Flogging Molly Announce Signing to Rise Records & Share Swagger 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Box Set (SideOneDummy Records)
Flogging Molly are a beloved and critically-acclaimed Irish-American Celtic Punk band now based out of Los Angeles, California, but originally hailing from Dublin, Ireland. Flogging Molly's current line-up consists of Dave King (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, bodhran,) Bridget Regan (violin, tin whistle, vocals,) Dennis Casey (guitar, vocals,) Matt Hensley (accordion, concertina, vocals,) Nathen Maxwell (bass guitar, vocals,) Spencer Swain (mandolin, banjo, guitar, vocals,) and Mike Alonso (drums, percussion.) Since we're currently in a festive mood gearing up for Halloween later this week, Dave King was once the frontman of 80's Heavy Metal/Hard Rock band Fastway with "Fast" Eddie Clarke (Motörhead.) Fastway provided the soundtrack for campy 1986 Horror film, Trick or Treat, which, featured Dave King providing vocals for fictional in-film frontman Sammi Curr, alongside cameos from Gene Simmons, Ozzy Osbourne, and long-time Michael Jackson dancer Tony Fields.
Flogging Molly was formed in 1997 after King's departure from Fastway around 1986 and following the dissolution of his short-lived Metal bands QED & Katmandü. They've released six acclaimed studio albums between 2000-17, as well as three live albums, and countless EP's and singles. Here at The Witzard, our personal favorite is 2002's Drunken Lullabies—primarily, because of "Drunken Lullabies'" appearance on the soundtrack for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4—but all of their albums are phenomenal and once transcended greatly in a live setting! Now, Flogging Molly are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut album, Swagger, along with their one-time label. SideOneDummy Records.
"The 2x-LP package will include a re-mixed and re-mastered version of the album that features a bonus version of "Sentimental Johnny" en Español as "Juan El Sentimental," a bonus LP featuring three live songs recorded in 2001 at Denver's famed Bluebird Theatre, plus, a Traditional Irish Set (recorded with Steve Albini in "one take with no overdubs,") a never-before-seen DVD documentary from 2000, including a full live performance, an expanded lyric booklet featuring photos from the band's personal collection, Flogging Molly logo vinyl slipmat, embroidered patch, and four badge Swagger button pack," details a recent press release. Said Swagger 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Box Set was just released this past Friday, October 23, 2020, and will be limited to 5,000 packages. Leading up to this monumentous occasion Flogging Molly performed an all-acoustic full-band livestream fittingly dubbed Halfway to St. Patrick's Day.
Just this past Friday, there was an hour-long live chat with the band and SideOneDummy co-founder Joe Sib being billed as Happy Hour Live with Flogging Molly. Both the Halfway to St. Patrick's Day livestream and Happy Hour Live with Flogging Molly round-table are now available to view on Flogging Molly's official YouTube channel. Along with all of these aforementioned announcements, Flogging Molly additionally announced they've recently signed with Rise Records for their upcoming seventh studio album expected to be released in 2021. Flogging Molly's Swagger 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Box Set is now avilable on colored vinyl, via SideOneDummy Records.
Never in our wildest dreams, did we ever imagine that 20 years on, we would be celebrating the release of our first studio album, Swagger. Yet here we are, a little older, maybe, none the wiser, but very grateful for what has been an amazing experience. More than 20 years ago, we set sail for Chicago, the home of Electrical Audio and the wonderful Steve Albini. With a fistful of songs, from "Salty Dog" to "Far Away Boys," we plugged in and belted out everything we had and made sure that no song was left behind. Little did we know that Swagger would become the breaking ground, and the sound, of Flogging Molly. So, we would like to thank you all for the last 20 years of wonderful memories, and, hopefully, many more to come."
From our family to yours,
Dave King / Flogging Molly