Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Monday April 30, 2018 :
Biffy Clyro are a band who have been around for over two decades and while having an army of dedicated fans, earned by always giving their best live performance, somehow with the release of Ellipsis (2016) they topped themselves and completely overtook, not only European audience, but also rang in Asia, US and Australia. Two years ago was the first time random people knew of Biffy Clyro, when I’ve been asked to list a few of my personal favourite live bands. While Opposites (2013) surely made Biffy hugely popular, the commercial success came to the band with Ellipsis and the world tour in support of the aforementioned album.
Playing already familiar Enmore Theatre in Sydney on a Monday night, the three topless tattoo-clad Scottsmen surely drawn in the crowd of the rowdiest kind.
Warming up the stage with a 40 minute set were Brisbane female fronted outfit WAAX, who also made waves Australia-wide with their angsty energetic punk tunes and super edgy and charismatic front-woman Marie DeVita, who gave out strong Teri Gender Bender (Le Butcherettes) vibes. Songs like ‘I for an Eye’ and ‘Same Same’ really made punters dance and head-bop. The band released a new single on the day, called ‘Labrador’ (apparently about a town in Gold Coast) and the crowd really gotten into it. WAAX are on high triple j rotation at the moment, so don’t forget to check them out.
The moment Biffy Clyro gotten on stage, the crowd went bonkers “Mon The Biff” – they chanted, but wait…the band stood still, like statues for a solid minute whilst the intro continued rolling into ‘Wolves of Winter’ (Ellipsis 2016). I love that song – you can hear all the power of singer/guitarist Simon Neil’s howling vocals, Gucci clad, topless ‘cavemen style’ he really puts on a show: both growling in the microphone and addressing the crowd. Pacing around the stage in circles James Johnston, who cemented a spot in my “top 3 favourite bass players list” – sang a bunch of parts in ‘Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies’ off Puzzle (2007) : “Don’t wanna waste no more time/Time’s what we don’t have/Everywhere I look someone dies/Wonder when it’s my turn…” At every Biffy Clyro show I notice that while Neil constitutes being THE frontman, the band really share the load of performing (singing) quite equally and that’s one of the reasons they are so great live, and they just keep outplaying themselves each and every single time.
Ben Johnston provided the rhythms and some vocals too, I honestly believe Ben & James are linked and in-sync at every show, being twins and all – pure magic! ’57’ off Blackened Sky (2002) was a real treat for die hard fans – the drink cans/cups went flying in the air when the crowd turned into a swarm of moshing hooligans: taking off their shirts, chanting and yelling back as if they were at a sporting event in the United Kingdom. Even the floor started to feel like an old spring mattress from all the jumping.
Calming it down a notch with ‘Biblical’ off Opposites (2013), which happens to be one of my favourite date night songs. Rows of hands in the air and the sweetest and sweatiest singalong. Another crowd pleaser ‘Who’s Got A Match?’ off Puzzle (2007), followed by ‘Bubbles’ off Only Revolutions (2009) – which was an album the band toured when I first saw them live at tiny Factory Theatre nearly 10 years ago. ‘In The Name of The Wee Man’ (2016) – “I’ll catch a fever/Its a wonderful high/I wanna go the way of the superstars/I got my razor and I’m willing to slice” – fans’ fists in the air punching steam as i’m pretty sure the aircon must’ve given up by this point – ‘Black Chandelier’ (2013) created the biggest circle pit of the night, destroying everything in their ways, pulling more and more people in – it kept on going with ‘Golden Rule’ (2009). Not sure if smoke or steam from the heat radiating from the crowd ‘Re-arrange’ (2016) looked and sounded almost teary beautiful. Acoustic version of ‘Medicine’ (2016) was a perfect follow up. It is truly amazing how wide is Neil’s vocal range is, from raw, almost grungy growl to sweet and melodic lullaby-like hums.
A lot of Biffy Clyro songs that followed: ‘Howl’ (2016), ‘Mountain’ (2009) or ‘Animal Style’ (2016) could easily wrap up the show for any other band, but Biffy continued with another banger ‘There’s No Such Thing as a Jaggy Snake’ (Infinity Land 2004) a string flicking throwback and again they delivered with the beautiful ’Many of Horror’ (2009) before leaving the stage.
Punters, of course, wanted more and so we did get more – another acoustic song ‘Machines’ (2007) followed by zenith of the show – my absolute favourite ‘Stingin’ Belle’ (2013). The only downfall was absence of ‘Different People’ (2013) but i guess they didn’t really need to keep the crowd on their toes, they already so effortlessly doing just that.
The energy Biffy Clyro give out is electric and universal, they are the Three Kings of Alternative Rock – with their stinging guitars, impeccable rhythm sections and a show of bare torsos – they are one of those bands who are still keeping rock sexy – its impossible to look away. The energy the crowd gives back though is probably what keeps the band going and bettering themselves every single time they make a comeback to Australian shores. Now we wait to experience all of this again, hopefully sooner than another 4 years. Mon The Biff!
Reviewer and Photographer : Annette Geneva
BIFFY CLYRO
[nggallery id = 988]
WAAX
[nggallery id = 990]