Biffy Clyro – Olympia Theatre, Dublin
It had almost been a year since Scottish trio Biffy Clyro played Ireland, but the amount of ‘Monthebiffy!’s resounding through the Olympia before the show had begun suggested that a year is too long in concert-going terms. Not long after support band Manchester Orchestra had finished wowing the mob, the unshaven Scotsmen took to the stage, launching into flagship single ‘That Golden Rule’ from new LP Only Revolutions. This song’s success was proven immediately, with everyone immediately joining in with frontman Simon Neil.
But it wasn’t just the music that was making the fans tick. Neil’s stage presence was truly enigmatic, flinging himself around, with his elbow sawing out staccato riffs on is high-slung guitar. The rhythmic opening chords of ‘Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies’ were a case in point. It was refreshing to watch a band not only exerting themselves beyond belief, but also enjoying themselves as much as everyone else.
The band’s set was made up of tracks from their successful 2007 album Puzzles and the forthcoming Only Revolutions. They rarely play tracks from their first three albums live, perhaps because they have only in recent years found that trademark ‘Biffy Clyro sound’. In comparison to previous live shows, the trio opted to cut down on aesthetics (like fancy looking amps) in favour of the regular rock ‘n’ roll approach of using themselves and the music to engage the crowd. It couldn’t have worked better. One of the most captivating parts of the show was when Neil took to the stage alone with his acoustic guitar to play ‘Machines’. Cue a compact sea of lighters in the air and a mass sing-along.
The great thing about this show was its diversity. Heavy or mellow, it never sounded like you had heard the same song twice, evidence of a band with ideas and creativity in abundance. And despite the absence of hugely popular single ‘Folding Stars’, the trio ended the night with the anthemic ‘Mountains’, another suitably ginormous highlight from the impending fifth LP . All that’s left now is to embrace this new record and strive for the coming of the great Scots’ return to these climes.
Photos by Sara Devine.
They’re one band who still haven’t clicked with me and I think they maybe should. Perhaps its all about seeing them live ontop of hearing the studio work…
hotness!
excellent review of an excellent gig/night.
’tis a shame the photographer didn’t get to snap the topless encore
I was hoping he’d just come out with his top off, like every other time I’ve seen them. Damnit.
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