While growing up, almost no one listens to what their parents say.

The “when I was your age” stories go in one ear and out the other. But after a little maturing, the tales that were once taken for granted actually hold some meaning.

The Mollys’ band leader, Nancy McCallion, has found that the roots instilled in her by her parents have become one of the most predominant features of her band.

“As you get older, you understand your parents more and you appreciate your history and culture more,” she said in an interview with No Depression. “I got more and more interested in my Irish roots, especially the story songs, which I liked because they were more literary than most pop songs.”

The roots factor is a major theme in The Mollys’ music, but Irish backgrounds aren’t the only influences one can find in the band’s style.

Band member Catherine Zavala, a child of a Mexican-American military family, brings a Spanish sound to the group, and Kevin Schramm bridges the gap between the Irish and Spanish styles with his cross-cultural accordion.

This combination of genres creates a unique musical experience for listeners.

“Imagine some hot tamales washed back with a pint of warm Guinness and you’ve got The Molly’s,” wrote the Santa Cruz Metro.

The band’s live sets are always jam-packed with energy. Besides the band’s traditional influences, the group keeps a strong presence of rock ‘n’ roll as well.

Instruments that have appeared in the quintet’s songs include guitar, tin whistle, harmonica, mandolin, accordion, bouzouki, bass and drums.

“The music all comes from inside, and it starts to build, and you can’t help but boogie around,” Schramm told the Salina Journal.

“I think what is important about us is that we are in tune to entertaining and not just singing,” McCallion told Dirty Linen. “When I go to see a band and sit down in the audience and watch them, I want to be entertained visually as well as aurally, and so many times I’ve seen so many groups that just don’t care about that sort of thing or just aren’t in tune with that.”

If the Tucson, Ariz.-based musicians are not boogieing around or dipping into Irish or Mexican heritage, there’s always room for country tunes.

“Country music is really big in Tucson, especially a few years ago. I always listened to a lot of country music, so that comes naturally, too,” McCallion told Dirty Linen.

Music hasn’t always come naturally for McCallion. As the former teacher put it, the band’s origination was a “fluke.”

McCallion had been unexpectedly asked to partake in a St. Patrick’s Day show in the early ’90s. She called Zavala, an old friend from high school, to help out with the performance. Zavala and McCallion enjoyed the gig so much they decided to stick together and, from that moment on, were known as The Mollys.

For nearly a decade now, the band members have been touring their hearts out and expanding their horizons. The southwesterners have ventured as far out as Canada and the East Coast.

While expanding its geographical outreach, The Mollys have still maintained a local-oriented discography. All of its five albums have been self-produced by band members.

The Mollys’ blend of Irish, Mexican, country and rock with influences from the Pouges, Los Lobos and Tom Waits can be heard Thursday at 9 p.m. at the Maintenance Shop. Tickets are $5 for students and $7 general admission.