In fact, it explains a lot about the way he is: Larrikin is now living the carefree childhood he missed out on as a boy “I had a lot on my shoulders,” he says “I felt a lot older and stronger. So now I’m ready to chill out!”Larrikin Love’s music is doused with the boundless exuberance and playfulness of youth But the record also marks a closure of sorts for Larrikin. The Freedom Spark is divided into three parts each drawing from the stages of his life. The first, called “Hate”, says Larrikin, is characterised by songs that are “aggressive, dark, uncomfortable, claustrophobic and compromising.” The middle section, “Fairy Tale”, harks back to a youthful innocence, “when nothing mattered; the good old days.” While the third part, “Freedom”, “is today; in the moment but remembering those good days so that wherever you are you can find a nice place where you’re at peace with yourself.”With The Freedom Spark, it’s clear Larrikin has put his past behind him. “I’m really quite a happy guy at the moment,” he says, wolfing down his last morsel And he has good reason to be. Not only is his stomach much fuller these days but, as the band giddily tell me, their current single, “Happy As Annie” was used to soundtrack a recent episode of Wife Swap – “which really is great,” giggles the front man But these are just distractions. Larrikin Love are currently touring the UK and slowly but surely building a passionate fanbase of their own thanks to their vibrant live sets.
“It’s a bit nerve-wracking, but at the same time it’s exciting,” says Larrikin.Larrikin Love are working hard and – on the evidence of those hooded eyes and sheepish grins -playing hard too. But their front man isn’t much interested in the usual trappings of rock’n'roll success Instead he yearns for the security of a quiet life. “I’d really love to have a little retreat somewhere,” he says wistfully. “There’s this beautiful, quiet, little town called Melina on the Greek mainland opposite Skiathos – I’ve been about five times They’re selling old farm houses off for like £50,000. Hopefully I would have made that by next year.” He giggles cheekily, aware he may have to wait a bit longer.But Larrikin is hardly perturbed. Tomorrow he moves into what he calls his “riverside bijou” – a little Thames-side flat in Barnes. It’s not exactly his seaside fantasy, but for now it’ll do very nicely indeed “I really like it here,” he says brimming with excitement.
“This particular stretch of river does not feel like it’s five miles away from the dirty, grubby city centre.” He smiles contentedly. “And to me it’s just five minutes from the outdoor dining, the dolmades and the retsina. I’m even thinking about buying the shell of a boat for a winter hobby Plus I’ve got Annie’s right opposite me. And as you know, they sell cracking food.”‘The Freedom Spark’ is out now on Warners. Larrikin Love are currently touring the UK ( www.larrikinlove.co.uk). The vogue for bizarre band names has grown on the pop world like a Russian vine.
Even a moniker as silly as Arctic Monkeys now seems quite sensible when compared to such names as Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Bullet for My Valentine, Snowfight in the City Centre, Living with Eating Disorders or Dogs Die in Hot Cars, to name but a few. Other acts go further, and add punctuation marks to the mix, as per the Texan band …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, or Get Cape Wear Cape. Fly – the nom du rock of the 20-year-old singer from Southend known to his mum as Sam Duckworth. Exclamation marks, too, are popular, spicing up already over- heated names such as The Go! Team; Panic! At the Disco, You Say Party! We Say Die! and the Canadian group Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Some bands, meanwhile, make waggish use of spacing (Alexisonfire) or weird combina- tions of upper and lower cases (iLiKETRAiNS).