It may have taken longer than they would have hoped to get there but there can be little question that Biffy Clyro are now firmly members of the upper echelon of the UK rock scene. Having struggled to receive sufficient radio airplay during their first three albums between 2002-2004 they have always had an energy about their live shows which created a solid base of fans which gradually grew with each tour. Now, following the commercial success of 2007’s ‘Puzzle’ and last years Mercury nominated ‘Only Revolutions’, Biffy Clyro are part of the nations consciousness and they are currently in the midst of their first headlining arena tour.
Plymouth Pavilions was packed to bursting point for the Southernmost stop on the tour and the moment the opening bars to ‘The Captain’ kick their set off the crowd begin a mass sing-along which barely breaks through the duration of the set. Quickly following up with latest single ‘Booooom, Blast and Ruin’ and the roaring ‘That Golden Rule’ the Ayrshire trio (along with touring 2nd guitarist Mike Vennart) set a searing pace, barely pausing between songs.
It’s the musicianship of the three which has set Biffy apart in the past and that is shown in abundance here. Drummer Ben Johnston pounding a beat in perfect sync with twin brother James on bass while Simon Neil weaves his guitar riffs with an almost violent enthusiasm. The result is a volume of sound rarely heard outside of a metal concert but they prove their skill by dropping in slower tracks which show Neil’s qualities as a singer as well as a screamer.
‘Joy. Discovery. Invention’ from the debut album slows the pace down and later, acoustic versions of Puzzle’s ‘Folding Stars’ and ‘Machines’ bring out the sensitive side of the band, Neil stood atop a high riser behind at the back of the stage bathed in multiple spotlights giving an almost God-like effect for the latter.
Other highlights include the intense ‘Living is a problem because everything dies’ and the lyrically bizarre but somehow brilliant ‘Who’s got a match?’ while ‘Bubbles’ has the entire room bouncing as one from start to finish.
Following the close of the main set and several minutes of ‘Mon the Biff’ chanting the band come back on stage with Neil brandishing a hand held strobe for ‘Glitter and Trauma’. There is no surprise in ‘Mountains’ closing the set, again welcomed by a roar of approval and a sea of jumping bodies.
It might have been well below freezing outside but Biffy Clyro raised the temperature to boiling point and, with the number of stadium sized anthems they’re producing with such regularity now it can’t be long until they’re moving up another step to stadium and festival headline slots.
There is no question this is a band at the very top of their game and on the precipice of even greater things. My only niggling issue with their live shows would be that, as a fan of the band from the early days, I wish they would play more than the four tracks they performed from the original three albums. That aside, this was a near faultless performance and the sky appears to be the limit for Biffy Clyro.
Stereoboard Gig Rating: 8/10
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It’s the musicianship of the three which has set Biffy apart in the past and that is shown in abundance here. Drummer Ben Johnston pounding a beat in perfect sync with twin brother James on bass while Simon Neil weaves his guitar riffs with an almost violent enthusiasm. The result is a volume of sound rarely heard outside of a metal concert but they prove their skill by dropping in slower tracks which show Neil’s qualities as a singer as well as a screamer.
