The Blackout @ Hit The Deck Festival.
Rock City, Nottingham.
17th April 2011, 8pm.
As it got closer to 8pm the packed main room in Nottingham’s Rock City was filled with a buzz of excitement about the band about to take the stage. Merthyr Tydfil’s The Blackout have gone from strength to strength over the past couple of years and the release of new album ‘Hope’ could propel them further up the band ranks and with the turn out here tonight it seems like they have a lot of people on their side to help them succeed. Taking to the stage a little later than billed the band threw us straight into first song to be taken from ‘Hope’, ‘Ambition Is Critical’ which got the crowd moving followed by favourite ‘Children of the Night’ setting out a strong start from the band. Festival sets are renowned for singles and sing-a-long classics and this set was no exception with songs such as ‘It’s High Tide Baby!’, ‘This Is Why We Can’t Have The Nice Things’ and ‘ShutTheFuckUppercut’ all getting an airing. Taken from their most recent album was ‘Hope (Scream It Out Loud)’ which got an amazing reception from the crowd who have clearly all heard the new album. ‘Never By Your Side’ which is to be the band’s next single and ‘We’re Going To Hell…’ added a heavy element to a set and gave the Welsh lads a chance to show off the insane amount of energy they have onstage. Usual set closer ‘I’m A Riot? You’re A Fucking Riot!’ was played much earlier in the set showing the bands progression in song writing skills by not having to rely on older songs all the time. Finishing up with latest single ‘Higher & Higher’ with an appearance from Hyro Da Hero got the crowd bouncing before closing with band anthem ‘Save Our Selves (The Warning)’ which received a mass chorus of ‘Woah-Oh’s’ as the band left the stage. With a set like the band played tonight they could have easily headlined this festival, the crowd were hanging on the band’s every word and singing along to songs twice as loud, it seems The Blackout are set for big things with ‘Hope’.
Mixtape Couture 