WORDS MATTY BEZ / IMAGES DESH KAPUR
Friday at Manchester Academy for Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes, and was amped for a night of mayhem and chaos, but before the main event there was enough time to check out Liverpool Indie rockers The Mysterines and they produced an electrifying set of dirty grunge rock, Lia Metcalfe’s voice was mesmerizing, powerful and effortless. The Mysterines have a distinctive rock edge blended with their own twist on their Indie upbringings – brilliant stuff!
And then it was time!!!I first encountered Frank Carter as the fiery frontman of The Gallows back in 2007, amidst the maelstrom of the Taste of Chaos tour alongside heavyweights like The Used, Aiden, Rise Against, and The Blackout. The chaos they unleashed that night was palpable, with Frank’s raw energy leaving an indelible mark, even if the music itself was a bit hit or miss for me. Fast forward 16 years, and it’s evident that Frank Carter has honed his craft to perfection. From the moment the band exploded onto the stage, it was a whirlwind of frantic punk rock energy.
The opening riff of ‘Can I Take You Home’ hit like a gut punch, delivering punk rock with the precision of seasoned musicians playing like it was their last gig. But this was no ordinary punk; it was a polished gem, smoother than silk yet retaining its rebellious edge. Thunderous melodies and massive guitar riffs crashed like waves, parting just enough to let Frank’s vocals rise and ride the crest. Dressed in a shirt and suit jacket, Frank looked the epitome of cool, shedding layers throughout the night to reveal his iconic tattooed torso. As a consummate frontman, he knew just how to work the crowd, from orchestrating a girls-only mosh pit to executing a crowd-surfing handstand, a far cry from the chaos of yesteryear. The pulsating picked bass and thumping drums were the perfect back drop to the experience. But Dean “Deano” Richardson, was the backbone of the performance, driving the rhythm with the finesse of Angus Young on steroids. Chants of “Deano, Deano, Deano” echoed through the venue, met with virtuosic displays of guitar wizardry from the man himself, bounding around the stage like a rock ‘n’ roll Lee Evans.
Standout moments included the anthemic ‘My Town,’ dedicated to Manchester, a singalong favorite But it was ‘I Hate You’ that truly ignited the room, with Frank needing only to cue the occasional lyric as the audience took over. The night reached its crescendo with the band’s biggest anthem, ‘Man of the Hour,’ a triumphant testament to who they are now and how far they’ve come. Like the rest of the Friday night crowd, I left the venue thoroughly blown away, knowing full well it won’t be another 16 years before I catch up with Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes again.
SET LIST
1/ CAN I TAKE YOU HOME
2/ BRAMBLES
3/ SELF LOVE
4/ DEVIL INSIDE ME
5/ KITTY SUCKER
6/ WILD FLOWERS
7/ TYRANT LIZARD KING
8/ HONEY
9/ PARASITE
10/ MY TOWN
11/ CUPIDS ARROW
12/ SUN BRIGHT GOLDEN HAPPENING
13/ SUPERSTAR
14/ CROWBAR
15/ GO GET A TATTOO
16/ LULLABY
17/ HAPPIER DAYS
18/ ORIGINAL SIN
ENCORE
19/ THUNDER
20/ I HATE YOU
21/ MAN OF THE HOUR
FOLLOW FRANK CARTER AND THE RATTLESNAKES
FOLLOW THE MYSTERINES
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
