A loud brash night of stadium worthy rock anthems from the Scottish trio.
Former Alexisonfire guitarist Dalla Green’s new project ‘City and Colour’ is the much anticipated support act. In fact there is nearly as much excitement for the Canadian as the main act. His low key blend of blues and acoustic rock is a surprising hit, not many artists with a steel guitar can make this many rockers smile.
Biffy Clyro have been on the edge of glory since their 2007 ‘Puzzle’ album and started their tour celebrating a number 1 album in the UK. Their back catalogue was really made for this size venue (if not something even bigger).
The boys, wearing nothing but tattoos and an interesting pair of brocade trousers, start with the unusual choice of ‘Different People’ and power their way through an ‘Opposites’ heavy set list. Frontman, Simon Neil starts the show stood alone with a guitar in front of a white sheet before the loud instruments erupt and the sheets unveil the large set piece.
The stage is set with a tree/spinal shaped structure, huge graphic filled screens and a twin staircase which is used frequently, an over the top piece for the usually understated band.
Sing along favourites like ‘The Captain and Bubbles’ and ‘Many Of Horror’ sit alongside newer album tracks, the band often going off on long solos during songs like ‘That Golden Rule’ and ‘The Thaw’ (Some will love this others will find it wearing and self-indulgent).
There are more beautiful toned down moments amongst the madness as Simon comes into the diagonal platforms that go into the crowd to sing the epic ‘Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies’, ‘God and Satan and Machines’, the sing along to the latter really creates a moment to remember.
They don’t forget the long term fans as they dust of ‘Justboy’, ‘A Day Off’ and ‘Glitter and Trauma’ but the lack of Puzzle’s ‘Semi-Mental’ and ‘Saturday Super House’ is noticeable. A lot of these tracks are big and pompous on record often featuring orchestras and Mariachi bands but live they are stripped to the bone and played like loud rock songs (vocals often replacing violins).
‘Stingin Belle’ is a great choice for a final hurrah of noise before they leave us chanting ‘Mon The Biff’ on the anthemic ‘Mountains’.