from the news desk of pop-break …
In anticipation of their new album, Speed Of Darkness, Celtic punk legends Flogging Molly have released a video for the album’s lead single “Don’t Shut ‘Em Down.”
For those expecting another pint-in-the-air, Celtic punk party anthem, you might be taken off guard at first at Flogging Molly’s more straight-up punk rock (with a tinge of Celtic flare) sound on this track. We recommend giving it a solid couple of listens. This song will be stuck in your head — it’s infectious and it’s super-tight. And while casual FM fans might miss the pub ‘n’ punk sound in this song, long-time fans know that the lyrical content of “Don’t Shut ‘Em Down” is vintage Flogging — an anthem for the working man, a call to rise up, politically charged and from the heart.
In a press release, Flogging Molly singer/guitarist Dave King explained how the song was written: “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.”
Flogging Molly’s fifth studio album, Speed of Darkness will be released on May 31. For more information on the album, check out the band’s official website. You can also preorder the album (there are few special editions for pre-order as well) by clicking this link.
Flogging Molly is currently on tour, you can check them out at the following shows and signings …
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: Signing at Gray Whale Booth at Cinco De X — 6 p.m.
May 06 Flagstaff, AZ: Orpheum Theatre
May 07 Tucson, AZ: KFMA Day 2011
May 07 Tucson, AZ: Signing at Zia Tent at KFMA Day — 7:45-8:45 p.m.
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: Signing at Easy Street Tent at Sasquatch — 8:15 p.m.
May 30 Seattle, WA: Signing at Silver Platters — 3p.m.
May 31 Portland, OR: Roseland Theater
May 31 Portland, OR: Signing at Music Millennium — 6 p.m.
Jun 01 Eugene, OR: Signing at Skips Records & CD World — 6 p.m.
Jun 01 Eugene, OR: McDonald Theatre
Jun 02 San Francisco, CA: Signing at Amoeba SF — 6 p.m.
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
