It's ironic that the Dropkick Murphys have become practically synonymous with the words Irish and insurgency, especially since that particular outfit hails from Boston, a city that's separated from the Emerald Isles by several thousand miles.
Now while Los Angeles's Flogging Molly purveys a similar sound, the band actually maintains a geographical bond of sorts with the old country, courtesy of founder, frontman, and Dublin native Dave King. His familiarity with Irish tradition is underscored by the group's instrumental makeup, a raucous collision of guitar, fiddle, accordion, mandolin, bass, and drums. Plus, the Flogging Molly leader draws on his own roots and recollections to shape the songs' themes, including childhood memories of religious and political strife and his forced relocation to the United States. The anger and defiance embedded in King have become an integral part of his band's sound, as manifested in its brash, defiant anthems.
Happily, you don't have to be Irish to appreciate those saucy sentiments.