A few weeks ago, we talked to Dennis Casey of Flogging Molly. Dennis was nice enough to discuss their new album, Speed of Darkeness, their live album, Live at the Greek Theater, a possible Dropkick Murphys split and more! Click ‘more’ to check out the interview.
Could you tell us who you are?
FM: I’m Dennis Casey from Flogging Molly.
RTS Nick: You guys are releasing your brand new album, ‘Speed of Darkness’. How has the writing style differed from previous releases?
FM: Well, we wrote it in Detroit and recorded it in Asheville, North Carolina. The difference in the writing style is that it has grown up 3-4 years. We have learned new things and we are going into new directions. We challenged ourselves and we pushed our boundaries. It’s the same line-up, but that doesn’t really make a difference.
RTS Nick: How hard was recording the album because you guys have a lot instrumentation?
FM: We have been doing it long enough where it has gotten easier. The recording is more of a challenge for the people recording it and the producer because you have blend all of these folk acoustic instruments with these loud bass’ and drums. The hard is putting that all together. Every song is different. Some songs get together really fast and they don’t take a lot of time, but some songs you need to work at them a little longer.
RTS Nick: Who writes all of the melodies for the songs?
FM: Dave our singer, but sometimes one of us come up with a skeleton of a song or a verse or a chorus. Sometimes someone plays a riff and we will write a song around that.
How are you guys approaching the release to this album differently than your first album, just due to the state the music industry is in?
FM: We’re releasing it ourselves. We started our record label called Borstal Beat Records. The music industry is upside down right now. No one knows whats happening and what is wrong with it. We’re in the middle of this downfall. We’ve spent 13 years with the label we were on, so lets try to do it ourselves this time around.
RTS Nick: Whose idea was it to make the label? Were you dropped from Sideonedummy or did they drop you?
FM: No. Sideonedummy didn’t drop us. They were disappointed, but they understood that we wanted to try doing it ourselves. They were sad about it, but we left on great terms. We want to keep the door open if this doesn’t work out that we will go back there.
RTS Nick: How was the budget different from this record to Float?
FM: The way the industry works is that the label gives you money to make your record, but you pay it back from sales to the record. We dipped into our pocket for this record. We made a video and the record and it came from our own pocket this time.
RTS Nick: Do you think touring is the only way to make money now in this industry?
FM: You can’t put any live show experience on a CD or MP3. It’s impossible to replicate that unless you are at a live show. Any band that can sell tickets can stay alive because that whole experience is something that you can only get by going to a show. I think that any band or performer will benefit by having a great live show.
You recorded ‘Float’ in Ireland. How did the Irish influence effect ‘Float’?
FM: We did record it in Ireland and the experience was great. It was a great experience in life. The time we spent there was great. We recorded it in the middle of the country. It was an old farm that was converted into a recording studio. We were really removed. Nothing was around us, except for cows and horses and sheep. It was really remote. If we needed a screwdriver, it was an hour and a half drive to go get one. We were in the middle of nowhere.
RTS Nick: Last year you released a live album, ‘Live at The Greek Theater’. Why the Greek Theater?
FM: The band started in LA and when we had the chance to play the Greek Theater, we jumped. We started playing as band in pubs and when the opportunity to play the Greek Theater was presented to us, we couldn’t believe it. We thought that this was a really special thing to do considering that this band started out in a pub. We though to record it and film it. If it sucks, we’ll keep it and show it tour kids. If it was great, we’ll share it with our fans. Fortunately it came out really good and we put it out.
You guys have played Coachella and you are playing Glastonbury and Lollapalooza this summer. Do you prefer playing festivals rather then playing a headlining show?
FM: No, I don’t prefer either. They are both different experiences and they are both unique upon themselves. They are not comparable. It’s hard to pick one over the other because it is so much fun doing both.
RTS Nick: If you had the choice though of playing a midnight show in Coachella or a club in New York or L.A., what would you choose?
FM: Probably the small club.
Do you remember the BYO Record splits?
FM: Yeah!
RTS Nick: Would you ever do one like that with Dropkick Murphys?
FM: OH MY GOD, that would be fucking great. That would be fucking epic. I’ve talked to them about it and it’s funny that you bring that up. That would huge.
RTS Nick: You guys should do it!
FM: Then tour on it! That would be a great tour. We’ve done a few shows with them. I’ve been talking about this split for years and I’m not sure if and when it will happen.
Dude make it happen! Any last notes?
FM: The record comes out May 31st. I hope you all like it. Now that the record is coming out, we’ll be touring a lot more. Check out Floggingmolly.com.
RTS Nick: Thanks for doing the interview.
FM: Thank you man!
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