Flogging Molly Premieres “Don’t Shut ‘Em Down” Video
Celtic punk ensemble Flogging Molly has just released the video for “Don’t Shut ‘Em Down”, the first single from their fifth album, Speed of Darkness, which will be released on May 31st. The politically charged video recently premiered on AOL Music.
Flogging Molly singer/guitarist Dave King explained how the song was written, saying “I was inspired to write ‘Don’t Shut ‘Em Down’ by driving down the freeway to Detroit City. On the side of the freeway was a closed-down and boarded-up building with “don’t shut ‘Em down” written in huge graffiti writing. All I could think of to myself was ‘no, don’t shut ‘Em down’…it’s really saddening and the least I can do as a songwriter is give a social commentary on what I see.”
While Speed of Darkness attacks much of the greed and ignorance responsible for where we are, the album also delivers a message of hope, humanity and the resilience of mankind. It reminds us how we grow stronger when faced with adversity and how we bond together and become more involved. Speed of Darkness features Flogging Molly’s own blend of rock, folk, punk, blues and traditional Irish music with King’s populist poetry.
The title track explodes with an intense rush of pure adrenaline and passion. The same can be said of “The Power’s Out”, “Oliver Boy” and “Don’t Shut ‘Em Down”, while “So Sail On” and “The Cradle of Humankind” cut straight to the heart with their gorgeous melodies and poignant messages. The band’s traditional roots shine on “The Heart of the Sea”, “Present State of Grace” and “A Prayer For Me In Silence”, a duet with fiddler Bridget Regan, who is a Detroit native and the wife of King. Speed of Darkness was produced by Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Avett Brothers).
From their beginnings as a raucous pub band in Los Angeles in the late 1990’s, King, Regan, guitarist Dennis Casey, bassist Nathen Maxwell, accordion player Matthew Hensley, banjo/mandolin player Robert Schmidt and drummer George Schwindt wore their blue collar ethos proudly and loudly, especially during their incredible live performances. And now, as the country and the rest of the world rise up to recover and rebuild, never has that ethos been more apparent and important than on Speed of Darkness.
Flogging Molly recently completed their annual “Green 17” tour and performed a well-received set at the Coachella Music Festival last week. They’re about to hit the road again for another series of dates as well as several radio shows and exclusive retail signings (see full North American itinerary below).
Speed of Darkness track listing:
1) Speed of Darkness
2) Revolution
3) The Heart of the Sea
4) Don’t Shut ’em Down
5) The Power’s Out
6) So Sail On
7) Saints & Sinners
8) Present State of Grace
9) The Cradle of Human King
10) Oliver Boy (All of Our Boys)
11) A Prayer for Me in Silence
12) Rise Up
Flogging Molly Tour Dates:
Apr 27 Austin, TX @Stubb’s
Apr 28 Baton Rouge, LA @Varsity Theatre
Apr 30 Dallas, TX @102.1 Edge Fest
May 01 Houston, TX @94.5 Buzzfest
May 02 Tulsa, OK @Cain’s Ballroom
May 04 Colorado Springs, CO @City Auditorium
May 05 Salt Lake City, UT @Cinco De X – X96 Festival Show
May 05 Salt Lake City, UT @FM Signing at Gray Whale Booth at Cinco De X – 6 PM
May 06 Flagstaff, AZ @Orpheum Theatre
May 07 Tucson, AZ @KFMA Day 2011
May 07 Tucson, AZ @FM Signing at Zia Tent at KFMA Day – 7:45pm-8:45pm
May 26 Fresno, CA @Rainbow Ballroom
May 27 Reno, NV @Knitting Factory
May 28 Boise, ID @Knitting Factory
May 29 Quincy, WA @Sasquatch Festival
May 29 Quincy, WA @FM Signing at Easy Street Tent at Sasquatch – 8:15pm
May 30 Seattle, WA @FM Signing at Silver Platters – 3pm
May 31 Portland, OR @Roseland Theater
May 31 Portland, OR @FM Signing at Music Millenium – 6pm
Jun 01 Eugene, OR @FM Signing at Skips Records & CD World – 6pm
Jun 01 Eugene, OR @McDonald Theatre
Jun 02 San Francisco, CA @FM Signing at Amoeba SF – 6pm
Jun 03 Pomona, CA @Fox Theater
Jul 28 Cleveland, OH @Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica (w/Clutch)
Jul 29 Columbus, OH @LC Pavilion (w/Clutch)
Aug 05 Milwaukee, WI @Eagles Ballroom
