Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes – Wrangler Studios
On a quiet Tuesday night, we headed down to West Footscray to spend some time at Wrangler Studios; to see Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes supported by A Swayze & The Ghosts.
Not knowing what to expect for our eventful night ahead, we entered the venue with an open mind and eager anticipation, only to find one of the coolest venues imaginable to host a concert. Wrangler Studios has it all; an intimate rehearsal space with friendly and welcoming staff, an off-the-grid vibe, specials on cheese toasties and even a resident dog. The bar was set high for the night and we were ready for the music to begin.
First up for the night were A Swayze & The Ghosts, an indie-punk rock band from Hobart. Having had a big year in 2019, we were eager to see these guys in action and they did not disappoint. Front man Andrew Swayze had everyone’s attention for their entire set and brought an energy amplified by the intimate space and packed-out crowds. Their music, part-King Gizzard, part Parquet Courts had everything you could ask for in the support slot. Performing hits including Connect to Consume, Smooth Sailing and their breakthrough hit Suddenly, we can only see these guys getting bigger, so be prepared to get onboard.
Before we knew it, the time had come for Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes to take to the stage. Having managed to catch them at Primavera Sound last year in Barcelona, we knew it was going to be a special night to see the band perform such an intimate gig. The family-friendly show managed to feel extremely punk-rock, the atmosphere laid-back but each patron dedicated and versed in the bands full catalog. We knew it was going to be a magical performance. The band wasted no time launching straight into Tyrant Lizard King, Juggernaut and Vampires -the crowd going wild from the get-go.
The band found the perfect mix of performing from their albums End of Suffering, Blossom and Modern Ruin whilst interacting throughout the set. We saw everything from a woman-only mosh pit (because they are sick of seeing only angry men get to enjoy themselves), through to a crowd-surfing child join Frank to sit on his shoulders, play the drums and later be crowned a god. The epic 16-song setlist contained everything you could want and more; Love Games, Wild Flowers, Fangs, Angel Wings, Heartbreaker, Acid Veins, Supervillian and Anxiety.
There was plenty of premium banter and lots of laughs, and you could tell how much the band enjoyed every minute of the show. At times, the performance was emotional, honest and raw. Explaining they consider Melbourne and Australia to feel like a second home, each action felt genuine and you could tell even a small show in West Footscray meant the world to each person in the room, band included. The set finished with a bang, playing a series of hits including Kitty Sucker, Lullaby, Crowbar, Devil Inside Me and final song I Hate You.
It was great to see the band perform their second night in Melbourne, after a sold-out show at Croxton Bandroom, in such an intimate space. A chance to see them at their best, was not lost on anyone present. Here’s to hoping the band comes back to their second home again real soon.