ROX-TV’s recap of the Flogging Molly, Interrupters, and Tiger Army show is starting now. Read on and catch up.
Welcome back to the ROX-TV website. We appreciate all the returning readers and would like to greet anyone drifting into the room for the first time. The light is always on at the website and when new shit is happening, I do what I can to keep the readers informed about things jumping off around the Murder Mitten and beyond. I won’t sugar coat the fact that I’ve been extremely busy lately so the time lag can be as slow as an old school Atari at times, but what can you do? Sometimes I have to take time out to take time out if you can feel that in anyway. So, jumping backwards a tiny bit, as you will remember…I was invited by a friend to cover the Flogging Molly show at the Meadowbrook Amphitheatre. I’m an Irish American and jumped at the chance to sit in for a night of good old fashioned Celtic Punk Rock, a little Ska, and the sweet sounds of PsychoBilly. The night finally rolled around, and I was off to the races.
5:30pm
It had been a minute since I had been to an outdoor concert, and I was excited. The Meadowbrook Amphitheatre is located on the rolling campus of Oakland University (Michigan) and the weather appeared to be cooperating. I loaded up the car with things I thought I might need to cover the scene righteously and bopped over to the I75 entrance ramp. I noticed the traffic was slightly more congested than I thought it should have been, but it would eventually be revealed to me that there were several other “live” events going down in Metro Detroit and this added to the subtraction of my pleasant ride in. I drive to Hazel Park every day, so I’m no stranger to the rat race, I had just hoped a weekend cruise down would have been less hectic.
6:01pm Alive on Arrival
I had made rather good time on the “short” drive down and eventually found myself navigating the Oakland University Campus. If you’ve never been there, it has a lot of green and is tucked away just enough to give a person a tiny taste of the country life. That might be a little extreme, but there was lot of trees, green grass, and few cars to contend with, once officially on campus. I steered the Impala deeper into the property, looking for a sign of life that resemble a “concert”.
I casually blew past the area I had been looking for and found myself about seventy feet past a small entrance, set on a slight slope, with the classic stoned traffic dude that you often find at shows, looking on from a distance. There were annoying traffic cones set up in some type of fancy display and it yelled “this is it”. I slammed on my brakes and made a decision about how to move forward. I decided that since I was in a strange spot for a U-Turn (on a small curve near an intersection) I would simply throw the ride in reverse and hope no one came plowing into the car’s ass end. It worked because at that time there were few cars in the area to contend with.
The traffic dude checked me out and I noticed he seemed rather “airy” or “elevated”. I asked him if this “was the spot for the Flogging Molly show?”. After a few deep breaths, he casually informed me that I was in the right spot and after another thirty seconds, he said I just needed to keep heading up the short hill. I thanked him for his assistance and smiled, because he was having a comfortable time with his present set of circumstances.
6:02 Box Office
From previous experience, I knew that getting on the list or locating press passes was possible but sometimes required a bit more action. My friend Monica told me to head over to the Box Office and that someone would have the photo and ticket passes. I did so early just in case of any hiccups.
After a few inquiries and phone calls, everything was sorted out and I received the golden ticket for the show. I was informed that I could take pictures from the pit for the first three songs of each band. They had also provided me with an actual seat ticket, which was nice, so I had somewhere to park in between doing the job. I was given a “row K” seat which was perfectly situated and slightly elevated from the pit, giving me a dope view of the stage. My friend Monica from Speakeasy PR had delivered, and I was extremely excited.
6:30pm Eat or Die
I made my way through the check in and all things fell into place, except that I was actually starting to get a little hungry. The wind gently blew and the temperature slowly eased off into the low 70’s. The effect was amazing, especially after the scorchers we had been given by mother nature just a few days before. I know it’s summer, but anything over 77 or so and I start to melt like an ice cream cone on the beach.
I don’t care for “hot” weather ever and prefer my chilly and gray Halloween nights every time. I’m most comfortable on the edge of a rain storm, somewhere near twilight in late September. You know the kind of weather that seems to be perfect for the start of a decent horror movie. Yeah…that’s me….I’m the guy.
So anyway, I was hungry and knew that eating would be better dealt with than later. The only problem was that concert goers had similar ideas. Now this was an Irish concert (mixed with Ska and P.B.) and in proper fashion the fans and fellow Irish American’s were not wasting any time with the drink department. Large cups of Irish holy water (beer) and mixed drinks were everywhere. No doubt causing some of the lads and lasses to also be attacked by the hunger monster.
There was a couple of options available just inside the gates, so I checked out the choices. It turned out that on the hill, there was a wonderful Mexican food truck with a line to boot….the other places and tents turned out to be merch and beverage spots.
Galindo’s A taste of Mexico
“Galindo’s opened in June 2015 and is located in Southgate, Michigan, 14 miles south of Detroit. Although Chef Galindo now calls Southgate his home, he grew up in the heart of Mexico City (Distrito Federal, “D.F.”) where his love affair with cooking first began, particularly attempting to recreate the amazing regional favorites.
