The countdown to St. Patrick’s Day officially began as Flogging Molly took to the stage at the House of Blues last Friday for their ninth annual Green 17 tour. Accompanied by guests Dave Hause and Skinny Lister, Flogging Molly delivered their trademark Celtic sound to hundreds of die-hard fans. The restless crowd waited almost four hours from when the doors opened until Flogging Molly finally took the stage. Seemingly unimpressed by artist Hause, who is the frontman of the band The Loved Ones, the crowd was much more interested in Skinny Lister, a five-piece English band with sounds similar to that of the headliner. Fans were greeted first with some of Flogging Molly’s famous and energetic numbers including "Drunken Lullabies” before playing a number of tracks like “Requiem for a Dying Song” from its 2008 CD “Float,” an album called “one of the most important CDs of the year, if not the decade” by Alternative Press. Additionally, the band promoted its newest album “Speed of Darkness” (2011) and one of the CD’s most popular songs “Revolution.” Within the first few seconds of “Drunken Lullabies,” the venue exploded into jumping, screaming and moshing, and the craziness didn’t end until the band’s final notes rang out. Unlike the horror stories of violence that usually accompany Flogging Molly shows, it was obvious that that the collection of moshers, dancers and head-bangers were in great spirits and among the group’s biggest fans. Front man David King worked the crowd in a way that few know how, telling stories and engaging the audience between songs. While the flawless guitar riffs and reverberating bass pumped up the crowd, the most loved member of the band at tonight’s show was obviously Bridget Regan, electric fiddle player and King’s wife. With a following of her own, Regan was the soul of the show, stealing solos and sharing vocals with King in almost every song. Toward the middle of the set, Flogging Molly channeled some of the more somber songs in their repertoire such as “Float,” before returning to the most popular singles to wrap up the night. Flogging Molly, formed in 1997, is a seven-piece Irish punk band with a sound inspired by artists such as Joe Strummer, The Dubliners and Johnny Cash. Their lyrics usually touch on subjects such as Ireland and its history, drinking and politics, with several references to the Irish Catholic Church. The band released its first album with Borstal Beats Records “Swagger” in 2000 and the immensely popular follow up album “Drunken Lullabies” in 2002. Their most popular songs include “Salty Dog,” “The Worst Day Since Yesterday,” "What's Left Of The Flag” and “If I Ever Leave This World Alive.” Band members include King and Regan, Dennis Casey (guitar), Matt Hensley (accordion), Nathen Maxwell (bass guitar), Bob Schmidt (mandolin, banjo) and George Schwindt (drums). The Green 17 tour is the band’s salute to St. Patrick’s Day. Beginning in late January annually, the series of stops comes to a close on March 17 with a huge celebration, this year in Phoenix.

Every time I have a “personal” interaction with an American boy, I come to the realization of yet another new rule or theory that I now have to add to the others. One interaction randomly popped back into my head this week, and it truly made me question the word “virginity.”

The Middle East is a popular 18+ club and concert venue that features many well-known artists, especially those of the indie and hip-hop varieties. Readers of the Boston Phoenix voted the venue the best for hip-hop three years running, and the publication raved, “the Middle East has no rival when it comes to underground hip-hop.”

What started off as a little get-together between four cellists of the prestigious Boston Symphony Orchestra is now a group they call the Boston Cello Quartet. With a debut album released Tuesday, these four musicians from Romania, France and the United States have brought their most beloved instrument from the lines of the symphony orchestra onto center stage.

The International Student and Scholar Institute (ISSI), a student group dedicated to promoting international culture and education at Northeastern, held their Carnevale Kick-Off event Friday, Feb. 1 in the Curry Indoor Quad. The 18th annual event is a two-month long cultural celebration that includes a variety of events such as music and dance classes, food nights and sporting events.

Although living in the North means 10+ feet of snow every winter, it has its benefits for winter sports fans. Many students on campus are big into skiing and snowboarding. However, there is still an array of winter activities that most people do not take advantage of in the winter months.

Mulaney, who inspired the character Stefon on Saturday Night Live (SNL), has performed on “Comedy Central Presents,” “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” He also co-created “I Love the 30s” and “All Access: Middle Ages” for Comedy Central and has several comedy albums such as “New in Town,” which has generated positive reviews.

February is an exciting month – as Valentine’s Day and the Super Bowl pass, the countdown to the Oscars begins. All of Hollywood gets decked out in designer gowns and tuxedos as they wait for the greatest actors and directors to be rewarded for their excellence in the film industry.

After my grandpa moved to Chicago we stayed in contact, mostly via letters. I believe in the sanctity of snail mail more than certain constitutional amendments, so I had no problem maintaining a steady stream of handwritten correspondence.

Entry of the Week: Friday, Feb. 1 The Stafford Brothers are the number one ranked DJs in Australia, according to the 2011 and 2012 inthemix DJ awards. They have their own reality show and recently worked with Lil Wayne for their newest single, “Hello.” Their other hits include “Open Up Your Arms,” and “Celebrate Life.” The Royale Boston nightclub is hosting the duo this week for an entry fee of $20.

Sixty years after the original publication of Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man,” audience members poured into the Boston University Theatre with one question on their minds: “How is this story still relevant?”

Northeastern students, faculty and guests laughed and gave Comedy Central’s Nick Swardson a round of applause every time he cracked a joke. Swardson returned to Northeastern Jan. 17 in Blackman Auditorium to do stand up after missing his scheduled Homecoming show with Sarah Silverman due to food poisoning.