Flogging Molly has been waving the Irish flag proudly for the past 20 years and shows no signs of stopping. The group continued their streak of success with their sixth album Life Is Good earlier this year that once again pairs traditional acoustic instruments like fiddles and accordions with aggressive punk guitars. Their rowdy Celtic-punk hybrid sound has been fueling drunken nights in dimly-lit dive bars across the globe and there's no better time to dive deep into their inspirations than St. Patrick's Day.
Guitarist Dennis Casey spoke with iHeartRadio and gave us the band's playlist of drinking songs for the ultimate St. Patrick's Day party, including hits from fellow Celtic-punks like The Pogues and Dropkick Murphys to the traditional Irish music of Jackie Daly. Flogging Molly will also be hosting a takeover of Shamrock Radio this weekend at Noon ET on Saturday and Sunday. Click here to listen on iHeartRadio.
Put down the green beer because we're celebrating St. Patrick's day like a true Irishman with the playlist below:
1. "White City" by The Pogues
"This song is one of the best songs to kick off a great party. Perfect for a St. Patricks Day celebration!"
2. "Pair Of Brown Eyes" by The Pogues
"The first song I ever heard from The Pogues, I was hooked after that. I imagine you could fall in love listening to this song."
3. "Sunny Side Of The Street" by The Pogues
4. "Get Up" by Dropkick Murphys
5. "Rose Tattoo" by Dropkick Murphys
"This is my favorite Dropkick song. I can really relate to the lyrics. I think it’s their best work yet. It was the highlight of the night to watch this overnight when we toured with them."
6. "Blood" by Dropkick Murphys
7. "Savin Hill" by Street Dogs
8. "Town I Love So Well" by Dubliners with Luke Kelly
"Dave King turned me on to The Dubliners with Luke Kelly. This was the first song he played for me. We’ve spent many nights since up all night drinking and singing along to them."
9. "Raglan Road" by Dubliners with Luke Kelly
10. "Scorn Not His Simplicity" by Dubliners with Luke Kelly
11. "Black Velvet Band" by Dubliners with Luke Kelly
12. "Dirty Old Town" by Dubliners with Luke Kelly
13. "Springhill Mining Disaster" by Dubliners with Luke Kelly
"Coal mining disasters are still happening. Coal mining is a dangerous job, much respect to them. Haunting and powerful this song is still relevant today."
14. "School Days Over" by Dubliners with Luke Kelly
15. "Home Boys Home" by Dubliners with Luke Kelly
16. "Do You Love An Apple" by Bothy Band
17. "Paddy Rolling Stone" by Shane MacGowan & The Popes
"This is some of Shane MacGowan’s greatest work. I can’t stop singing this song after I hear it. A classic."
18. "Rock 'n' Roll Paddy" by Shane MacGowan & The Popes
19. "Spanish Lady" by Shane MacGowan & The Popes
20. "Bill Sullivan’s Polka/Britches Full Of Stitches" by Jackie Daly
"Matt Hensley turned me on to traditional Irish Music. Jackie Daly was one of the guys we liked most. We try to do our own version of this. Hard to top Jackie Daly though."
21. "The Parting Glass" by Sinead O’Conner
22. "Her Mantle So Green" by Sinead O’Conner
23. "Theme from Harry's Game" by CLANNAD
"Celtic mysticism at it’s best. I remember hearing this as a young man and being taken back how haunting but beautiful it is."
24. "I’ll Tell Me Ma" by Ronnie Drew
25. "The Mero" by The Mighty Stef
26. "Whiskey In The Jar" by Thin Lizzy
27. "The Rocky Road To Dublin" by The Chieftains
28. "Crushed" by Flogging Molly
"I’m very proud of this song. It’s just 2 chords and a lot of balls but conveys a dark message that we are living with today."
29. "Within A Mile Of Home" by Flogging Molly
"One of my favorite songs of ours. We are always touring and it always feels like we are within a mile of home. Filled with hope and passion."
30. "If I Ever Leave This World Alive" by Flogging Molly
"This song means so much to so many I had to put it on here. It’s been put on tombstones and tattooed on flesh and touched so many."
Listen to the full playlist on iHeartRadio here.