A sold out Academy 2 on the hottest night of the year, what could possibly go wrong? Thankfully, the camaraderie and good-natured vibe that makes up the audience at a Frank Turner show ensured those who needed a breather were able to move to the exit before they got into too much difficulty. There is a line in the chorus of ‘Glory Hallelujah’ when Frank sings “We’re all in this together” that perfectly sums up the connection between singer and audience, who are all in it for the long haul. Nudging towards gig number 3000 (to be celebrated in February 2025 at the Alexandra Palace), Frank & the Sleeping Souls are unquestionably a stand-out live act and, despite the heat, they performed with a relentless, exuberant energy.
Current album Undefeated featured heavily throughout, another blast of defiant punk and roll with songs about love, loss and hope. Taking the stage to a hero’s welcome, ‘No Thank You for the Music’ and ‘Girl from the Record Shop’ set the scene for much of what followed, Frank and band clearly having a blast and the crowd hanging on his every word. Drenched in sweat just a few minutes in, they moved through the gears, going back to 2009 for the frenetic ‘Try This at Home’ and a joyous ‘Glory Hallelujah’. ‘Pandemic PTSD’ took us back to a time most of us would rather forget, “But we got punched in the dick for two straight years” pretty much summing up the whole thing perfectly.
Everyone got the chance to take a breath as the Sleeping Souls departed, leaving Frank alone on stage for the solo acoustic section that consisted of ‘Long Live The Queen’, ‘Balthazar, Impresario’ and ‘The Ballad of Me and My Friends’, all three delivered with a heartfelt sincerity. Then it was back to the full band for the slow burn of ‘Somewhere Inbetween’, another song that evidenced the strength and variety of Undefeated. And that, sorry to say, was more or less the point where the oppressive heat became too much for the Midlands Rocks team and we had to call it a night. Another half an hour or so followed, and we’re sure it was as brilliant as the rest of the gig had been. Sorry Frank, we promise to catch the whole show next time, hopefully at a bigger venue on a cooler night!
Setlist:-
No Thank You for the Music
Girl From the Record Shop
Get Better
The Next Storm
Try This at Home
Glory Hallelujah
Pandemic PTSD
Haven’t Been Doing So Well
Polaroid Picture
Ceasefire
Journey of the Magi
Long Live The Queen
Balthazar, Impresario
The Ballad of Me and My Friends
Somewhere Inbetween
Punches
1933
Non Serviam
Do One
Never Mind the Back Problems
Photosynthesis
Encore:-
Undefeated
Recovery
I Still Believe
Four Simple Words
