Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes kicked off the Aussie leg of their tour last night, bringing the noise to Brisbane’s Triffid. Led by ferociously energetic frontman Carter, the British punks are known for their live show, a manic yet heartfelt affair, and one not to be missed.
Newcastle’s Eat Your Heart Out opened proceedings, with a strong pop-punk showing. Frontwoman Caitlin Henry is a magnetic presence, and though the tracks sometimes feel a little like you’ve heard them all before, there’s slivers of greatness in their set. “Conscience”, in particular, stands out, with a heavier, moodier lean.
A. Swayze & The Ghosts filled the second support slot, with a sound that feels part Stranglers, part Vampire Weekend. The Tasmanians left us two for two on the engaging lead singer front, with the eponymous Andrew Swayze’s irresistible swagger complimenting their exciting indie-punk setlist.
It was already 10.30 by the time Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes took the stage, but if anyone was worried about work in the morning, it didn’t show. Two tracks into their 90-minute set and Carter was already in the thick of it, supported by fans as he crowd-surfed across the venue. Tone successfully set (security would spend the rest of the night catching crowd-surfers as they reached the stage), it was one killer track after another from the band, with the audience screaming back every single word.
Highlights included an emotional “Anxiety”, a few impassioned singalongs to “Crowbar” and “I Hate You”, and the continuing tradition of opening the mosh pit to female fans during “Wild Flowers”. The latter forms part of the band’s commitment to safety and inclusivity in an environment that hasn’t always been kind to women. And, to paraphrase Carter, if you’ve got a problem with that, you should take a look at yourself.
Start to finish, a Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes show is a wild ride. Carter is equal parts chaotic and charming, as at ease leaping from the stage as he is assuring fans that they’re not alone. The Rattlesnakes themselves (consisting of Dean Richardson on guitars, Tom “Tank” Barclay on bass, and drummer Gareth Grover) are a well-oiled machine, blasting out the band’s hybrid sound of rock and roll, punk, and indie to a receptive and energised crowd.
With past dates selling out, do yourself a favour and get a ticket to one of the remaining dates. Even the uninitiated won’t fail to appreciate the power behind this band, and you’ll have the best damn time doing it.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
You can catch Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes on the following dates:
- Sat 18th Jan, Roundhouse, Sydney (licensed/all ages)
- Mon 20th Jan, The Croxton, Melbourne
- Tues 21st Jan, Wrangler, Melbourne (all ages)
- Weds 22nd Jan, Altar, Hobart
- Fri 24th Jan, The Gov, Adelaide
- Sat 25th Jan, The Rosemount, Perth
Support varies from show to show, with Eat Your Heart Out, A. Swayze & the Ghosts, Psychobabel, Young Offenders, and Ratking rotating duties.
Stay up to date with all things Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes via their Facebook.
