Live Comparison

After seeing both Gogol Bordello and Flogging Molly live last week the question was posed:

Who is the better live band?

Jesus Fucking Christ, don't make me choose. They were both phenomenal. Both carry a strong energy that guarantees the party isn't stopping until the band says so.

But if pressed to make a choice, I would go with Flogging Molly. There was a tie breaker. Portland crowds have no rhythm. George Schwindt, the drummer for Flogging Molly, overcame this. When the crowd was clapping along and started to get off tempo, George would start kicking the bass drum hard. It screamed, "Here's the goddamned beat, you animals!"

A perfect example was when Bridget was doing her solo work on tin whistle for Devil's Dance Floor. The band had gotten the audience to clap out a beat, but the crowd was losing it. Even though the number calls for no drums at that point, George kicked it hard and brought everyone back into the moment.