WORDS AND IMAGES BY NATHAN COLE
It’s already a busy Saturday for Liverpool but amongst it are those heading towards Arts Club for a night hyped for a while now. The excitement has been festering for weeks and everyone is in agreement that tonight shouldn’t be missed. The Rats play on the popular stage at Arts Club for a hometown show and people can’t wait. Myself included are waiting to hear that familiar scouse voice belting out across the hall.
Everyone is heading inside with the tickets they’ve had their hands on for ages. A playlist is ringing out which has people singing along ready for bands to come out and play. I think anticipation can sum up what everyone is feeling. Some much loved bands are playing in a much loved city at a much loved venue. People are rearing to go and it shows amongst the crowd.
First on tonight’s bill is four-piece band Syfta. Walking on stage with a bounce in their step you can tell they are just as eager as the crowd to get going. ‘Gold Dust’ was tonight’s first song and did not disappoint. Giving us a taste of the night, everyone is excited with Syftas’ liveliness. Their songs built and built to keep the audience on their toes until the epic drop sent people bouncing up and down.
They really know how to get a crowd started for the night and gives us all a taste of tonight’s (festivities).
Casino entered the stage next and brought life to the start of their set with song ‘Love Go On’. This certainly kept up the energy that already buzzed through the room. They wasted no time in between tunes and jumped right into another song. “No life stories, just music” lead singer warned as they carried on with more bouncy songs. They performed such a captivating set of swingy songs. Nobody could help themselves but keep moving to the lead singers contagious voice.
Now it was time for rats to take the stage as fans edged forward to get closer. Kicking off their set with an outburst of energy the audience immediately yelled back the words to first song ‘patsy decline.’ This is one people sang as they left the hall so certainly gave the night a memorable opening.
The usual breaks in between songs failed to appear as lead singer riled up his crowd and filled the theatre with chanting and cheers. Not a muscle stayed still and not a mouth stayed closed for rats momentous homecoming to a hall filled with true Liverpool spirit.
A fan younger than most was held high on the front row screaming lyrics with all the energy he had. The cheers were overbearing when he was brought forward to share in the energy on stage. Times like this show just how much the crowd was a part of making the night memorable.
They moved on to play new song ‘turn around’ for a live debut. What a tune to introduce to such an invested crowd. We got to hear a change of tone with a refreshing reggae vibe yet still a familiar punk rock tune we could all chant along to.
People left tonight high off the energy of their closing song ‘dreams’ and everything that lead up to it. This is definitely one that will run through peoples heads for a while.
RATS SET LIST
1/ FIGURE IT OUT
2/ PATSY DECLINE
3/ JACK
4/ JENNY
5/ SECTION 60
6/ SIRENS
7/ DREAMS
8/ WEEKEND
FOLLOW RATS
FOLLOW SYFTA
FOLLOW CASINO
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 and married my childhood sweetheart and life is good.
