Biffy Clyro

It's been eight years since Biffy Clyro released the innocuously titled 'Blackened Sky' , to reach the lofty peak #78. If you haven't felt the ripples of the most recent release 'Only Revolutions', then you must have been immersing yourself in your own little musical dimension. With 'The Captain' winning 'Best Video' at the 2010 NME Music awards and the undeniable form of the album as whole, 'Biffy', are most certainly Ayrshire's primary export. (Barring 'The Bard' and all his tea-towels, that is.)

Tonight they kick off their spring tour at Perth Concert Hall. It's the only Scottish date of the lot and fans have flocked from all over the country to see them on the eve of the general ticket sale for their recently announced first ever arena tour. After the curtain covering the stage is removed we are blessed with probably the most impressive stage set up and lighting rig the Concert Hall has ever seen. The band take to the stage (minus Simon Neil's top) and are joined tonight by Mike Vennart from Oceansize who is providing additional guitars.



The Stratocaster Simon Neil posses must have been on the gas of late. The glissando opening to 'That Golden Rule', rips through the speakers like an '80's Hulk Hogan. The floor of the venue immediately auditions as a trampoline for the 2012 Olympics and the entire crowd are pogo-ing along to the ferocious rock that the Scots boys are best known for. With the exception of 'Glitter and Trauma' the first half of the set is heavily laden with more recent material from the aforementioned 'Only Revolutions' and 'Puzzle'. 'Bubbles' tears the roof off the Cadillac as we shift transmission down Route 66 (in my mind). The song drives like a proverbial Hunter S. Thompson American Dream. The persistent bass providing all the space in the world for the melody to meander on it's own tangents. Hits like 'Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies', 'Who's Got A Match' and 'Many Of Horror' demonstrate the bands ability to churn out consistently good rock songs, with the hallmark, twisted, Biffy-isms which are either becoming increasingly radio friendly or the world is becoming friendlier to. However the crowd still erupted to the opening chords of 'Just Boy', showing that even the newer fans love to indulge into their wealthy back catalogue.



Neil does his best John Wayne in 'The Quiet Man' impression. Saying very little. He thanks Vennart for joining them "We love Mike!" but I can't help but feel he looks lost onstage with such a tight-knit, insular band. Bassist James Johnston thanks support bands Rolo Tomassi and The Twilight Sad for playing, and dedicated 'Saturday Superhouse' to their efforts. During the song, the entire lightning rig which is engulfing the stage rises and I am in awe of the truly spectacular band Biffy have become.

A few golden oldies appear in the second half of the set, 'There's No Such Thing As A Jaggy Snake', 'Bodies in Flight' and in the encore 'Convex, Concave' which please the fans who have 'been there since the beginning'. They finish the storming set with 'The Captain' which summed up an explosive start to the tour. The following morning they will announce a second date at Glasgow's SECC. While this news will further displease the "musos" who think that the band are only allowed to play the Barrowlands will have more ammunition that their favourite "underground" band has "sold out", Biffy have managed to evolve, maintain their core base and pick up thousands of new fans along the way.

FUTURE GIGS

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