Mexico, and Mexico City in particular, is know for many amazing dishes, but none more beloved than the Torta: a type of sandwich served on an artisan white sandwich roll. Depending on the region, it might be called a Bolillo, Telera, Birote, or Pan Francés. Chef Galindo offers a dozen of different varieties of this remarkable sandwich, in addition to other handmade Mexican classics”.
-Galindo’s website
www.galindosmexican.com
Location:
13754 Fort St. Southgate, MI 48195
Hours:
Monday-Thursday 11:00am –9:00pm
Friday and Saturday 11:00am-9:00pm
Sunday 11:00am-8:00pm
Nothing makes me happier than supporting a local business and Galindo’s was certainly that. The wait for the food was worth it and the prices were fine. I got three beef taco’s with Pico and sides of hot sauce. The order also came with some chips to reclaim all the fallen goodies at the end. I found a seat and sat in silence for several minutes while enjoying the fresh food. It was good, so much so in fact that I promised myself a trip to Galindo’s in the near future. The hot sauce as also great and packed a solid punch. I could hear music from the other side of the hill and bid farewell to my “dinner”. I had work to do and things to see.
Tiger Army hits the stage
The opening band was missed because of my dinner, so I do apologize for that but hey…time can be short and tough to manage in real life. Concerts are no exception. Sometimes you just have to make peace with the Gods and pick and choose what you will be able to pull off. I needed food, so the opening band was something that I didn’t get to make, but I needed fuel.
Once I got serious, I decided to see if my press pass would take me where I needed to be. I walked down from the “hill” and made my way towards the stage. I eventually got to within ten feet of row “k” and spoke with the official looking men and women, making it all happen from the crowd side. I explained I had a press pass and needed to get where I was going.
The pass looked “old” to the guy running the show and he wanted to double check it’s validity. I understood and took a seat. People have jobs to do and the worker seemed very squared away. He was firm, but with respect. I returned the respect because that’s the right thing to do always. I don’t care for anyone who treats others like shit. There is no need for it because at the end of the day, we are all brothers and sisters of humanity. We might look different sometimes, but our home address is “earth”. We are all the same. Anyone who argues otherwise is my enemy.
After a few minutes, the guy in charge came back and explained to me in a nice and calm matter that everything was good to go. He laid down a few rules and I gave him my word that I would follow. If people don’t do what they say, then their word becomes mostly meaningless and I stop listening to them. Don’t promise things you can’t deliver, don’t say anything about someone that you wouldn’t say if they were there, and above all respect the process.
7:00ish or so?
Tiger Army was jamming on stage and I was able to take a few pictures from my perch in row K. The band was sounding great and the fans were really digging on the performance. I wished I had caught more of there set, but I’ve already went there and we will keep moving. The energy was bursting on stage and I enjoyed myself greatly. The weather had cooperated, the crowd was “warmed up”, and all was right in the world.
After Tiger Army wrapped up the set, I settled into my seat and tried to visualize how the rest of the night would unfold. As I was lost in thought, while staring at the next stage being set up, a guy sat down next to me. It caught me off guard because I was lost in my head somewhere, but as introductions were exchanged, I realized it was the bass player (Djordje) from Tiger Army. “Did you get any shots of us?” he asked with a smile on his face. It took a few seconds to register before my brain started working. Djordje probably thought I was stoned, but I was just lost in translation for a spell. “I did” I managed to squeak out and we exchanged phone numbers. He asked if I could send him the pictures and I told him that I would be happy to. I’ve included the link to their site, check em out today!
The Interrupters
The next band of the night was “The Interrupters“, which is a SKA band from California. I’ve always enjoyed Ska music and this band had it going on. Formed in 2011 and consisting of three brothers (Kevin, Justin, and Jesse Bivona…and the wonderful Aimee Allen aka Aimee Interrupter). The group has an impressive history with playing/touring with some big names including the Street Dogs, Less than Jake, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Rancid, and many more. On their website they have listed a new album set for release in August. The exact date is the 5th and the album is called “In the Wild” and will be released by the legendary Hellcat/Epitaph label.
I had never seen The Interrupters play live, but just like Tiger Army, they had name recognition with me and I was curious as to what type of show it would be. The Interrupters blew the doors off with their stage presence, the music was on point, and they delivered a top shelf performance. The crowd was dancing their asses off from where I was sitting. I was so caught up in the performance that I nearly forgot to take a few pictures. Classic. The front woman engaged the crowd perfectly through out the set, the three brothers also were great showmen and their witty sense of humor and good time vibes were on full display.
