by Rebecca Davidson

I've been to a few in-store shows at Indy CD & Vinyl on Broad Ripple Ave, but none as packed as the Flogging Molly in-store show on February 10, 2008. By 2:00pm, the aisles inside were jammed and there was a line out the door. Luckily, press pass in hand, Rick (the owner) was kind enough to let me in the back door. I casually hung out with some of Broad Ripple's finest, including members of Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band, and we waited for Flogging Molly to arrive. The tiny room behind the 2-way mirror was just as packed as the store itself.

Around 2:30, Flogging Molly took to the small stage at the back of Indy CD & Vinyl, and mayhem ensued. These guys (and gal on violin) know how to rock, and they rock well. The crowd was more excited than 5th graders at a Hannah Montana concert. Ending with an uproar of cheers of "encore!", Flogging Molly performed one last song: "Seven Deadly Sins". Perfect ending.

This band is professional, gracious, nice, funny, and grateful. They took the time to sign autographs - each and every one of them - for the anxious crowd, who moments before were nose-length away while moshing at the front of the stage. A plethora of autograph-ables came through the line - posters and CDs of course, but also wooden duck heads and instruments.

Flogging Molly performed later that night at a sold-out show at the Vogue. And just a side note, every one of their shows along the tour thus far has been sold out! You may have wondered why Rev. Peyton's BDB would be back stage for such a show - are they just big fans? They are, as a matter of fact, but they are also touring with Flogging Molly through St. Patrick's Day! And they expect every show throughout the tour to be sold out. They probably will.

If, after reading this review you're itchin' to see the pair of fantastic bands, you still have an opportunity to catch performances in nearby cities. They'll be performing in Cleveland, then Covington, KY (basically Cincinnati), and Chicago.

Visit www.floggingmolly.com for more information, or for the local-band hook-up, visit www.bigdamnband.com.

For the next two weekends (February 17th, and 23rd, 2008), Indy CD & Vinyl will be hosting in-store performances featuring Haste the Day, then Everthus the Deadbeats' CD release! These shows are free and open to all ages.