Blue Gillespie
Buffalo Bar, Cardiff 3rd August 2013
It’s
been 6 years of hardcore, thumping, rocking music, but now at the time of
printing the end is here. Unless you are lucky enough to go to the final,
final, final gig in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, on August 30th, Blue Gillespie bowed
out on home turf on August 3rd, and I was one of the lucky people to be there.
Blue Gillespie
formed in November 2007 and are a metal trio from Newport. They released two
EPs and two albums, and are followed by loyal fans, called Gillespians. The
evening started off as usual with the normal stamping of your hand with a
little rubberstamp and ink to show you had paid for this privilege, and
entering the small but reasonably roomy area of Buffalo Bar, Cardiff, the
atmosphere was automatically lively, fans and band members excited for what was
to come.
The
first on stage, which was decked out with a huge Blue Gillespie banner, was
introduced by Gareth, saying how much this particular guy had supported them
through the years, and that was Gareth Bennett, otherwise known as G. He played
a really good techno set using a laptop which was interesting to watch. Once
his set was over, Gareth David Lloyd then thanked him for the past 6 years of
support, and the room cheered and clapped. There was then a 10/15 minute break
for the audience to go and have a breather outside, or buy fresh drinks, but
before long the boys started setting up.
There
was a big group of Gillespians standing in front of the stage about to have
their photo taken as a last memory or this epic night, when Rhys started to
make us laugh, larking about, playing on his guitar setting up to go out with a
bang. He did his usual larking and making a show of stripping off to change his
top to a series of catcalls, whups and cheers.
After
setting up fully the band introduced themselves, and launched into the loudness
that is Seven Rages of Man. Being deaf meant this was extremely loud, so I
retreated to the back of the room where it was quieter, but not too quiet so I
missed stuff. Gareth and Rhys as per usual were headbanging inbetween lyrics,
as were the audience, with Nic doing his best to headbang behind a set of drums
with a huge pair of headphones on.
I
managed to grab the boys, and Gemma Lloyd, Gareth's wife for their last words
on the gigs. Here's what they had to say.
Nic : Thank you all. It's been a pleasure.
Rhys : Going out in Style. Great crowd, and
awesome people. Loving my life right now. Thank you to everyone who was with us
from the start, and those who joined us half way through. Either way, you all
rock.
Gemma Lloyd : Amazing! Best last show ever. Hell
of a journey, sad to see it end. Awesome to play together for the last time on
home turf. Good times had by all.
And
last but not least
Gareth : It’s been a hell of a ride, and now...
We're out of demons.
At the
time of writing, it is not quite over. Blue Gillespie have one last Hurrah to
make, Alanta next, and it is there Blue Gillespie will play their final gig,
and it is there they will bow out for the final time. But don’t stress you
guys, Blue Gillespie will always be there. Whenever you have a demon you need
to express, Blue Gillespie will be there, rocking as hard as they can.
So from
us, your fans, your fellow Gillespians, Blue Gillespie - Thank you for all the
hard rocking, headbanging and ridding us of our demons as well as your own.
Blue
Gillespie wish to thank their families for all their support, the fans for
their constant rocking, Justine for all her support and help throughout the
years, Gemma for all patience and support. We've been very lucky to have had
the support on a global scale which has helped fulfil our goals from the start.
We trust that the Blue Gillespie legacy can be kept alive for our return in the
future. Massive thanks to all who made our penultimate performance on Saturday.
We love a crowd who puts as much into a gig as we do and you outdid yourselves!
Thanks to G for his usual support excellence and to the guys who captured some
superb images of the evening. We'll never forget it.
What
the fans had to say about the night in question:
Anon : generally quite good overall, Rhys smashed
it. He is a superlative musician, first a fantastic bassist and then a
technically brilliant guitarist as he brutally demonstrated on Saturday.
Shar Doherty : it was one of the
best times I’ve seen them, full of energy they definitely went out on a high
Kath Cordy : Saturday night was brilliant, the
boys have come so far together as a band and matured really well.
Rosie Topping : From my usual spot
at the front the music pounds through my body. As the music surrounds me, it’s
emotional and inspiring. As audience and band, we expunge our demons and come
together as one. This is Blue Gillespie and its Gillespians.
Photos with kind permission from
Blue Gillespie
Katie Jauncey
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