An enthusiastic group of ska/punk fans gathered on a stormy night in Washington, DC to catch co-headliners Flogging Molly and The Interrupters take on the Anthem. The evening got off to an early start—6:30PM—a necessity given the bill’s four bands.
Kicking off the festivities were The Skints. Hailing from London, this young reggae punk band expressed gratitude to the still small crowd for getting in early—something, they acknowledged, they wouldn’t be likely to do themselves. In a swift 30 minutes, The Skints introduced themselves to the crowd, me included. I’m more of a metalhead but was quickly impressed by the band’s energy and talent. Drummer Jamie Kyriakides and bassist Jonathan Doyle provided the tight rhythms, while guitarist Joshua Rudge engaged the crowd. The remarkable Marcia Richards acted as frontwoman while playing guitar, keyboards, and sax.
After a quick turnover, Tiger Army took the stage. The California psychobilly trio, who’ve been at it since the late 1990s, consists of singer-guitarist Nick 13, stand up bassist Djordje Stijepovic, and drummer Mike Fasano. In a quick set, they gained more than a few new fans, including me. Tiger Army’s brand of psychobilly has a classic but modern sound and doesn’t feel at all dated.
The Interrupters then took the stage like Energizer bunnies to an explosion of cheers from the audience who sang along from the very first note of “Take Back the Power.” Fronted by the charismatic vocalist Aimee Interrupter, the band also features twin brothers Jesse and Justin Bivona on drums and bass, respectively, Kevin Bivona on guitar, and Billy Kottage from Reel Big Fish on trombone and organ.
The Interrupters were impressive, performed like a well-oiled machine, and knew how to get the crowd, who was filled with their fans, excited and engaged. Guitarist Bivona thanked the crowd for coming out on a stormy night and alluded to the choice they all made that night, opting for a night of ska punk over the 80s hair metal extravaganza happening down the street at Nationals Park. Towards the end of the set, beach balls were released into the audience which added to the fun, and the cherry on top was confetti released into the crowd, appropriately red.
Finally, Flogging Molly took the stage and greeted the crowd, kicking off their set with “Drunken Lullabies.” It took quite a bit of effort to keep up with vocalist Dave King as he scurried back and forth across the stage, playing guitar, and spreading his arms wide. He, too, expressed gratitude to the roughly 1,100 fans in attendance for being there and not at Nationals Park.
Flogging Molly is a mature, tight band of skilled musicians: the aforementioned King, along with Bridget Regan, Dennis Casey, Nathen Maxwell, (skateboarding legend) Matt Hensley, Mike Alonso, and Spencer Swain. It was an absolute pleasure to see them up close. The vibe of the set was one of joy and friendship, with a nod to the world’s current political condition as “A Song of Liberty” was dedicated to the citizens of Ukraine.
As coheadliners, The Interrupters and Flogging Molly are a good match. The songs of both bands have threads of hope, friendship, and love, and have the energy to get their fans to swirl in circle pits. Flogging Molly and The Interrupters Summer Tour 2022 wraps up July 3 in Asbury Park, NJ. Flogging Molly heads to Europe mid-July, with The Interrupters following in August.
FLOGGING MOLLY
THE INTERRUPTERS
TIGER ARMY
THE SKINTS
Flogging Molly Setlist
Drunken Lullabies
The Hand of John L. Sullivan
Selfish Man
These Times Have Got Me Drinking
Float
A Song of Liberty
Tobacco Island
Croppy Boy
Devil’s Dance Floor
Crushed (Hostile Nations)
If I Ever Leave This World Alive
What’s Left of the Flag
The Seven Deadly Sins
The Interrupters Setlist
Take Back the Power
Title Holder
Judge Not
On a Turntable
Broken World
Easy on You
Anything Was Better
She Got Arrested
In The Mirror
By My Side
A Friend Like Me
Sorrow
Gave You Everything
Family
She’s Kerosene
