Biffy Clyro Live Review-Supported by Holy State and Futureheads

As the post title suggests I had the great privilege of going to see the mighty Biffy Clyro at Plymouth Pavilions on the 1st. For those unaware Biffy Clyro are an alternative rock trio from Scotland who have released 5 albums with the last two being very successful on the independent and rock scene and championed by NME and Kerrang to name a few. They are probably most well known for supporting huge bands like Muse on tour but are successful in their own right too.
Upon arrival at the venue we waited for the doors to open then swiftly secured our places at the very front of the crowd, leaning against the barrier, to the left of the stage with pure adrenaline coursing through our veins. There we waited. Suspended in a state of heightened excitement and impatient to surrender ourselves to the music.

Opening the gig was the first of the two support bands Holy State. They walked on in all their be-speckled, denim glory (apart from the drummer who had an extremely animal-esque vibe) and started with a moderately heavy song to, as they put it,  get the crowd "warmed up for Biffy". Joined on stage by the inexplicable presence of a stuffed hedgehog and magpie they played a few more songs interjected with some light banter, which the front man later revealed was only to distract us as he tuned his guitar and they gradually started to get the crowd bobbing their heads self consciously along. Their songs were good, better than the average first support band with some accessible riffs that the crowd appreciatively nodded along to and impressive stage antics like when the guitarist raised his guitar to the drummer who tapped out the strumming using one of his drum sticks whilst still drumming with the other hand and the guitarist playing the chords. Whilst being good they weren't great though, their songs were a little too samey with an obligatory section mid way through of similar chords and they didn't convey the air of a established band yet; more of a garage band that had found itself on stage and weren't quite sure how to act yet.  However given time and a little more experience and experimentation they could be great and they achieved an incredible feat yesterday of connecting to a crowd that had no prior knowledge of them and getting us to all go along with them.


After another short brake Futureheads leapt on stage and took complete control of the stage opening with an unknown but well played song then launching into their 'Heartbeat Song' after a brief hello and introduction. Most of the crowd knew the song and jumped along happily and those that didn't soon joined in because of the sheer power of the performance and pull of the front man. He jerked about totally uncoordinated and flamboyantly yet still gracefully and was completely lost to the music and this coupled with the easy rapport struck up between him and the crowd made for an incredible performance. Playing a few more songs introduced as "a terrible song", "the world's fastest song...well not really" and "this is a love song about vampires in the night so, you know, watch out" they won over the entire crowd. Then the highlight of their set, when they played "sing along with The Futureheads" where they split the crowd in two and got one side to sing three notes with the bassist and the other to sing two notes with the guitarist and played 'Hounds Of Love' then declared the guitarists side (my side) the winners. Futureheads were truly fantastic and I would recommend anyone to go and see them given the opportunity.

After Futureheads exited the stage and flurry of activity of clearing any excess equipment and the appearance bizarrely enough of a Henry Hoover the stage was set and waiting. The anticipation heightened and the excitement was palpable. Then after being plunged into darkness and silence we heard a tell tale beat. With a blinding flash of light Biffy ran on stage, all topless and wearing different coloured jeans and converse, and opened with 'The Captain'. The crowd went wild; chanting along, jumping, head banging and punching the air to the beat. Continuing with a string of hits like 'Bubbles, all eagerly received  by the crowd Biffy opened with a bang. Starting with some of their more recent and heavier songs they whipped us up into a frenzy where nothing else mattered or existed in the world but that moment, the band and the beat that reverberated deep inside us. That's what it's like at a gig, it's not your heart beating blood round your body, it's the drum beat. You live for the music.
Simon belted out each song from the heart, pouring his soul into every single note. Joining Simon singing was, as usual, James and Ben and together they didn't just replicate the album on stage they truly performed it and expressed it in it's purest form, showing each and every facet within the songs.
As the gig progressed they played a few more of their older songs with some slow numbers interspersed between with only Simon on stage creating tender moments that touched everyone and giving a slightly melancholy undertone to the gig that only added to the show and showed the true depth of emotion within their work.
Carrying on with again some heavier songs and more hits such as 'God and Satan', 'Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies' and 'Who's Got A Match?' they played a mesmerising show, with Simon bent over double and doing a sort of salsa like dance playing effortlessly, James head banging along playing intricate bass riffs and Ben just a blur of movement creating a cacophony of different beats.
After finishing their main set with an older song they left stage, much to the disappointment of the crowd.  Then after about five minutes of the whole crowd chanting "'mon the Biff" all the lights cut out and Simon walked back on stage holding a strobe light aloft and they started up again. They played about three or so more songs in the encore making the crowd reach euphoria. They finally finished with 'Mountains', one of the highlights of the gigs along with 'Folding Stars', 'Machines' and 'Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies'.
The entire gig was incredible and Biffy Clyro are the best band I have seen live thus far and I would urge everybody who loves rock to see them live because they create an experience you will never forget. 


Below are two videos of Biffy songs played at the gig I was at, they're not filmed by me because they are much better quality.





[Thanks to Deash and Joe for pictures and Sean for giving me arguably one of the 'best seats in the house']