Reviewed on Sep 22, 2006 by cathyreay

There’s a slightly discerning atmosphere in the air tonight: The Blackout, having previously slayed audiences of well over 15,000 at the mammoth Give It A Name festivities earlier in the year, along with being main support to Lostprophets at Brixton Academy just a couple of months ago, are about to hit a stage no bigger than your living room. In fact, you could probably squeeze more people in your lounge as this place isn’t even close to being too-claustrophobic-I-might-pass-out full. Members of the band are dotted around the room as the three acts on the line-up previous to them play their sets, and no-one even seems to recognise them.

“It’s not their time yet”, a fellow onlooker tells me as I grow a little anxious. Maybe they’re right. The Blackout are fresh talent; they’ve yet to shock the world with their first full-length. Besides, everyone is here tonight to see headliners Take The Crown.

Except myself, of course. Let me start by detailing my afore-judged prejudice of “screamo” music. Usually I fail to see the attraction with bands that prefer to scream instead of sing. Call me old fashioned (or maybe just old), but I love being able to hear, learn and feel part of what someone else is saying, without wishing I’d brought earplugs. Underoath and Alexisonfire are about as heavy as I can handle, and even they have their melodic touches. So when I witnessed The Blackout at GIAN, during the warm-up show (with Classic Case, Paramore and Drive By) and at Lostprophets, I barely batted an eyelid. I resigned myself to the fact that I thought it ‘sounded’ too heavy for me within a few seconds of listening.

Tonight though, I was prepared. Earplugs at the ready, but give them a chance first. Band members slowly assembled on stage (or should I say hopped over the monitors) and the party began. For such a small venue, the sound quality was top notch – no screeching, bass was fine and little reverb. The second and probably more striking thing to notice was that the entire crowd was pretty much dead. Two girls swayed slightly, one played on her sidekick the entire time (despite being so into it that she just had to be front row) and the rest of us (admittedly, I wasn’t about to shake my booty alone) stood like goldfish. Reflecting though, this gave me more opportunity to listen to the actual music rather than worry about getting crushed in the imaginary mosh. And the music was bloody fantastic – although I said screaming is unnecessary, it became obvious within the opening few minutes that The Blackout are just one of those bands that go for maxi passion and anger; so in love with expressing their words that no other medium seems quite as effective or appropriate.

They probably won’t be huge – let’s not kid ourselves, there are a thousand other bands doing what they do every night and some of them are just better at attracting radio-friendly audiences. But that doesn't really matter- you don't need to be popular to be enjoyed. It’s pretty fucking cool to feel so connected to something without even having to understand it. Those situations where words aren’t necessary for you to relate to how someone feels; you can be angry, upset or frustrated for completely different reasons and still connect with everyone else in the room. They’re bold, honest fighters and I wish them a shitload of recognition for that.

Support Acts:

The Blackout (this review covers TB only)
Gallows
Kids In Glass Houses

Related Links:

• www.myspace.com/theblackout

Gig Reviews

Sep 19, 2006 Bar Monsta, Camden (UK)