WOW! What a performance! I have never been let down yet, out of the dozen or so times I have seen Flogging Molly. That's why I think they are the best band out there at the moment. Remember this folks, You, and I, are both involved in something important. We are the fans who are involved in the most important band in music. We proudly cheer them on like the true fans we are. Take a look at MTV, take a listen to the so-called "Alternative" radio stations, read the Top Ten "Alternative" Charts. Do you notice anything? I do. I notice it's all shite. It's all bland, heartless, and dull. For the most part the music out there sucks. I'm glad to admit I have nothing to do with it. The most of the music covered in here, (Shite'n'Onions) on the other hand, is full of life, full of heart, and has a pulse that beats like a fucking machine gun.

As a fan of Flogging Molly, I am here to share my experience of a recent show here in Portland, Oregon. Sure, it's not the mecca of the free world, but it's an important location for Flogging Molly. It's one of the first locations outside of California that Flogging Molly played. (finally, the west coast got a break!) It's also a town that has an original solid fan base for the band since day one. A few years ago, Flogging Molly first came up here and played on a stage that was about the size of my doorstep.(for those with tape measures, my doorstep is very,very tiny.) To steal an old slogan describing The Clash back in the '80's, Flogging Molly has grown into the 21st century's version of "The Only Band That Matters." Now I may be a wee bit off base with that comment...I'm sure you're smart enough to see that i'm not exactly serious, but i'm not exactly joking either. (In other words, I sure hope you see what I mean.) Starting up at Molly Malone's, and those days of playing on small stages the size of doorsteps, to the moment they finally sold out a mid-size venue, The Crystal Ballroom, a few days ago. (They also sold out in Seattle the night before, and a few more venues across the country.) Who really knows how big this band may get. Who really cares? As long as they continue to play the type of songs they play, I could care less!

Speaking of big, at this show, I saw many, many, more fans this time around. Tons more. Sure, not everyone sang all the words of every song like some of the previous shows did, but the important thing is that they were there. All of them, all wide eyed, laughing, and generally having a great fucking time. People from just about every walk of life showed up.Old and young. From the paddypunk fans jigging, to the hardcore fans slamming, side by side, arm over arm. From the somewhat normal-looking fans at their first FM show, not knowing the words, to the seasoned veterans screaming the lyrics louder than Dave, side by side, arm over arm. It was a great thing to see, especially nowadays. When people ask me about a Flogging Molly show, I tell 'em it's quite possibly the best show I have ever seen. The crowd has the energy much like a football (soccer) match. The only difference is everyone is rooting for the same team! How great is that? Every person I saw fall down in the pit, never hit the ground. Two, sometimes three, fans helped them up before they even had a chance to hit the floor and get trampled. Before the show at the pub downstairs, I talked with an older Irish gentleman who was a big time Dubliners fan. He told me he was a bit intimidated by the whole experience he was about to witness. I told him when he was at those early Dubliners shows in the 60's, the older guys felt just like he did tonight. It's just the passing of the torch, so to speak. I wonder what he thought of The Supersuckers?

Speaking of The Supersuckers, I was glad they got to open the show. (Throw Rag actually opened the show, but I was downstairs still talking to the Irish guy about The Dubliners.) I hadn't seen The Supersuckers in about 7 or 8 years, when they opened for Bad Religion, and blew them off stage! I knew that couldn't happen this paticular evening, but it was nice to see those jokers on the stage "spreadin' the evil" with those cowboy hats, & the cheesy two-horns-up finger salutes. The Supersuckers released an album a while back called "Motherfuckers Be Trippin' " And they still rock. Some of the tracks they played included "Bad,Bad,Bad", "Pretty Fucked Up", "Born With A Tail", and plenty of others. Sure I wish The Tossers (who opened up at some mid-west gigs) could have made it out west, but The Supersuckers, were good enough for me. And when it comes down to it...When Flogging Molly hits town, no other band matters!

Review by Brian Gillespie

I've been really lucky as of late. Every gig I have wanted to see has been on a weekend. The Real McKenzies show was no exception. The funny thing was I had to be reminded about the show by my local barkeep! After work I went down to my local Public House, (The Liberator plug-plug) and had a pint of our local stout. I was starting to make plans for the night when the bartender reminded me about seeing "another fuckin' Celtic punk show." I had forgot completely about the gig! I pulled a 180 outta my current plans in the making, and changed them for the concert.

