Live Review: Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes - Academy, Manchester 25/11/2021
After a successful run of loud and messy shows, Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes round off the tour with their stickiest gig yet at Manchester’s Academy.
The Rattlesnakes’ first Manchester show since February 2020, there were high hopes and great expectations for the show; especially as it’s the show to close off the band’s tour promoting their latest record Sticky. It was manic, it was energetic, and most importantly, it was a pure representation of Frank Carter as a musician.
Opening the night was Lynks, London’s latest alternative obsession. Taking the stage in his trademark leather mask and an outfit made from the result of many pairs of tights meeting a pair of scissors - claiming after a tour cycle, he and his backup singers ran out of clean clothing and had to improvise - it was an indication for how random and hilariously entertaining his set was to be. Only Lynks could pull off a serious partially spoken-word song detailing how to make a bechamel sauce in ten steps (with pictures), which sent the artist into a short emotional speech about how he once did not know how to make the sauce. This was shortly followed by one of his biggest hits to date, ‘BBB’, originally recorded with queer rapper Grove and in their absence, he replaced their verse with his own featured verse from the Rattlesnakes single ‘Go Get A Tattoo’. Even those who were unaware of Lynks before he took the stage that night knew that verse like the back of their hands, and that was when he won over every single person in the venue in the span of seconds.
The standout tracks of the set were his unreleased upcoming single ‘Silly Boy’, a single dedicated to every person who ever dated a less than favourable man in their lives - a majority of the people in attendance, judging by the empowering positive reception - and the closing track ‘Str8 Acting’, which is a song for every queer person who had to live through a straight cis world and especially see the straight cis population in action at the clubs. All about “hot straight boys” and “hot straight girls”, it’s a staple closer for Lynks’ set and it’s always a strong point to close the show. This isn’t the last we will see of Lynks in the night, and everyone is excited to see his obscured face again.
Following on is the second support of the night, Essex rock singer Cassyette. An artist that has blown up on the internet and in the industry, she has saved her strongest energy for the Manchester crowd and the feeling is mutual. Performing her stellar singles such as ‘Petrichor’ and ‘Prison Purse’; the best reception came from the rendition of her ultimate fan-favourite ‘Dear Goth’, the song that shot Cassyette to where she is now. The set was reminiscent of rock shows from the 80s, where the lights were violet and the guitars were making ears bleed in the best ways. Cassyette has always seemed to take inspiration from glam rock aesthetics and heavy rock styles, and she highlights these influences with her stage presence and elements of her live set.
Still a growing artist with quite the journey ahead, her power is already proven as she was able to command a strong and thrilling mosh pit to her tracks. It’s an idea that most gig-goers are hesitant to open a pit for new or unfamiliar artists, as they may not feel the feeling to or feel comfortable enough to in that atmosphere, but no one was holding back for Cassyette. She was the most magical person at that moment, and worked her tricks with her music all over the Academy.
With the crowd all warmed up, and the moshing already being kicked off, everyone was ready for the main act. The band of the night. It was time for the Rattlesnakes to take the stage and get things sticky.
Opening the night with ‘My Town’, an opener that has stuck since the band’s headline set at Live at Leeds in October, it got everyone on their feet and moving all over again. Following on is live staple ‘Wild Flowers’, one of few tracks played from Modern Ruin - and this was where the first spot of trouble popped up. ‘Wild Flowers’ is famously known for being the soundtrack for the men-free mosh pits; Carter exclaims this to be “the happiest mosh pit” at multiple shows as it’s only a pit for women and non-binary attendees. The song was stopped by the frontman as he noticed men infiltrating the pit, and he wouldn’t continue until they left the pit. Being cast out and shooed away by the intended pitters, the song resumed and the order was restored.
If there was any reason to see the Rattlesnakes, it’s that every one of their shows is safe and respectful for all - as long as you’re safe and respectful too.
The show saw the band playing all songs from Sticky, from the big hit singles to the lesser-known tunes to the fan-favourites. Tracks such as ‘Sticky’ saw the ultimate fan interactions as Carter found himself surfing in the crowd - a more hardcore feat when remembering the singer had an arm in a sling - and it looked like the joy was contagious but it’s unknown who began it. Did Carter’s joy spread to the audience, or did their joy spread to him? No one knows and no one will ever know.
Carter also brought back support acts Lynks and Cassyette to accompany himself and the band during their respective collaborations: ‘Go Get A Tattoo’, ‘Bang Bang’ and ‘Off With His Head’. The friendship between the three of them is a wonderful one that they can show off while just performing side by side. It’s obvious that there is love and trust between them all, and if that’s not the most beautiful part of music, then there’s no clue on what is.
As successful as the new album hits were in a live setting, the classics will always be the winners as they’re the reason the Rattlesnakes are here and in these venues to this day. Tracks such as ‘Juggernaut’, living up to its name, and ‘Lullaby’ which will always be a sweet but swarming song that gets the crowd bouncing, are always going to be superior as time makes hits of all songs. Over time, the tracks of Sticky will be in the same category but until then, there will always be a special place in everyone’s hearts and eardrums for the hits of the last six years of the Rattlesnakes.
The show ended in a way a little different to tours of the past. The Rattlesnakes used to stick to the same closing track, Blossom’s ‘I Hate You’. A therapeutic song that applies to each and every person in the room, in the city, in the country and in the world, it’s been switched out for the first time with this album era with new track ‘Original Sin’, originally recorded with Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie. It can be a surprise, and it could be a disappointment to some, but a little change never hurts or hinders and if it was the choice of Carter and co, there has to be a reason for the substitution and if it works then there is no harm in creating a new staple show finisher.
The Sticky era has been a strange one. A different era, with a different album and a different sound, recorded under different circumstances - it only makes sense to have it lead to a different feeling live experience. But different isn’t bad, wrong, or painful. It’s freeing, it’s fun, it’s unexpected and with the Rattlesnakes, it’s very sticky.
Get used to it. Frank Carter is sticking around for a long time.
Words by Jo Cosgrove
Photography by Amelia Jones
