main image courtsey of Cuff and Taylor
WORDS DESH KAPUR
As a concert photographer, I have a bucket list of bands I want to photograph, and currently at the top of that list is Biffy Clyro. I also have a bucket list of bands I want to see, and Biffy Clyro is currently in my top 3. On Friday night, I was at Piece Hall in Halifax for Biffy Clyro’s first show since 2022. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to photograph them, but I was excited to get the opportunity to review their performance.
When I arrived at Piece Hall, there were people everywhere, and the pubs around the venue were packed. By the time I got in, Witch Fever was on the stage and well into their set. The Manchester band delivered a punchy set of 70’s inspired punk rock, very reminiscent of the Aussie punk band Amyl and The Sniffers. Although I love Amyl and The Sniffers, Witch Fever didn’t grab me, but the crowd seemed to enjoy it.
After a quick trip to the bar, the stage was changed and looked spectacular. Then the lights went out, and the stage erupted in a flash of bright lights as the band walked on stage, joined by two violinists. The crowd erupted into thunderous applause. “Good evening Halifax, we’ve missed you so much,” “We are Biffy f***ing Clyro.” before launching into “The Captain” from the album Only Revolutions. the stage lighting strobing the band flinging themselves around the stage, and you already knew this was going to be something memorable.
The Scottish rock heavyweights are arguably one of the nation’s biggest guitar bands, in the same stratosphere as bands like Arctic Monkeys, for me anyway. They have already headlined on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, and tonight, they showed exactly why. They followed with “That Golden Rule”, then “Who’s Got a Match?” fired like machine gun bullets across The Piece Hall. All the pent-up energy of two years off the stage was like jet fuel as they moved into “Re-Arrange”, and the packed venue sang and shouted along in unison. “Born on a Horse” (First time since 2019) followed, before three square sets of lights were lowered, one framing each band member. Neil told us that they “weren’t going to play this song” before the first chords of “Biblical” filled the venue. “Different People”, “A Hunger in Your Haunt”, “9/15ths”, “Animal Style”, “Black Chandelier” had the whole of the Piece Hall bouncing, with the impressive stage set up, lazers and light show brilliantly choreographed with the music and the band it was a sight to behold, this is what a rock show should be. The set finished with the anthemic “Mountains” as confetti cannons exploded.
The encore started with Neil walking onto the stage with an acoustic guitar before starting with a beautiful violin-driven version of “Machines”, creating a hush in the Piece Hall as the watching crowd seemed to be in awe of its beauty. “Wolves Of Winter” and “Bubbles” followed, and as the night came to an end, Simon Neil acknowledged the packed out venue. He whispered, “It’s been such a pleasure playing for you, Halifax,” before letting the crowd take the vocals on the brilliant “Many of Horror”. It was a magical end to a magnificent performance.
Biffy Clyro are : Simon Neil, James Johnston, Ben Johnston
SET LIST
1/ The Captain
2/ That Golden Rule
3/ Who’s Got a Match?
4/ Re-Arrange
5/ Born on a Horse
6/ Biblical
7/ Different People
8/ A Hunger in Your Haunt
9/ 9/15ths
10/ Animal Style
11/ Black Chandelier
12/ Instant History
13/ End Of
14/ Saturday Superhouse
(First time since 2018, first time fully electric since 2014)
15/ Space
16/ Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies
17/ Cop Syrup
18/ Mountains
Encore
19/ Machines
20/ Wolves of Winter
21/ Bubbles
22/ Many of Horror
FOLLOW BIFFY CLYRO
FOLLOW WITCH FEVER
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
