Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes
Manchester Academy 2
17 March 2017
Frank Carter returned to Manchester on Friday night as part of his band’s Modern Ruin tour. Nigel Carr reports back for Louder Than War with photographs by Melanie Smith.
The ex Gallows from man was in incendiary form fronting The Rattlesnakes, the band he formed in 2015. From the opener Snake Eyes, dressed in smart pinstripe suit, Frank completely connected with this packed crowd, putting on the kind of performance that many of his contemporaries could only dream of.
The energy he expended alone would be enough to power a small village, such was the intensity of his performance. He literally sprang at the audience from the back of the stage hanging on to the mic stand, crouching, lurching forward and spinning around like a 70s Rod Stewart on acid.
The band first played Manchester two years ago yet the front man was able to pick out faces he recognised from back then making them feel a real part of the event. He came across as a passionate, polite, proper geezer. Hammering out his unique brand of sometimes visceral and often melodic punk rock. Punctuated with huge slow build tracks like Thunder and the epic Neon Rust which closed the first part.
There’s an iconic recording of Iggy Pop’s TV Eye at a Stooges’ gig in Cincinnati from 1970 where he literally walks on the hands of the crowds. Frank did exactly this, throwing himself in to the mosh pit and crowd surfing before raising himself up from the swaying throng and walking forward (see Mel’s photo below). High art indeed and audience participation at its best!
The band played most of the tracks off the new album and the edgier 2015’s Blossom, which provided the night’s closer I Hate You. Something he clearly did not, as he thanked just about everyone in the venue. From the sound man, the organisers, security and even the bar staff. Frank was everyone’s friend, a true performer and a gig that will stay in everyone’s memories for a very long time.
Photo gallery:
Please note: Use of these images in any form without permission is illegal. If you wish to use /purchase or license any images please contact mel@mudkissphotography.co.uk
You can find Frank Carter on Facebook, Twitter and his website.
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes play a string of UK dates to the end of March before jetting off to the States.
Remaining dates in March
SUN 19 St Luke’s – Glasgow
TUE 21 Oh Yeah Music Centre – Belfast
WED 22 Academy 2 Dublin – Ireland
FRI 24 Stylus – Leeds
SAT 25 The Asylum – Birmingham
SUN 26 The Globe – Cardiff
MON 27 Exeter Phoenix – Exeter
WED 29 Wedgewood Rooms – Southsea
THU 30 KOKO – London
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All words by Nigel Carr©. More writing by Nigel on Louder Than War can be found at his Author’s archive. You can find Nigel on Twitter and Facebook and his Website
Photos by Melanie Smith. More work by Mel on Louder Than War can be found at her author’s archive. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter. Photography portfolio can be found here
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