FRANK CARTER AND THE RATTLESNAKES // Decline of the West

FRANK CARTER AND THE RATTLESNAKES + The Patient — 8 December, 2016 – The Reverence Hotel, Footscray

Heading all the way out to Footscray isn’t usually worth it. There’s the burger joint 8bit and that’s about all the suburb has to offer. That’s apart from the Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes gig that’s happening at The Reverence Hotel tonight. Cramming into the tiny band room (the guitar neck door handle is a nice touch) is worth it when there’s a chance everything could go horrendously off kilter.

The Patient are… interesting. The second song features guest vocals from Lucas, who is apparently someone. He appears on stage, actually pulls off some sweet hard rock vocals then disappears. The singer’s missed his bloody son’s graduation for this, so there’s a sense of guilt hanging around the room when that bomb is dropped. Forever his progeny will look back on the photos and remember when Dad chose music over him. We kid, it’s a sweet moment when the singer dedicates the song to his son and the crowd finally pick up. Finally hitting a bit of a swing and egged on by the crowd, The Patient actually manage a decent set when they slow it down. Their fast-paced numbers seem slightly off but when the build up happens that’s when the magic happens.

They ain’t the venom we’re looking for tonight though. Brisbane and Sydney: what the actual fuck are you doing? Frank Carter’s shows in your cities haven’t sold out and that is an undeniable mistake. From his entrance in a paisley suit, Carter has the crowd under his control. In the midst of Fangs (their second song mind you), Carter is already atop the audience and standing as high as the roof will allow him. A crowd member joins him and the madness has begun. Still hitting his notes perfectly, the singer is held completely upside down by the crowd and literally walking on the roof. Where do we even go from here? Trouble, Primary Explosive and Juggernaut are all received with cheers and swells towards the front of the stage whilst Carter does whatever the hell he wants. The tone of their debut Blossom is superbly matched in the mix, with the kick and bass punching crisply through the chest.

As Hysteria find themselves in the pit, the band’s guitarist suddenly jumps into the crowd and we’ve now got his foot on our shoulder as he blasts out the riff to Devil Inside Me. There are people flying everywhere and it’s a miracle his lead stays in.

Newest single Wildflowers doesn’t receive as large a response, but Carter adds a vicious layer to the song’s less potent verses. The silver-tongued devil has flown all the way here and wouldn’t you know it, he’s been taken down with sun stroke. “It’s like I’ve flown 22 hours to play at fucking home again” he grins, but graciously applauds us for making it feel like a hometown show. Charisma drips from his mouth and the crowd lap it up with enthusiasm, falling entirely silent as he speaks. Carter makes a strict rule that only women can stage dive during unreleased track Modern Ruin in show of his support for a safe concert experience. Wouldn’t you know it, the whole song sees a host of females launching themselves off stage with the male contingent holding them aloft. If they don’t support them, Carter says, he’ll come down and rip their heads off to parade around the world on a spike. No one tests him on that threat.

As Hysteria find themselves in the pit, the band’s guitarist suddenly jumps into the crowd and we’ve now got his foot on our shoulder as he blasts out the riff to Devil Inside Me. There are people flying everywhere and it’s a miracle his lead stays in. Concluding with I Hate You, Carter invites people on stage and they oblige without hesitation. The Rattlesnake ringleader completely vacates the stage and a mob sing the refrain until the last chord rings out. He’s off to “take some tranquilizers” and meet all us beautiful people because apparently it’s all too hectic for the singer to comprehend. It’s their first visit here in this incarnation, but it’s unlikely Frank Carter and his Rattlesnakes will take as long to slither on through next time.

Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes play the following dates
Limited tickets available here.

Friday December 9, The Reverence Hotel, Footscray VIC with Pagan 18+ (SOLD OUT)
Saturday December 10, The Brightside, Brisbane QLD with She Cries Wolf 18+
Sunday December 11, The Bald Faced Stag, Sydney NSW with Bare Bones LIC/AA