Ska is like an old friend that I sometimes lose sight off for awhile, that is until I get re-introduced from time to time. Then I remember the timeless relationship again and I’m smacked over the head with memories and a taste for more. Ska music reminds me of my late teens and early twenties, and was often the theme music for drunken and wild behavior which I put on for the world to see. Oh the times I would have…youth is a glorious thing and should never be wasted on too much seriousness, there is plenty of time to be grumpy and responsible later in life. I recommend “living” in the moment during one’s life in the roaring twenties. Make the myths, create the legends, and you will have something to reflect on and talk about for the rest of your life. I have found this to be true and don’t mind passing it on (reckless within reason is probably the best recipe, choose wisely my friends). Below is a press release with more details for fans and newcomers who want to learn more about The Interrupters. The article will continue down below. Keep reading damn it.
https://wearetheinterrupters.com/
Press Release:
June 23, 2022 (Los Angeles, CA) – Today, Los Angeles band, The Interrupters, have released their hard-hitting new song “Jailbird.” Documenting lead vocalist Aimee Interrupter’s personal battle with mental health, the anthemic single marks the group’s third release pulled from their forthcoming 14-track record, In The Wild, set to drop on August 5 via Hellcat/Epitaph Records. While the eagerly-awaited album reflects a story of survival and resilience, each track highlights Aimee Interrupter’s personal struggles and her will to overcome everything that life has thrown her direction.
“This song is about feeling like a prisoner in my own mind. I’ve dealt with a lifetime of severe anxiety, insomnia, depression, PTSD, trichotillomania, and panic attacks,” Aimee Interrupter shares. This song is about how cycles can repeat. Thankfully, screaming these lyrics at the top of my lungs brings relief from the very hell I am singing about.”
After supporting Green Day, Weezer, and Fall Out Boy on the Hella Mega Tour, one of the biggest rock n’ roll tours of 2021, The Interrupters (comprised of Aimee Interrupter, partner and guitarist Kevin Bivona, and his younger twin brothers, Jesse/drums and Justin/bass) have returned to the stage alongside Flogging Molly on a massive co-headlining tour, which kicked off on June 7 and includes a June 30 show at Pier 17 in New York City. Tiger Army and The Skints will support on all dates. See below for the itinerary. Tickets are available HERE.
Fans who pre-order In The Wild in digital format will instantly receive “Jailbird.” In The Wild is the follow-up to 2018’s Fight the Good Fight, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart. The album contained the smash hit “She’s Kerosene,” which entered the top five of Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart and has amassed over 50 million combined global streams to date. The band’s current single, “In The Mirror,” is at #20 on the alternative radio charts and was recently added to the band’s hometown radio stations, KROQ and iHeart’s Alt 98.7.
Flogging Molly takes the stage
Time: Final minutes of the 9pm hour
Weather: Twilight had passed
Crowd: Happy, loaded, respectful, energetic
Finally, the moment I had been waiting for all night had come to be. After The Interrupters left the stage and people were moving around for more drinks and to use the bathroom, I struck. I grabbed my shit and headed to the pit area. After a friendly introduction to the floor boss, I was allowed into the pit for my “three songs”. I took advantage of the fact that the pit had momentarily cleared out and found a great spot leaning on the gate, three feet from the actual stage.
I struck up a conversation with one of the stage workers, who was there to keep some type of order. He looked tired and I asked him if he had a “six pack on ice back home”. He smiled and told me that he did. He had been working serious hours and was ready to pack it in for the night. I knew this type of “tired” from years of burning the midnight oil. Sometimes life commands time and lots of attention, it leaves a person temporarily beat down but functional. I understood.
I left him to his thoughts for a bit, but after a few minutes the worker offered to let me stand in front of the fence and lean on the stage for the photos. Well, I thought, that was a nice gesture, and I was down for that. He pulled the fence open and I was where I wanted to be. Tickets for that kind of access are normally pricey, but the experience is so much different than the lawn. It really is worth the extra money and I advise fans to check it out. There is nothing wrong with lawn seats, but being front and center is amazing.
After what seemed like twenty minutes, action started taking place on stage. The gear was set up, the crowd filled in, and everyone waited for the big moment. There was good will and freedom in the air. And then it happened. The lights went out and a song from the band “The Who” started playing. It was magical and also syncing up everyone’s energy and attention. I knew what was happening. Getting everyone on the same page is vital in big crowd events. If you know, then you know.
I was belly up to the stage and had my camera at the ready. Flogging Molly took the stage and the crowd erupted. This band takes me back to my crazy drinking days at the turn of the century. I had a copy of “Drunken Lullabies” (released in 2002) and used to go crazy for the song with the same name. I was young, on fire, and the time was right for that album to be in my life. I always enjoyed F.M. because of their more traditional sound (Fiddle and Pan Flute) in comparison to Irish American punk bands like the Dropkick Murphys (another of my all-time favorites, I have their bag piper artwork tattooed on my leg). I celebrate my Irish heritage and bands like F.M. and D.K.M. make it even sweeter.
Flogging Molly opened the show with “Drunken Lullabies” and I was rolling in ecstasy. The show couldn’t have opened on a better note. F.M. are also great stage performers, with some twenty plus years rocking out together under their belts. They engaged the crowd and were led by the main man Dave King. His style his intoxicating, his humor is on point, and with him at the helm, all was right. The first three songs seemed to last a lifetime and I was able to get some great pictures. Due to my arrangement for the press pass/photo pass, my time was up in the pit and I slowly retreated into the darkness and up the hill. I had come for the experience, the sights, and the sounds. The energy (which is sacred to me) was all around me and guided me on my journey. May music last forever and Flogging Molly as well.
Signing Off,
Mike Shepard
ROX-TV Editor
shepard2909@hotmail.com
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