Flogging Molly

"I sometimes drink 'til I am empty, grab another from the shelf," begins a verse from the Flogging Molly song "The Cradle of Humankind. " It concludes with the couplet, "Never listened to much reason, 'til I hear it's last call / When I notice that my ghost is still dancing on its own. " "Cradle" is one of the highlights off the seven-piece band's angry, beautiful, politically charged CD "Speed of Darkness," a raucous, punk-folk collection that...

"I sometimes drink 'til I am empty, grab another from the shelf," begins a verse from the Flogging Molly song "The Cradle of Humankind. " It concludes with the couplet, "Never listened to much reason, 'til I hear it's last call / When I notice that my ghost is still dancing on its own. " "Cradle" is one of the highlights off the seven-piece band's angry, beautiful, politically charged CD "Speed of Darkness," a raucous, punk-folk collection that...

With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, Los Angeles septet Flogging Molly started the revelry a little early at the Troubadour on Thursday. For its first night of a three-night stand at the club, the punk-rock band that bleeds green played it fast and furious for a sold-out crowd that lustily sang along with clenched fists held aloft.

A list of upcoming concerts across the Southland, with on-sale dates in parentheses. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum L.A. Rising with Rage Against the Machine, July 30 (Fri.) Gibson Amphitheatre Alejandro Fernandez, Sept. 9; Gabriel Iglesias, Dec. 30; Cubafest with Willy Chirino and more; Fox Teen Choice Awards, Aug. 7; the Wiggles, Aug. 14 (Fri.); Kesha, Sept. 17 (Sat.) Hollywood Palladium Tiger Heat, May 26 (Thurs.) The Wiltern Stevie Nicks, May 26 (Fri.)

Randy Lewis, you got it so right, dude. The Flogging Molly story ["Punk 'Tude With an Irish Heart," March 17] was the greatest story on St. Patrick's Day. God help us that virtually no one knows who Flogging Molly is. But Randy Lewis did his job, and he did it so well. I think the world will change a little as a result and that means something. We'll fight 'em to the end! And I'll have another Guinness, please. John Kilroy Orange

After rapper Jay-Z opens the renovated Hollywood Palladium on Oct. 15, the 68-year-old venue will rejoin the Southern California concert scene with an inaugural lineup heavy on alt-rock and hard-rock music, with splashes of hip-hop, reggaeton and rock en espanol. Gym Class Heroes and the Roots will team up for an Oct. 17 show, followed by Flogging Molly (Oct. 25), the Kooks (Oct. 28), Rise Against (Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and 2), Dragonforce (Nov. 7) and La Fabrika del Reggaeton (Nov. 8)

A funky soul sister, some gothic monster rockers and a punk legend were just a few of the assorted musical offerings Saturday at the first day of the weekend Sunset Junction Street Fair in Silver Lake.

A list of upcoming concerts across the Southland, with on-sale dates in parentheses. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum L.A. Rising with Rage Against the Machine, July 30 (Fri.) Gibson Amphitheatre Alejandro Fernandez, Sept. 9; Gabriel Iglesias, Dec. 30; Cubafest with Willy Chirino and more; Fox Teen Choice Awards, Aug. 7; the Wiggles, Aug. 14 (Fri.); Kesha, Sept. 17 (Sat.) Hollywood Palladium Tiger Heat, May 26 (Thurs.) The Wiltern Stevie Nicks, May 26 (Fri.)

The phrase "alternative punk" might sound like an oxymoron -- unless you're talking about Flogging Molly. The long-running L.A. band barnstorms through its shows, but not with your standard-issue punk artillery: electric guitars factory equipped with just two chords, a bass cranked to 11 and drums that use a machine-gun volley as a metronome.

Alan Jackson has reason to sing the title track from his new "Good Time" album: It enters the national sales chart at No. 1 this week, the Georgia native's fourth collection to top the pop as well as the country rankings. Following stylistic departures with his previous two albums -- the gospel "Precious Memories" and his collaboration with Alison Krauss, "Like Red on a Rose" -- "Good Time" returns Jackson to his traditional sound. "Like Red on a Rose" debuted at No.

After rapper Jay-Z opens the renovated Hollywood Palladium on Oct. 15, the 68-year-old venue will rejoin the Southern California concert scene with an inaugural lineup heavy on alt-rock and hard-rock music, with splashes of hip-hop, reggaeton and rock en espanol. Gym Class Heroes and the Roots will team up for an Oct. 17 show, followed by Flogging Molly (Oct. 25), the Kooks (Oct. 28), Rise Against (Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and 2), Dragonforce (Nov. 7) and La Fabrika del Reggaeton (Nov. 8)

Randy Lewis, you got it so right, dude. The Flogging Molly story ["Punk 'Tude With an Irish Heart," March 17] was the greatest story on St. Patrick's Day. God help us that virtually no one knows who Flogging Molly is. But Randy Lewis did his job, and he did it so well. I think the world will change a little as a result and that means something. We'll fight 'em to the end! And I'll have another Guinness, please. John Kilroy Orange

The phrase "alternative punk" might sound like an oxymoron -- unless you're talking about Flogging Molly. The long-running L.A. band barnstorms through its shows, but not with your standard-issue punk artillery: electric guitars factory equipped with just two chords, a bass cranked to 11 and drums that use a machine-gun volley as a metronome.

With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, Los Angeles septet Flogging Molly started the revelry a little early at the Troubadour on Thursday. For its first night of a three-night stand at the club, the punk-rock band that bleeds green played it fast and furious for a sold-out crowd that lustily sang along with clenched fists held aloft.

A funky soul sister, some gothic monster rockers and a punk legend were just a few of the assorted musical offerings Saturday at the first day of the weekend Sunset Junction Street Fair in Silver Lake.

* Tickets go on sale Sunday for a concert by A Perfect Circle, above, Feb. 6 at UC Irvine's Bren Events Center. . . . Tickets will be available Saturday for B.B. King's March 1 date at the Wiltern Theatre and two shows at the Roxy: the Donnas with Bratmobile Feb. 22 and Junior Brown March 23. . . . Southern Culture on the Skids and the Amazing Crowns share the bill at the Troubadour on Jan. 30. . . . Scratch, Dice Raw & Kamal headlines the Key Club Feb. 8. . . .

* Super Furry Animals, "Rings Around the World," XL/Beggars Banquet. The Welsh quintet joins XTC, Pulp and Blur among Britain's rewarding, witty purveyors of imaginative pop and cultural anthropology. Also: Jimmy Buffett, "Far Side of the World," Mailboat Chicago Underground Duo, "Axis and Alignment," Thrill Jockey Custom, "Fast," ARTISTdirect Records Flogging Molly, "Drunken Lullabies," Side One Dummy Gov't Mule, "Live ... With a Little Help From Our Friends, Vol. 2," Evangeline Jay-Z and R.