The Blackout

Kamie Kilty

With the new album, ‘Start the Party’ released on Monday and the boys embarking on a UK tour, we headed down to Edinburgh, Liquid Rooms on Tuesday night to see the guys in action.

With a mediocre crowd during the two supports (Proxies and Sonic Boom Six) I was sceptical about the crowd reaction for the main event.

However, to get the party started Dirty Sanchez star Matthew Pritchard introduced the Welsh rockers to the stage as they opened with, ‘Start the Party’. The crowd went crazy for The Blackout and I could tell we were in for a treat!

During their ever so energetic set The Blackout played some tracks off the new album such as ‘Running Scared’ , ‘Radio’ and ‘We Live On’ which the crowd seemed to love. As well as treating us to new material, frontmen Sean Smith and Gavin Butler provided some on stage comedy which always adds that extra something to The Blackout’s shows.

The boys continued to keep the crowd bouncing throughout the night and played some older material from their album ‘Hope’.

Just as I thought the night couldn’t get any better, the music stopped and the band had to exit the stage.

It appeared the roof was leaking water all over the stage! The Blackout explained they would be back in five whilst the eager crowd waited for the verdict. I was sure the show was going to be postponed as they had only played half of their set. With Sean Smith joking “It’s not my fault! It’s your crappy Scottish weather!”

Luckily for the crowd, they arranged to play an acoustic set in The Annexe which is a smaller venue within Liquid Rooms premises. The crowd entered a very small and intimate room where The Blackout played an impromptu acoustic session.

After realising we couldn’t see a thing, the crowd all sat down to enjoy the rest of the set.  You could tell the boys were absolutely gutted the live show was cut short, however The Blackout never let their fans down and did what they could to put it right.

They played ‘Higher and Higher’, ‘Top of the World’ along with others and ended the acoustic set with, ‘Save Our Selves’.

It was certainly like no other Blackout show!

It was one of a kind with a full live set and an acoustic where the crowd could have a boogie and a good old sing-a–long.

As everyone piled out of the venue, Sean decided to sing Flower of Scotland and as everyone joined in – it seems the crowd were in good spirits despite set mix up.

The Blackout definitely know how to start the party!

View our full gallery from the night at here.