Photo Credit: @hcw_photo / hcw-photography
Following the success of their fourth consecutive top 10 record, Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes embarked on a UK tour in February, bringing along a selection of new songs as well as old favourites, with Leeds serving as the only Yorkshire date on the tour.
In the past ten years, Liverpool has produced several really talented musicians, and THE MYSTERINES, an indie rock quintet from the Wirral, is among the best. The Yorkshire crowd embraced these emerging talents with cheers that filled the room as soon as the band took the stage. The Mersey bunch crept into their concert with the eerie opener ‘The Last Dance’ and ‘Dangerous’, which highlighted Lia Metcalfe’s strong vocals, and eventually donning the guitar and serenaded the audience during ‘All These Things’. The song’s quicker tempo fit THE MYSTERINES even better. A brand-new song called ‘Stray’ was played during their set, but the grunge-inspired ‘Hung Up’ stole the show.
It was going to be a difficult act to follow after an excellent performance by the support act, but FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLESNAKES always puts on a powerful display. Suddenly the audience erupted and the room darkened, each member ascended the stage one by one until the main man, Frank Carter, emerged from the wings wearing an ankle-length trench coat. The band eased into the set list with a more subdued approach, enabling Frank to take centre stage with his powerful vocals. They opened with the exquisite ‘Can I Take You Home’ followed by both ‘Brambles’ and ‘Self Love’. It became evident that the set was beginning to progress into a much more full throttle performance soon, and that is where fan favourite ‘Devil Inside Me’ came into effect.
Three minutes is all it takes to sum up Frank Carter’s unpredictable performances: it’s like going from 0 to 100 in that time. For this upbeat hymn from his debut album, the crowd began to form a moshpit in the centre of the room. The band’s next song, the punk-inspired ‘Kitty Sucker’, effectively showcased their inspirations while retaining a current edge that would appeal to a wide age range of spectators. The intense performance carried on in classic Rattlesnakes fashion, complete with high spirits, powerful riffs, and a master class from leader Frank Carter.
Instead of ending with a string of energetic anthems, FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLESNAKES‘ remaining three songs were of a much more steady flow, which included both ‘Thunder‘ and ‘Man of The Hour‘. It was a welcome change of pace as it allowed the audience and the musicians to loosen up a bit while still singing the crucial lyrics and capping off an incredible performance.
Photo Credit: @hcw_photo / hcw-photography
Taped Magazine 