Biffy Clyro, Pulled Apart By Horses @ The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (26/02/2014)
While in the country for the 2014 Soundwave festival, Scottish trio Biffy Clyro took to the stage for their schedule to perform an intimate headline show Melbourne.
While Biffy Clyro have previously played headline shows at venues like The Hi-Fi Bar (and two support shows with Muse in 2010) their headline gig at the Corner Hotel comes off the release of the sixth album, Opposites. And what made this gig so special was that it could very well be one of the smallest shows the band has played in recent times, after performing across arenas in the UK, and headlining Reading Festival over Nine Inch Nails.
Opening for the night was fellow Soundwave 2014 artist Pulled Apart By Horses. Performing amidst a sea of red lights, Pulled Apart By Horses did little to impress the Corner Hotel crowd.
Coming across at times like a grungy reflection of Tame Impala, the band's sound was at times overly distorted, lost in a wall of noise. The potential was there to creating some buzz around the water cooler post gig due to their energy on stage; it's just a shame that with so much distortion, each song began to sound the same.
When Biffy Clyro finally arrived on stage, the trio of Simon Neil, Ben Johnston, and James Johnston are also jointed by their long time touring members Mike Vennart, and Richard "Gambler" Ingram (of British Theatre, and Oceansize) on guitar and keys respectively. With all five members crammed onto the Corner Stage, they launch into their set with Different People.
Almost immediately, the Corner mosh erupts, reminiscent of a bees nest which has been whacked like a piñata; swarming as the band smashed through a twenty song set which touched on their extensive musical catalogue.
While the set covered several tracks from both albums of Opposites, highlights included Only Revolutions anthem Bubbles and Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies, while Simon played Folding Stars lone acoustic, which slowed things down during the middle of the set.
Biffy Clyro's charisma and style is second to none. With intricate melodies and brash guitar solos, the band feeds off of the energy of the crowd, and uses it to fuel their own performance, something which could be seen and felt from as far as the back corner of the venue. It's a rare thing when a band plays, and every punter in the venue can feel as though they're in the front row.
Capping off the set with an encore of the epic sing-along Mountains, Biffy Clyro retreated from the stage before taking time to meet and greet with fans after the show, and confirming to us that they'll be returning this September.
Mon the Biff!
Luke Sutton
While Biffy Clyro have previously played headline shows at venues like The Hi-Fi Bar (and two support shows with Muse in 2010) their headline gig at the Corner Hotel comes off the release of the sixth album, Opposites. And what made this gig so special was that it could very well be one of the smallest shows the band has played in recent times, after performing across arenas in the UK, and headlining Reading Festival over Nine Inch Nails.
Opening for the night was fellow Soundwave 2014 artist Pulled Apart By Horses. Performing amidst a sea of red lights, Pulled Apart By Horses did little to impress the Corner Hotel crowd.
Coming across at times like a grungy reflection of Tame Impala, the band's sound was at times overly distorted, lost in a wall of noise. The potential was there to creating some buzz around the water cooler post gig due to their energy on stage; it's just a shame that with so much distortion, each song began to sound the same.
When Biffy Clyro finally arrived on stage, the trio of Simon Neil, Ben Johnston, and James Johnston are also jointed by their long time touring members Mike Vennart, and Richard "Gambler" Ingram (of British Theatre, and Oceansize) on guitar and keys respectively. With all five members crammed onto the Corner Stage, they launch into their set with Different People.
Almost immediately, the Corner mosh erupts, reminiscent of a bees nest which has been whacked like a piñata; swarming as the band smashed through a twenty song set which touched on their extensive musical catalogue.
While the set covered several tracks from both albums of Opposites, highlights included Only Revolutions anthem Bubbles and Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies, while Simon played Folding Stars lone acoustic, which slowed things down during the middle of the set.
Biffy Clyro's charisma and style is second to none. With intricate melodies and brash guitar solos, the band feeds off of the energy of the crowd, and uses it to fuel their own performance, something which could be seen and felt from as far as the back corner of the venue. It's a rare thing when a band plays, and every punter in the venue can feel as though they're in the front row.
Capping off the set with an encore of the epic sing-along Mountains, Biffy Clyro retreated from the stage before taking time to meet and greet with fans after the show, and confirming to us that they'll be returning this September.
Mon the Biff!
Luke Sutton