This gig was proof that punk rock is still alive and very much kicking, in all the right ways. Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes took to the stage with every bit as much energy as the crowd wanted, and then some, despite some speculation over what the setlist would look like, given their recent genre- shift on the new album. The certainly delivered a show that satisfied both old and new fans alike.
During “Wild Flowers”, as is tradition at a Rattlesnakes show, Frank instigated a women-only mosh pit, stating “I promise you’ll never see a happier mosh pit in your whole fucking life”. He was right, and I can say from first-hand experience, it went just as hard as any other that I’ve been in. It’s a fantastic interaction to have with other fans, especially in such a male-dominated crowd.
Throughout the show, the songs flowed seamlessly into each other, despite the enormous back catalogue of hits they have to choose from after playing music for 9 years. We were introduced to three songs from the new album, including “Self Love” which is a particular favourite of mine, before both the band and the crowd launched themselves into full swing with the more familiar classic: “Devil Inside Me”, from their very first album Blossom. We were taken on a journey through time with this whole show.
Frank made his way out into the crowd, walking across people like a punk Jesus on a sea of bodies, then proceeded to launch himself into a full crowd surf, back to the stage. I was already well and truly sweaty with everyone else by this point so can confidently say, as a crowd, we did a very good job.
Frank obligingly gave the crowd what they wanted for the encore by adding his infamous song I Hate You to the setlist. If my voice wasn’t broken from singing along to the rest of the set, it definitely was after that. The set was rounded off the way it began, with a track from their new album. It opened with “Can I Take You Home”, an arguably slow song to get the crowd going for the rest of the set but it was pulled off with a classiness that somehow built the tension more than something like “Juggernaut” would have done. The evening finished with the first single from the new album ”Man of the Hour”, and brought everyone back down to earth before the sweaty exit into the February night.
@anna.h_photos
Role: Photographer/ Journalist
Available for: Gig and press phototography, album shoots, music videos, tour coverage
Qualification: 1st class BA photojournalism degree
First attended gig: First ticketed gig I remember is Newton Faulkner but there was plenty of live music that I saw growing up in the folk scene in Cornwall
First gig shot: Rattler Fest for all three days
Dream gig: It's too hard to pick just one, and i'm lucky enough to have been able to shoot some of my bucket list bands already, so top 3 would have to be Frank Turner, The Hives, and Twenty One Pilots
