Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Manchester Academy. 12th February 2020

To say I was looking forward to tonight is an understatement. Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes were my stand out at Glastonbury a few years back and I’ve been itching to see them again ever since. With such expectation, it could’ve been a huge disappointment of course, but Frank ain’t gonna allow that. This is a sold out show and Mr Carter is making it his mission to make sure everyone has the best night of their lives. Working the stage, a true showman, like a prize fighting, tattoo coated pit bull, orchestrating the devoted audience through a career spanning set, thankfully with heavy doses from the latest LP (one of the best recent British rock albums), it’s incendiary. A love fest of post punk hardcore, almost every single song is accompanied by a deafening crowd backing. The band are tight and with Frank in control, they flex their muscles for nearly two hours with women only and slow dance mosh pits. This band seem to effortlessly balance between brutal rock and beautiful ballads, whilst remaining sincere in their message of inclusiveness, without ever becoming preachy (like the last band I watched in here). Frank’s vocals bridge all this perfectly, punk screams, silky crooning and when he speaks, it’s clearly from the heart, the crew are thanked by name and even the bar staff get a shout, Frank is a nice bloke. Anyone in doubt of the future of rock music, listen to this band and see them live the first chance you get. You will not be sorry.