Biffy Clyro Live Review - Opposites Attracts
rating:5
The rock and roll story is a lie. Generally speaking, the message is complex and needless whether mystical, or bedevilled or simply raucous and it's hard to invest in the heavily made up, or hugely styled acts who pretend that theirs isn't a manipulated image. There's still a lot of pleasure to be had, in the theatre and the adrenaline-soaked silliness, but it's no more authentic than plastic pop these days. But Biffy Clyro are a wild exception to the rule. The Scottish band can now class themselves as veterans, after seven albums and tens of musical identities through the years, and there is no hyperbole involved in saying they are the finest British live band of this decade. Last night they played the first night of their Opposites tour, fresh from winning a number one slot in the album chart, and barely rested from their last stint on the road. Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena might not have been packed to the rafters, but this was the biggest venue the band have ever played in the region, and their enthusiastic fanbase were still out in force. It is no surprise that the band chose a giant anatomical set, considering how visceral an experience their music is that sort of statement would usually come with a severe cliché warning, but since Puzzle, and the very obvious emotional wounds of songs like Folding Stars and Many Of Horror, Biffy's music has been bruised. It remains uplifting and anthemic at times, as the exceptional opening song of the tour Different People proves, but it also invariably possesses that irresistible power to grip behind the rib cage and drag you in. Theirs is the type of music that inspires audiences to stand with arms held wide and eyes closed singing back towards the stage without a morsel of self-conscious concern. The truth of the matter is that Biffy have been an exceptional live band for years, almost relentlessly touring their material and honing their set to such a degree that the result these days is a polished, tight experience that grips from head to tail. The flow of their song choices, rousing at the start, slowing slightly in the middle and then picking up at the end, speaks of a band who know exactly how to put on a live show. And their sound is almost flawless, even in venues with less than exceptional acoustics. Added to the musical experience, the wider Biffy live team of light engineers and sound techs have created an exceptional spectacle, making the lights as much of an important part of the show as the music. As something of a trade-off, the audience is forced not to focus simply on the band, but their presence is such that they compete admirably with the more dazzling parts of the show, and it all feels like part of the Biffy Clyro identity. As individuals, Simon, Ben and James are unquestionably talented. Their first three albums were testament to their musical bravery, and their commitment to asymetrical but irresistible licks and hooks, that consciously ignored convention in favour of an iconic, individual sound. And then, with the release of Puzzle, they moved more commercially, tailoring their music to their bigger fanbase and using their honed skills to sell more records. Their sound is immediately recognisable, still bearing the same unconventional shifts in pace and tone, but with more of the memorable melodies that formerly took a back seat to more experimental form. And though they are now more commercial - as evidenced by Opposites hitting the number one slot in the album chart they are still, wonderfully, the same old Biffy. They are still the only rock band to use drums as a primary instrument, rather than percussive accompaniment, as Ben Johnstone's technical style on most of Opposites' best tracks proves, and they are still incredibly engaging as a result. For long-term Biffy fans, there was some sadness in the disappearance of classics like Saturday Superhouse from the playlist just as there was a few years ago when the wonderful Questions & Answers was dropped for newer material, but the setlist was a thing of precise beauty. Inevitably the Opposites material was front and centre, but the boys also included older classics like Justboy and There's No Such Thing As A Jaggy Snake, as well as a first live outing for A Day Of... since 2007. The only other slight reservation came when the band ignored the opportunity to bring out a full marching bagpipes band for the final third of rabble-rousing Stingin'g Belle. Perhaps it would have been a logistical nightmare, and the relatively small stage may have been an impediment, but just imagine... The rock and roll story might be a lie, but Biffy Clyro don't half tell their own tale well. If you're considering buying a ticket for this tour, stop it and do so for your money you'll see an incredibly tight, perfectly pitched show from a band with no pretension and infinite talent. Set-list 1. Different People 2. That Golden Rule 3. Sounds Like Balloons 4. Black Chandelier 5. Modern Magic Formula 6. Opposite 7. Justboy 8. Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies 9. Biblical 10. Victory Over the Sun 11. A Day of... (First time live since 2007) 12. Bubbles 13. Spanish Radio 14. There's No Such Thing as a Jaggy Snake 15. God & Satan 16. The Thaw (Live debut) 17. Machines 18. Glitter and Trauma 19. Who's Got a Match? 20. The Joke's on Us 21. Many of Horror 22. The Captain 23. Picture a Knife Fight (Live debut) Encore: 24. Skylight 25. Stingin' Belle 26. Mountains