Eastpak 2 Eastpunk

I don't know how many backpacks Eastpak has managed to sell through taking a group of punk bands on tour but we sure can thank them for an awesome night anyway. Not even the hardcore punkrockers of Sweden were triggered to an extent worth mentioning by the stereotypical energetic Time Again and the appropriate adequate rockers of Street Dogs . But British Skindred sure did bring something new into the genre with hardcore , metal and ragga influences lead by a charismatic and wicked singer Benji Webbe. I bought their CD Roots Rock Riot and got three of the nice band members to sign it. Look out for an album review later on the blog!

Flogging Molly was of course the big attraction, being the biggest band to number of members and in numbers of myspace hits (over 6 million!). We're talking Stockholm , Sweden on a Saturday night and last night there were perhaps only a few hundred in Arenan @ Fryshuset . But I still managed to meet and see a whole bunch of people I know and know of and haven't met for a long time. There you have Sweden in a nut shell. So big but still so small. But Flogging Molly played an awesome show whose energy and durability shocked me and the audience. There were folk rock explosions after folk rock explosions for a long wonderful euphoric hour. And I don't know if I or the band were more struck by how steady a fanbase Flogging Molly has in the Swedish rock /indie /punk kids. Punk tends to be sing-a-longy but Celtic punk even more so. Which was heard during the concert from the devoted fans of the audience. Look out for more Flogging Molly on the blog and in the meantime I suggest you give them a shot here or download a few sample songs below!

Flogging Molly - What's Left Of The Flag (zshare)
Flogging Molly - What's Left Of The Flag (ysi)

Flogging Molly - Every Dog Has Its Day (zshare)
Flogging Molly - Every Dog Has Its Day (ysi)

Flogging Molly - Salty Dog (zshare)
Flogging Molly - Salty Dog (ysi)

Flogging Molly - The Seven Deadly Sins (zshare)
Flogging Molly - The Seven Deadly Sins (ysi)

Skindred has never been blogged before, which is a huge shame! So grab this exclusive! First up!

Skindred - Destroy The Dancefloor (zshare)
Skindred - Destroy The Dancefloor (ysi)