Call Upon The Author

Having been touted recently by some as Britain’s Best Live Band (though we already touted this 6 months ago in their last live review), the Blackout’s more critical and fan-based success see’s them out on their biggest tour to date culminating in headlining London’s Roundhouse. It’s been a while since the boys were in Portsmouth, last at the Wedgewood Rooms, which is half the capacity of tonights venue, a few years ago. The Pyramids though are a very different space, spacious with a very high ceiling (yes, literally a Pyramid) and a place where I’ve found it difficult for everyone to be truly won over by the acts. The Blackout would have to really live up to their title for this one.
Canterbury gets much love from those at the front who are in for the long-haul and good luck to them as this was going to be a sweaty evening. New Single More Than Know, comes across as an absolute belter and puts hopes about their second album high. They say that being a warm-up act is a thankless act, but they would definitely have made some new friends tonight. They do have to be just a lot more sure of themselves though, feeling disjointed and timid themselves at times. Just a little more belief and they’ll be fine
We Are the Ocean definitely didn’t have that problem. You act like headliners and you may just steal the show. Nothing Good Has Happened Yet, resonates most with the crowd, whilst Overtime is a Crime sends shoes flying and the crowd into frenzy. Musically Confessions was them at their most intricate and powerful. After finishing with The Waiting Room and looking back it’s hard to see how much longer their set could have lasted without compromising the intensity and focus they had achieved. It’s the band themselves that will make them successful, they have a great bond on stage.
The Blackout dispense with Save Our Selves early on, where most band would be tempted so save such a track till last. This is them moving on and not replying on the past. Almost the entire Hope album is included in a set which never fails to lose interest. Again the sheer lovability of Gavin and Sean together is reason enough to see this band. ’You guys are the reason that Britain is the best place in the world for music’, the crowd is told and they rightly play their part in losing themselves. STFUppercut and It’s High Tide Baby, fit in seamlessly amongst the new tracks and never feel throw in to boost the audience. With a good backlog of albums now the 17 song long set displays a great richness and diversity.
Their sound and unity definitely deserve to be housed on a bigger stage.