The show was at The B Complex. An all-ages venue a few blocks from The famous Burnside Skatepark. We got to the show late, and didn't really care about the opening band, The Flipsides. As we walked into the place, it was obvious all the Real McKenzie fans were way out of place. A couple of punks in kilts pacing back and forth waiting for the "good band" to play, but not knowing how to kill time without a bar around. It was actually kind of funny to watch. You could almost hear them talking to themsevles, "no bar-no fun", or "I need a pint!" As it turns out the Real McKenzies showed up late, (up the street drinking, maybe?) and because of the venue, they had to drink water of all things on stage!! The guys started out with the typical bagpipe-drum-guitar trio, and we all rushed up to the front of the stage like Highlanders at The Battle of Stirling Bridge!! I'm pretty sure most of the people there had never heard of the band before, (or if they did, they didn't show it.) The band played the usual set, but included a few new songs, like "Get Lost", and a couple others I didn't catch the name of. (The Real McKenzies will be releasing a brand spanking new album "Oot & Aboot" this May.) By the end of the set it was obvious they had made some new fans, because the pit grew larger, and larger, with alot of kids not knowing the words, or the songs. They simply just enjoyed what they heard, and were getting into the music. That part I was happy about. The other thing I was happy about was seeing those kilted bastards play again. The part I wasn't happy about was the location, the other bands on the ticket, and the lack of beer!

After the very short set. I stuck around a while to see the band, Rise Against. They were okay, but not a way to spend a Friday night, if ya know what I mean. I absolutely wanted to be long gone from The B Complex before the headliners, The Mad Caddies, took the stage! I really don't like the music much. Mainly because they call their music, Pirate-punk. An incorrect title that is nowhere near hitting a bulls-eye. Sure, they have a song "Weird Beard" on the album "Rock The Plank", that is Pirate material, but the rest of the album is not. (If I am missing something, please let me know.) And when you play in around these parts, you better have yer scallywag on, or it's "off with yer bluddie head!!"

A job well done by the Real McKenzies. I just can't wait for them to have a long set, where they are the headliners, because they sure as hell deserve it, way more than those "poser-pirate" Mad Caddy bastards!!

Review by "Barnacle" Brian Gillespie
Mad Caddies fans can send hatemail to runbmg@yahoo.com runbmg@yahoo.com

Here’s the deal. The Street Dogs and the Hudson Falcons played this show. But that afternoon I heard a rumor that the Street Dogs weren’t playing. "So," I reasoned. "I don’t need to get there until 10 to see the Falcons." At approximately quarter to nine I began preparing a ridiculously elaborate Italian-style dinner in my kitchen. It was a task that, once begun, couldn’t be broken off halfway through. Then there was the eating of it. Long story short, I walked through the door of the club as the Falcons were carting their stuff offstage. To make matters worse, Mark told me later that it was their last show of the year (they’ve played 600 shows in the last three years and are ready to take a step back, he said). I also learned that the Street Dogs did indeed play. Great.

Anyways, now the big question was, would the Kings of Nuthin’ light stuff on fire as they used to? The answer was no, and frankly, that makes sense. (Especially considering the Cambridge fire marshall was in attendance.) The Kings can and did play a kick-ass set without the use of lighter fluid.

If for some odd reason (detox stay, space travel) you haven’t seen or heard of the Kings of Nuthin’ before, I’ll sum up with the boilerplate description that they look like 1930s gangsters and sound like the rival saloon’s windows shattering from a blast of dynamite tossed out of a screeching black sedan. Chuck Berry on speed vs. Jerry Lee Lewis on downers. Or "Tom Waits and Slapshot" in the words of singer Torr, who phlegm-roars himself hoarse every show, backed by a finger-snappin’ maelstrom of drums, guitar, upright bass, piano, and saxophones. (The band currently has three saxes)(and no more washboard.)

Highlights: They rolled out a new song named after their two favorite things, "Women & Cadillacs." Closed with "Fight Songs for Fuck-ups," then for an encore brought out Kevin Stevenson (Shods) to sing "Born to Lose" by the Dead Boys. Fans onstage threw beer on everyone.

Suspect Device played last. Overall for the night there was a fantastic turnout. Unfortunately, half the crowd jetted after the Kings. Their loss, because they missed a great set by Suspect. (In fairness, many may have been trying to catch Mung and Gang Green at the Linwood that same night.)

Like the Falcons or, yes, Stiff Little Fingers, whose hit song gave this band of Roxbury punks their name, Suspect Device play catchy, moving street rock songs that are fun to drink to and sing along with, and sometimes even give you the chills. They played a new one tonight that singer/guitarist Jason said will appear on a split 7" with Fit For Abuse, Tommy & the Terrors, and I forget who else. During that song, a fan doused Jason with water.

"The fact that I have an electrical appliance strapped to my body completely escaped you, didn’t it?" Jay asked.

Next up was a cover of Cock Sparrer "Take ‘em All" that got everyone jumping around up front, followed by a new one sung by guitarist Matt. "This goes out to everyone who left – it’s called ‘Fuck ‘em.’"

Well, those who stayed would not regret it.

By Pat Kennedy