On Saturday, March 28 Wales will lose yet another one of it’s best known bands. Hardcore-rockers The Blackout are playing their last ever show at 7pm in Merthyr Tydfil leisure centre to a sold-out crowd.
The band, who formed in 2003, announced their break-up over social media sites on December 1, 2014 to the despair of loyal fans.
Their statement said they felt they were “unable to sustain” the band anymore but did announce one last tour in which they invited fans to “come and party with us for the final time”.
The “This Is It, Is It” tour kicked off in Asylum, Birmingham on Monday to a sold out crowd and featured a fan-pleasing mix of newer material and old favourites.
Gavin Butler, one of the band’s singers, managed to climb onto the rafters of the low ceiling and sang a song hanging upside down above the crowd.
The London show in Koko the next day was somehow even more crazy with bigger circle pits, louder crowds and even an inflatable penis.
But at London Sean Smith, the other singer of the band, told the crowd despite being better than Birmingham he knew they would not be as good as their final show in their home town, Merthyr Tydfil.
The first show to sell out on the tour, fans have had torn emotions about the Merthyr gig. It promises to be amazing experience but with it comes the horrible truth – it really is the end.
The Blackout have played Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil and Pontyprydd regularly since they formed and have become a firm favourite in the music scene.
Saturday night’s concert promises to be one of, if not the best performances the band have ever done. The energy of the lead singers as they jump around the stage or into the crowd will bring the fans to a fever pitch in the small community leisure centre.
Chants of We Are the Dynamite will ring out long before the six band members even take their place stage. Screams of joy, mournful tears and angry moshing will feature as the band play through the set list one last time.
With a medley of songs from their first mini-album The Blackout! The Blackout! The Blackout! Older fans who have followed the band since the early days will get to hear the songs, so-rarely played recently, which got them into the band back in 2006.
But there are also newer songs from Wolves and Start the Party to please those who like their newer material.
The band are not known for being sentimental but there is a chance they will do something special for their final home coming date.
They have been filming throughout the tour to create a crowd-funded DVD, only available to those who pledge, and it is likely the Merthyr gig will feature heavily in the footage.
Regardless of set-list changes or gimmicks, there is no doubt this gig is going to be emotionally charged and unmissable for those who wish to send The Blackout off with style.
The Blackout play Merthyr Leisure Centre at 7pm on Saturday 28, March.
