A phenomenal night of folk and punk at The Masquerade with Frank Turner, Jenny Owen Youngs and Larry and His Flask on September 26.
Review by Caroline Wuertz, Photos by Rose Riot
Jenny Owen Youngs and Larry and His Flask’s exciting opening represented both of Frank Turner’s major musical styles – folk and punk, respectively – setting the stage for Frank Turner’s unique hybrid of folk lyrics with acoustic rhythm guitar and punk vocals.
Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls opened with an a cappella intro to “If Ever I Stray” from his latest album, England Keep My Bones. Without hesitation he went quickly into the single “The Road,” pleasing the audience by revising the lyrics to “I’ve drunk with drifters in Atlanta.” Following were two explosively energetic, yet sentimental, songs about his grandmother and a friend whom he lost to cancer – “Peggy Sang the Blues” and “Long Live the Queen.” Despite the crowd already singing louder than Frank, he still requested more participation from the audience, including clapping with “Wessex Boy,” singing during “Substitute” and air harmonica for “Dan’s Song.”
Frank then gave the crowd a short break from the high energy, demanding participation while he showed his folk roots, playing “I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous,” the first track from Love Ire & Song, and “I Am Disappeared” from his latest album, England Keep My Bones. The fourth and final “test” for crowd participation was to dance during his new, apropos titled song, “Four Simple Words (I Want to Dance),” which the audience passed beautifully. After a very short, momentary drum break they continued straight into “Try This At Home.” With a roaring crowd, they finished out the set with “I Still Believe,” accompanied by Jenny Owen Youngs on the harmonica.
A short encore break later, Frank took to the stage alone with his guitar to sing an old tune, “Father’s Day,” from his first album, Sleep Is for the Week. The Sleeping Souls rejoined Frank during the next song, “Love Ire & Song.” Finally, they played “Photosynthesis,” complete with a guitar solo by Ian Cook, the lead guitarist from Larry and His Flask.
The night ended with the crowd chanting “one more song,” relentlessly hoping for an infinite encore.
If you have yet to listen to Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls or see them live you are truly missing out. For more information and tour dates visit frank-turner.com
Also, make sure you check out Jenny Owen Youngs at jennyowenyoungs.com and Larry and His Flask at larryandhisflask.com
