Me Drinking”/”Tripping Up The Stairs”, “No Last Goodbyes”, and “A Song of Liberty”. With plenty of stories from Dave, funny banter with the crowd (and at time with each other), and appreciations for their fans, both older and new alike, they gave their fans 110% this evening! Ending their set with a two song encore, they performed “Black Friday Rule”and “Salty Dog”. As with each show they perform, after the last song was played, the Monty Python song “Always Look On The Bright Side of Life” came on while the band members waved and bowed to the crowd, with some members coming down to the barricade or out to the crowd to chat with fans, take pictures, and sign autographs!
SKINNY LISTER
ANTI-FLAG
FLOGGING MOLLY
