An aggressive folk/punk hybrid coined Ag-FO, The Dirges have shared the stage with some of the worlds top bands including, Flogging Molly, Millencolin, Spyder Stacey from The Pogues and The Briggs. Their live show can turn the most ardent music critic into a beer drinking dancing fool! Here's a little history: In 2001, Francis and Pete found a four track underneath the tire wall of a friend's rent-a-wreck and started writing songs. After many raucous all-nighters, they decided to round up some friends who could play and The Dirges were formed. The Dirges were so named in tribute to friends and family lost. Francis, The Dirges front man, thinks of himself as a classically trained antagonist who decided to spread his word through music. He was born and raised in the small factory town of Schenectady NY where a love for tradition and hard work were pounded into him during his formative years. He became a bartender, a chef, and a man whose songs recognize that the stumbling sadness of life needs an energetic nod from time to time. They may well rile you into a frenzy before the tears begin to flow. Bass player , Tall Pete finally found his calling when he started working with Fran.He picked up the bass and discovered his natural rhythm. His driving bass lines are the bedrock for The Dirges deeply layered reality. Although she was a fan, Alicia Allen didn't join the band until 2003 when Fran and Pete got into an altercation after one of her solo shows. Fran encountered a broken pint glass to the tendon in his hand and enlisted Alicia to cover the rhythm guitar during his recovery. They decided to keep her when they discovered that she's always willing to learn and play new instruments when needed. Now she is playing guitar, mandolin, and flute. Marc Strommer joined the band in late 2005. He plays lead guitar and lap steel and has become a cornerstone of the bands new sound. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston and a member of L.A.'s Dan Band and The Rays. Marc's talent, and more so his attitude towards music and life, have been a driving force in The Dirges recent endeavors. On drums, Bill "Stuhlly" Brennenstuhl has been making his living as a drummer since attending Berklee school of music. Stuhlly has performed with the likes of Hypnotic Clambake, Mike Gordon, and The Fourhorseman. His driving beats and inventive fills are a perfect fit for The Dirges rambunctious style of music and Fran's heartfelt working class lyrics. 2009 was a great year for the band. They've had their music placed in several shows and movies including "Boondock Saints 2 All Saints Day" and The Dudesons on MTV. On 2010 they were included in the Amazon MP3 top selling soundtrack to BDS2 with 4 songs and embarked on the sold out Boondock Saints 10yr anniversary tour in Feb/March.They'll be heading out on their first Headlining club tour in Oct to the East Coast and have been ask to perform at The Candian Music Fest in Toronto March 9-13th 2011..In a world where music is inundated with samples and pitch correction The Dirges let the listener remember that there is beauty in the fallible nature of the human race and that blood still flows in the veins of rock-n-roll. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.