Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes, Manchester Academy, 25th November 2021

Coming to a Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes gig, to look at them you’d maybe expect a full throttle punk rock set. There is plenty of this obviously, there’s also plenty of dare I say it, tenderness and compassion. Maybe not always in the sound, but certainly the lyrics and even Frank’s stage presence. This is what makes them so interesting and perfect for the times we’re living in. We need angry passionate voices like Frank’s calling bullshit and laying emotions bare. His lyrics and performance are intensely personal. He needs this, as we need him. Music has got me through some difficult times and these songs matter. They also sound amazing which helps. Each one a perfect incendiary device ready to detonate and when they do, fuck me what a rush. It’s the songs of ‘End of Suffering’ that seem to land hardest. Sonic tidal-waves crashing off the stage, ripping through the crowd, plastering a daft grin on faces as they go. Tonight is the final night of the tour and the band are hell bent on marking it. Much to the delight of the crowd that are more than up for it. With the average age of what looks like 20 fuck all, they’ve the energy for it too. In answer to what are rock kids into in 2021, the deafening answer is Frank fuckin Carter! Carter himself is a tightly wound unit of energy. Working the stage and crowd. Constantly engaging, punching the air and talking directly to the audience mid song, without missing a cue. Doing all this with his arm in a sling, having broken his elbow. It doesn’t stop him jumping off the drum riser. Spinning round, generally going wild at any given opportunity. It’s infectious to witness. Frank loves his audience, wants us to love this, wants us to be safe. Lads cleared out of the pit to let the girls go wild, stoping songs to check people are okay, having a chat with a 6 year old down the front, who by all accounts is having the time of her short life. Even more so, when she’s brought up on stage (with her dad) for ‘Devil Inside Me’. The new songs sound huge too. Perhaps no more than near show stealer ‘Bang Bang’, which features support act Lynks sporting a red sequinned morph suit with horns. Fantastic! A Frank Carter gig is a celebration of all things that are great about live music. Not just getting a bunch of kindred souls in a room together, but truly making them feel special and part of something special. Oh and having a shit ton of fun while doing it. My favourite ‘Crowbar’ gets an encore airing. The Academy finding a new level of hysteria, with the sort of unison pogoing usually reserved for festivals. As Frank now sling ditched and shirtless, flexes like a tattooed tornado. It’s punk music to dance to. There’s a reason this tour concludes here. Manchester is special. I’d like to sit down and chat with Frank. He’s fascinating, but I’ll make do with watching him play at every chance I get. You really should too!