Don’t you just love when things don’t go as planned, but turn out alright – perhaps even better than anticipated – in the end? This post was supposed to be about the Whiskey Spots, the opening act for The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band tour’s Eugene show last night, but I arrived late and missed their set. What I did catch of the show, though, surpassed any and all expectations I had of the night.
Imagine my surprise (and sheer excitement, honestly) upon entering the WOW Hall and seeing an upright bass being flung around madly in the middle of a mosh pit – this was the scene of Larry and His Flask, a six-man band from central Oregon. Formed in 2003, the group was originally a three-piece punk rock band, but after their drummer quit, a setback that lead singer and guitarist Ian Cook said was “like losing a family member”, the Flask’s sound changed entirely. “We were always into rootsier stuff, more folk-type music,” Cook shared, “so we were just like ‘let’s just throw it all back and make it completely acoustic.’” They haven’t completely lost their punk roots, however, as exhibited in the clip below.
Imagine my surprise (and sheer excitement, honestly) upon entering the WOW Hall and seeing an upright bass being flung around madly in the middle of a mosh pit – this was the scene of Larry and His Flask, a six-man band from central Oregon. Formed in 2003, the group was originally a three-piece punk rock band, but after their drummer quit, a setback that lead singer and guitarist Ian Cook said was “like losing a family member”, the Flask’s sound changed entirely. “We were always into rootsier stuff, more folk-type music,” Cook shared, “so we were just like ‘let’s just throw it all back and make it completely acoustic.’” They haven’t completely lost their punk roots, however, as exhibited in the clip below.
BestNewBands.com
The Flask has a whole Gogol Bordello gypsy-punk thing going on, replacing eastern European influences with a country/bluegrass twang. What really blew my mind was how musically skilled and versatile these guys are: watch as mandolinist Kirk Skatvold and banjoist Andrew Carew switch to trumpet and trombone, respectively, without batting an eyelash. And double bassist Jesse Marshall? He deserves some kind of award for swingin’ away on his heavy upright bass before thrashing Animal-style on the tuba.
BestNewBands.com
Headliner Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band was admittedly less animated than Larry and His Flask, but still put on an amazing show. The Indiana-based trio treated Eugene fans to a country/blues hoedown, performing songs from older albums as well as their latest release, The Wages.
BestNewBands.com
Between songs and switching instruments, Reverend Peyton shared anecdotes and ranted about the band’s summer stint on the Warped Tour, during which a fellow artist accused him of playing a bass guitar track during live performances. According to Peyton, said artist just couldn’t believe it was possible for someone to play more than one guitar part at one time; here, the Rev shows how he turns the seemingly-impossible into a most impressive reality.
BestNewBands.com
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band stops tomorrow in Ashland, Oregon before traveling to Arcata, San Francisco and seven other shows in California. Larry and His Flask will tour with the Reverend for two more shows, then join The Devil Makes Three in Bend on October 5.
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