Another year, another Redfest.
What does it mean? I don’t know. We have to pay for it now. That’s a drag, I guess.
Here’s what some other people think:
“I’m not really interested. I don’t know the bands.”- Pui Chongjaroenjai, junior in marketing.
OK. Fair enough.
“I don’t know if I’m going.”-Miles Feller, freshman in Spanish.
What if there were free stuff?
Miles: “What kind of free stuff?”
Well, outside the Union, starting at around 10:30 a.m., the Associated Students of the University of Utah and vendors will be giving away all kinds of crap: tickets to Grizzlies games, a LoveSac, movie passes?other stuff.
Miles: “Yeah, then I might go.”
That’s the spirit! Speaking of spirit, check out Robb Krumm, junior in chemical engineering:
“F*** yeah! Flogging Molly? I’m going to drink Guinness tomorrow night and get piss-ass drunk and sing ‘What’s Left of the Flag!'”
Whoa. Dude likes Flogging Molly. But what about the fact that we now have to pay?
Robb: “Six dollars for this kind of concert is well worth it.”
Well, that’s a good attitude, Robb.
“But free would be better.”- Brian Anderson, Robb’s friend, a freshman in mechanical engineering.
Robb: “Yeah, but ASUU screwed that up.”
Oh, snap!
So yeah, free stuff, bands, LoveSacs, ginger ale?oh, and here’s an interview with the lead singer of Flogging Molly, Dave King.
This one’s for you, Robb.
Chronicle: Redfest is the first stop on your tour. Do you like playing in Utah?
Dave King: Yeah, we’ve played a few times there. It’s always been great. We’ve had some great shows in Salt Lake City.
C: I read that you guys were influenced by The Pogues and Stiff Little Fingers.
DK: Yeah.
C: So you were influenced a lot by early Irish punk?
DK: Well, there’s a lot of everything, you know-there’s Johnny Cash, there’s The Clash. You know, everybody’s got a ton of influences. I think it’s one big melting pot.
C: And you played with the guitarist from Motrhead, for a while (in the band Fastway)?
DK: Yeah, Fast Eddy.
C: So do you know Lemmy (Motrhead’s bassist/singer)?
DK: Yeah.
C: Why do you think he always sings with the microphone so high up like that?
DK: That’s just his style, I think, really, you know. It’s just his thing. He’s always done that.
C: Did you ever watch that show, “The Young Ones”?
DK: Yeah, I used to love it.
C: Didn’t Motrhead play on it once?
DK: Yeah, they had a lot of good guests on that show-like Madness was on it, The Tams were on it, Motrohead was on it. They had a lot of great guests on it.
C: That show’s hilarious.
DK: Yeah.
C: So when did Flogging Molly form?
DK: Around ’97. Some of us had been playing together for a while before that. And then we met George. And then the rest of the guys came about-we were all together around ’97, ’98.
C: You guys are known for drinking a lot when you play?
DK: Yeah-I mean, yeah, absolutely.
C: Yeah.
DK: So, that’s the way we are, you know. The crowds are, you know-they’ve always been fantastic with us, and uh, we have a great time. And we just do what we do, like we would any other time.
C: What’s your drink of choice, then?
DK; I’d have to say Guinness. You know, like back in Ireland-you don’t quite get the pint here that you get over there. It’s a different ballgame altogether.
C: Yeah, especially in Utah where the beer’s weaker. I don’t know if you remember that.
DK: Yeah, that’s true. Crazy drinking those (here)-that’s for sure.
C: So, I gotta say, my favorite whiskey is Jameson. You like Jameson?
DK: I used to, yeah. I just drink beer now-too much craziness.
C: Do you have anything to say to U students who are going go see you play?
DK: First and foremost, thanks for having us, you know? And we’re gonna have a great night. It’s great to play schools, it really is. We never really had anything like that back in Ireland, and we’re looking forward to it.
Photo courtesy Ink TankFlogging Molly will be headlining Thursday night’s Redfest activities, which will also include performances by Zox and Bedouin Soundclash in the Union Free Speech Area.