 
Larry And His Flask are a six-piece band from
Oregon in America and they have just enjoyed a
sold out run supporting Frank Turner on his headline
tour across the UK and Europe and to coincide
with the long running tour they are releasing
their new EP ‘Hobo’s Lament’.
The first thing that strikes you about ‘Hobo’s
Lament’ is the outstanding artwork which
features a drawing of a tramp flipping the bird
on both hands whilst puffing on a cigarette, the
artwork is well created and also leaves you with
a smile on your face and that is even before you
have heard a second of the band’s music.
The EP opens with ‘Closed Doors’ and
as soon as frontman Ian Cook comes in with his
vocals you just know that the next 25minutes are
going to be enjoyable as Cook sings in catchy
way whilst the rest of the band go all out thrashing
their instruments in an energetic way.
The opening guitar riff of ‘Big Ride’
is fantastic and show’s that Larry And His
Flask are no one trick pony’s and this becomes
even more clear as the EP progresses as each song
sounds different from the last. ‘My Name
Is Cancer’ is a big punchy song where Ian
Cook lets loose with his vocals sounding more
gruff than anywhere else on the EP, once again
the instrumental work is fantastic and the lyrics
are well written and easy to relate to.
The EP title track ‘Hobo’s Lament’
opens with calm acoustic sounds whilst Ian Cook
sings in a soft way and just when you think that
Larry And His Flask are unleashing a toned down
song on us mayhem explodes at the 1minute mark
when the drums and guitars come in at full force
and the track quickly turns into a big sounding
crazy anthem.
‘Swing’ is easily the best track the
EP has to offer it is completely bonkers for the
whole 3 minute duration and reminds me ever so
much of everyone’s favourite gypsy punks
Gogol Bordello, on the live circuit the song is
bound to get the mosh pit moving and quite possibly
some circle pits forming.
‘So Long’ is a big retro sounding
sing-a-long song, it’s quite basic sounding
yet the group vocals help make the song a jolly
number.
I have heard nothing but positive comments from
people who managed to catch Larry And His Flask
on their recent tour supporting Frank Turner and
now after listening to their EP ‘Hobo’s
Lament’ a few times over I now realise what
I have been missing for the past couple of months
as Larry And His Flask are an outstanding act
and one I hope return to the UK soon, if you buy
just one record by an Xtra Mile Recordings act
this year seriously make sure it is ‘Hobo’s
Lament’ by Larry And His Flask.
4/5
Review by Trigger
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