The Mollys were an American folk-rock

quintet A quintet is a group containing five members. It is commonly associated with musical groups, such as a string quintet, or a group of five singers, but can be applied to any situation where five similar or related objects are considered a single ...

, influenced by

Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language * Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Fo ...

and

Tejano Tejanos (, ; singular: ''Tejano/a''; Spanish for "Texan", originally borrowed from the Caddo ''tayshas'') are the residents of the state of Texas who are culturally descended from the Mexican population of Tejas and Coahuila that lived in the ...

music, and based in

Tucson, Arizona , "(at the) base of the black ill , nicknames = "The Old Pueblo", "Optics Valley", "America's biggest small town" , image_map = , mapsize = 260px , map_caption = Interactive map ...

. For most of their run, their members were Nancy McCallion, Catherine Zavala, Kevin Schramm, Dan Sorenson and Gary Mackender. They self-released several albums between 1992 and 2011.

History

Before The Mollys

Three of The Mollys - Nancy McCallion, Catherine Zavala, and Dan Sorenson - had previously performed in the Tucson band Nadine and the MoPhonics, which also included McCallion's siblings Lisa and Neil.

The Mollys

In the

Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the creat ...

in 2000, Don Allred wrote that "Tucson, Arizona’s Mollys ARE TexMexistential Celtic Country Polka - which...has usually added up to 'Rock’n’Roll by Other Means.'" Craig Harris of

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

called them "one of the contemporary folk music's most eclectic bands." Nancy McCallion and Catherine Zavala started The Mollys in Tucson in 1989. They were influenced by

and

music, and by

The Pogues The Pogues were an English or Anglo-Irish Celtic punk band fronted by Shane MacGowan and others, founded in Kings Cross, London in 1982, as "Pogue Mahone" – the anglicisation of the Irish Gaelic ''póg mo thóin'', meaning "kiss my arse". T ...

. In the beginning, Linda Winkelman and Karen Falkenstrom briefly joined on winds and percussion, respectively. For most of their run, the Mollys were Nancy McCallion (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, tin whistle, songwriting), Catherine Zavala (lead vocals, mandolin), Kevin Schramm (since 1994 - accordions, guitar, vocals), Dan Sorenson (bass, tour blogger), and Gary Mackender (drums, vocals). The Mollys toured across the United States frequently, and also in Canada, Italy, Australia and New Zealand. Circa 2000, Zavala and Mackender, having tired of touring, left the band, and Danny Krieger (guitar) and Marx Loeb (drums) joined. Between 1989 and 2004, The Mollys self-released seven albums, under the publishing name "Apolkalips Now". Nancy McCallion was the band's primary songwriter. The Mollys' album ''Hat Trick'' was given 4.5/5 stars by Allmusic, while ''Tidings of Comfort and Joy'' in 1992 was given 4/5 stars. McCallion and the other remaining members nominally closed The Mollys down in 2004. However, through 2012, the band's longest-serving five members tended to perform an annual reunion concert in Tucson, typically around St. Patrick's Day or on

Halloween Halloween or Hallowe'en (less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve) is a celebration observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Saints' Day. It begins the observanc ...

, one of which resulted in an additional (live) album.

Beyond The Mollys

As of 2020, all of the former Mollys remain in the Tucson area. Circa 2005-2016, the Last Call Girls, including Kevin Schramm, Nancy McCallion, and her sister Lisa McCallion, performed around Tucson and released one album. During the first decades of the 21st century, Kevin Schramm continued to perform with several other groups, and Dan Sorenson continued his journalism career while also performing occasionally. Linda Winkelman played in the jazz quartet Flambe. As of early 2020, most of the former Mollys continue to perform locally, and some have also released recordings. Nancy McCallion performs more than once a month, leading several ensembles, some of which include her husband, and former Molly, Danny Krieger and/or her brother Neil McCallion, as of 2022. Nancy McCallion has also self-released several recordings, and continues to work as a schoolteacher. Since 2012, Zavala leads Minute2Minute, which occasionally performs and records. Marx Loeb continues to drum with a variety of other Tucson musicians. Karen Falkenstrom continues to drum with Odaiko Sonora and with Eldritch Dragons. Gary Mackender, now on accordion instead of drums, has led performances and recordings with The Carnivaleros through 2022; as of 2021-2022, he has been performing in The Tirebiters (a.k.a. Sky Island Ramblers) and the Morpholinos. Mackender also continues to work in the visual arts.

Discography

Albums

(all albums self-published) *''Tidings of Comfort & Joy'' (1992) *''This Is My Round'' (1995) *''Hat Trick'' (1997) *''Wankin' Out West'' *''Moon Over the Interstate'' (1999) :*''Moon Over the Interstate'' expanded version, with additional tracks from previous albums, originally packaged only to carry and sell during the Mollys' tour of Australia and New Zealand (1999) *''Only a Story'' (2000) *''Trouble'' (2002) *''"Live" at the El Casino Ballroom'' (2011)