It’s hard to know when Biffy Clyro became so popular. While logic would suggest that it happened somewhere between ‘Puzzle’ and ‘Only Revolutions’, it’s safe to say that they have a large and committed fan base now. Fan boys – and boys is the operative term as the evening is as male dominated as the Catholic Church – were in evidence well before the show began, with chants of “Mon the Biff” reverberating around parts of Dublin 1 before you even reached The O2.
Screams – though surely no one would admit to it – meet the extinguishing of the lights just before the Scots hit the stage. Lead singer Simon Neil takes up position at the front of the stage and starts into Different People. The excitement builds until halfway through when the curtain behind Neil drops showing his two band mates and an impressive example of stage design reflecting the cover of new album ‘Opposites’.
It’s That Golden Rule that is the first to get people moving though. The crowd jump almost as one in for the song’s ending as the strobe lights flash blindingly. But it’s not just the upbeat numbers that get the crowd going. Ballad, and recent single, Black Chandelier sees the crowd exercise their vocal chords.
But then problems begin. The likes of Modern Magic Formula and Justboy offer nothing to distract with visuals and it makes you realise just how limited the songs are. The same could be said for Opposites except there’s the subconscious uttering of “Ooh, lasers” as streams of red light fill the arena.
With the ballads largely a damp squib, how do the more rocking numbers hold up? Not great really. The likes of Victory Over the Sun and A Day Of… lack any sense of subtlety in the live setting. All too often it just seems like Neil and the Johnston twins on bass and drums are thrashing at their instruments aiming more for big noises than nuanced musical expression. There only appears to be one form of impact Biffy Clyro are looking to make here and it’s bordering on a physical one.
It’s not all bad of course. When not blinded by strobes, the light show is pretty impressive with Spanish Radio – red and green filling the field of vision, it becomes like some form of shouty Christmas – a particular highlight. And then of course, the singles.
Once one of bigger hits in their cannon get a run out the crowd go crazy and it hard not to get swept up in the enthusiasm. The eccentric Living is a Problem and The Captain provide manic, sing-along, goodness while Many of Horror remains a fine song; even if we needed Matt Cardle to help us realise that.
The encore too is well managed. Stingin’ Belle sees the Neil putting some delicacy into his playing rather than just mashing at his guitar. It is disappointing that the audible bagpipes are pre-recorded however. Closer Mountains is another high point to finish the night on, but memories of the earlier low points remain. Biffy Clyro may be on their first arena tour but still have some way to go before they are a true arena band.
Biffy Clyro at The O2
Photos: Kieran Frost
