Flogging Molly was at the House of Blues last night, and I'm still blown away. I've listened to their Drunken Lullabies album a bazillion times since being introduced to it by my son, but it's nothing like seeing them live. Flogging Molly is the perfect band to go see and to salute with a raised mug of stout. But since I wasn't there strictly for my own enjoyment (I took the kids), I was happy to see that they're a fine group of live musicians, as well.

Take the elements of an Irish folk band (fiddle, tin whistle, accordion, mandolin, banjo), throw it into a blender with some heart-pounding buzzsaw guitars (and a little Guinness), and you've got Flogging Molly. One minute they'll have you arm-in-arm with the stranger beside you, wailing out a chorus or two of "Death Valley Queen" or "The Sun Never Shines (on Closed Doors)". The next, you'll be slam-dancing to a hyperspeed version of "Drunken Lullabies." The whole show was a rollercoaster ride of Irish drinking songs and scream-till-your-throat-hurts punk rock.

The opening act, Throw Rag, was a pleasant surprise, too. They're a wild group of California punks that feature a half-naked fat guy on a washboard and spoons! Yeah, baby! I wasn't familiar with their music, and I'm not really sure I'd enjoy it without the visuals, but they really put on an awesome show. They were rockin' and funny--a Ramones-like combination that I love.

If you have a chance to see either of these bands live, you would be insane to pass it up.