Opening the show tonight are HotWax, an English alternative rock trio based in Hastings, consisting of members Tallulah Sim-Savage, Lola Sam, and Alfie Sayers. I have to admit that I saw them last October in the room next door opening for Royal Blood and honestly can`t remember much about them. It may only be four months on, but a lot has changed, and they share an enjoyable and energetic twenty five minutes that includes numbers from their two EP`s with a couple off the `Invite Me, Kindly` EP with `She Don`t Like It` and `Phone Machine` with `Rip It Out` shared off their debut EP `A Thousand Times` being the pick. At times tonight I was reminded of Courtney Love and Hole when they weren`t a cabaret act. The trio head off to the States at the end of the month and begin a tour of the UK and Europe in April, so a bright future ahead.
The Mysterines are a quartet from the Wirral come Merseyside and have in their ranks Lia Metcalfe (vocals and guitar), George Favager (bass guitar), Callum Thompson (guitar and backing vocals) and Paul Crilly (drums and backing vocals). As the band arrive on stage bass player George throws roses into the audience, a nice touch I thought as it was Valentine`s day. There`s been a fair bit of press about this band and i`ve been wanting to catch them for some time. Mia has written a track that Paul Weller recorded on his `Pop` album and the band supported The Arctic Monkeys on their stadium tour last year. I have to say they didn`t disappoint on this thirty minute set where Mia`s alluring presence and husky vocals really held this audience captive. They open with the slightly edgy `The Last Dance` and shared a couple of numbers from their debut album `Reeling` with the enticing slow burn of `Dangerous` and the thoughtful `All These Things`. The hypnotic `Goodbye Sunshine` and reflective recent single `Begin Again` put me in mind of PJ Harvey and Siouxsie Sioux. We enjoy a brand new song called `Stay` which is about to be released which was pretty dark and moody but totally mesmerising before the set closed out with the racing, grungy tinged `Hung Up`. There was so much to enjoy about the Mysterines, and this short set certainly whetted my appetite for more of the same.
Topping the bill tonight is Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes who were formed in 2015 by frontman Frank Carter with guitarist Dean Richardson. They released their fifth studio album `Dark Rainbow` last month and share three tracks from said release with the stunning `Can I Take You Home`, grinding `Brambles` and pounding `Self Love` before coming up for air. The tracks are pretty reflective and to hinted towards the Manic Street Preachers.
The remainder of this seventy five minute set comprised of tracks old and new with the blistering `Devil Inside` from the debut album and three numbers that sounded like the electronic Australian band Pendulum when shared live with `Honey`, `Parasite` and `My Town`.
The piano led `Sun Bright Golden Happening` from the latest release is pretty stunning and awe-inspiring before we head into a more raucous section with `Crowbar`, `Go Get a Tattoo`, `Lullaby` and `Happier Days` before closing the show with `End of Suffering` which the singer shared he finds it overwhelmingly emotional and appears to leave the stage in tears.
The quintet return and share the visceral `I Hate You` from the band`s debut album `Blossom` which has this eight hundred odd strong audience screaming the lyrics back at him before closing out with the reflective `Man of the Hour` from the latest release which I have to say I love. I`d never seen the band before as each time I tried it had clashed with something else but tonight it was at times devastating.
The show veered from primeval and boisterous sections to more thoughtful reflective passages where the suited and booted singer handed roses into the audience and organised a female only moss pit. Apart from the core of Frank and Dean, touring musicians Tom Barclay, Gareth Glover, and Elliot Russell really excelled tonight.
If i`m honest I think I hit FCATRS at just the right time with a superb new album recently released and a set that had a combination of old, new, forceful, and vivacious numbers blended with more thought provoking and captivating passages.
There are only two shows in London before the band head to Europe, Australia, and North America so if you can`t make them, you can only hope the fellas are added to some Summer festivals.
