With the 2011 concert season getting into full-swing I thought it would be great to bring a different perspective on at least one of the upcoming shows. Celtic Punk Rock band Flogging Molly, with their unique style of combining traditional Irish music with today’s Punk Rock, will be performing at The Pageant, named one of the Top five Club Venues in the world by Pollstar. I spoke this afternoon with Flogging Molly’s Mandolin/Banjo player Bob Schmidt.
Sean) Hello and thanks for taking the time to talk with me, Bob.
Bob) Hi. Not a problem.
S) First of all congrats on the new album, I understand it’s coming out May 24th?
B) Thanks! Well, the release date was just pushed back a week, to I believe May 31.
S) And it’s called “Speed of Darkness?”
B) That’s right.
S) How did you decide on the title to that? I know there is a song entitled that but how did you settle on that being the title?
B) It came about from a quote from a boy who lived in Boznia and Herzegovina during the war there, and he was 12 at the time. He came back from school and asked his mom “We know what the speed of light is, but how come we don’t know what the Speed of Darkness is?” It’s such a great metaphor for how quickly things changed over there and how quickly we change directions in this country right now. The concept of how quickly his world had changed and how it can change here too is just amazing.
S) What is your favorite track from this album?
B) Wow. They are all so new and fresh I don’t know if I can pick just one. I guess if I had to pick one it would be a track called “Saints and Sinners” probably.
S) Do you have a favorite song to play live?
B)”If I Ever Leave This World Alive” would have to be my favorite. So many fans come up and give so many stories about how they lost a loved one, be it a father, brother, mother, soldier. That is really connects to them and really touches them in special ways, that’s what makes it special for me.
S) What is the songwriting process like in the band?
B) A Lop-sided Democracy is probably the best way to describe it. Dave usually writes the lyrics and brings them to us and we sit down collectively and tear it down and just make it work. Sometimes it’s for the better and sometimes we should have left well enough alone. Ha ha
S) You have had essentially the same lineup since the mid ‘90’s? Is that right?
B) Yeah, that’s right
S) Most bands don’t last with their entire lineup 10 years, let alone 15, 16 years. How would you explain Flogging Molly’s longevity as a cohesive unit?
B) Well we’ve all been friends longer than a band, since before the band came about. So that helps a lot. Plus I think it’s easier with seven personalities than, say three. If you have a small band and you have an extrovert and you have an introvert heads can butt. However, with seven if someone doesn’t agree with something there is always another member of the band who feels the same way so we pick each other up and who you can relate to.
S) Who is the prankster in the group? Or do you pull pranks to keep it loose on tour?
B) We all are about the same. There isn’t really one that stands out. Usually the tech is the one at the end of our jokes. He’s an easy target.
S) You are out again on your 7thannual Green 17 Tour, how did that come about? Whose idea was that?
B) It was a mixed bag. We would tour all over and end up at the same place. And in every city people would come up to us and say “Man it would great if you would play in our city for St. Patrick’s Day. I bet that would be a killer show.” And the truth is we play our hearts out on every show that we don’t really do anything more for St. Patrick’s Day because we do play our hearts out for every other show. We just wanted to bring St. Patrick’s Day to every city instead of trying to just do one.
S) I remember at least one show I was at Pops in Sauget, IL back in 2006, I believe, where it was called the Black 17 Tour? What happened there and how did you come back to the Green 17 Tour?
B) Yes. Well the early shows were sponsored by Guinness and soon our lawyers were saying we had to change something up because we couldn’t have an alcohol sponsor with giant beer posters in venues where underage kids would be. So we came up with the Green 17 Tour at the time being for over 21 only and the Black 17 Tour dates being all-ages shows where they were sponsored by more family friendly sponsors.
S) Do you have any favorite memories of any shows? I know you guys play a lot of shows every year, but does anything stand out, maybe a wildest event?
B) Wow. There are so many I don’t know if I can think of just one off the top of my head. A lot of great memories in each city.
S) Well, let’s narrow it down. I know you have played many shows in St. Louis, from the tiny Mississippi Nights to Pops, to The Pageant (where the concert will be on March 8) to the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, as well as in store gigs at Vintage Vinyl. Does any St. Louis show stand out in particular for any reason?
B) Well, there is no place like Pop’s. A venue stuck out in the middle of nowhere, flanked on both sides by strip clubs and no restaurants anywhere, so your only option is to not eat, or eat at a strip club. And to me anyway, strip clubs are an example of futility at its finest. But the Pop’s shows were something else.
I really like the Pageant it’s new, and shiny, and all that. I remember playing in Mississippi Nights, nothing like stepping outside after you play and having a couple riverboat casinos right there. We also were the supporting band many years ago for the Bosstones at the Fire House. We were the supporting act and Sum 41 was the opener. So yeah, lots of good memories there.
S) Do any of the band members have any family around here that you know of?
B) Actually I do. My sister and father lived in St. Louis for 20 years so I would make cross-country treks to visit. I’ve been up in the Arch many times.
S) Surely with that many times you probably have had some Ted Drewe’s Frozen Custard?
B) Oh yeah, many times. Ha ha
S: Do you ever get people who come to shows wearing a Fastway(Lead singer Dave King's former band) t-shirt or someone begging Dave to sing a Fastway song? Ha ha
B) All the time. At least 2-3 times per tour someone would come up wanting to hear Fastway, or with a bumper sticker or something. It’s funny, Bridget, our fiddle player, she’s from Detroit and her brother Johnny B, would scour the internet before we go to visit and find as many old pics of Dave when he was in Fastway or that era that he could find, and print them out and tape pictures behind cabinet doors, in the fridge, anywhere Dave would be sure to go. So no matter where Dave went he would be sure to see this old picture of himself with the really long hair in the 80’s garb. He even taped one to the back of the TV remote and Dave’s like ”What the Hell man?” Ha ha ha it was pretty funny.
S) What would you like the band to be known for?
B) Great music. If our legacy had to have one thing I would want it to be for great songs that people can relate to. And our live shows, but primarily if we can connect and touch someone then that makes it special.
S) What do you think the band should be known as, like for instance Celtic Rock, Irish Punk?
B) A Soul band. All of it is related to soul. All our influences from Johnny Cash to Otis Redding all came about because of soul so in that vein we are all connected to Soul. It’s honest human emotion and passion connects to the heart and sound and soul. Strip away all the marketing shit, peel it away, and it’s seven individuals who are expressing themselves in a soulful manner that speaks in the same way.
S) One final question; any special message for St. Louis fans?
B) Yeah, even though the CD is not due to be released until May 31 we are selling the CD as a bundle with a T-shirt at the show. You it’s actually a code and you can go and download the CD along with a bonus track if you buy the bundle.
S) Oh a little early incentive/gift.
B) Yeah definitely.
S) Thank you very much Bob for your time with me today, good luck with the new record and I, myself, can’t wait for the March 8 show at the Pageant in St. Louis.
B) My pleasure! It was fun. See you there.
There you have it. For everyone going to the sold out show march 8th at The Pageant in St. Louis you have a special treat in addition to seeing a band that is renowned for their intense live shows. They will be playing songs from “Speed of Darkness” during the set too. So it set to be a spectacular night.
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