Biffy Clyro, Yves Klein Blue @The Zoo, Brisbane (28/04/08)

Wed 7th May, 2008 in Gig Reviews

Local lads Yves Klein Blue have had great success as of late. Their recent US and UK tour helped to establish the band overseas, while a string of EP launches across Australia were well-received. The tour even included a frenzied performance in their hometown, which had some punters surfing over the rest of the crowd – an achievement rarely, if ever, seen at The Troubadour. A support slot for Biffy Clyro might not have been exactly what the YKB boys assumed would eventuate from such success, but a support slot for any band is a plus for such a young group.

Performing to quite a small crowd, the quartet busted out another fine set of their up-tempo swing-folk rock. They played tracks off their original Draw Attention to Themselves EP and their re-release, which saw the band breathe new life and depth into their sound. The odd reveller would dance relatively inconspicuously throughout the whole set, proving that this gig was going to be no match for the intensity of their last Troubadour set. However, the Brisbane four-piece played with their hearts on their sleeves and no doubt impressed many in the crowd.

With a rowdy audience cheering “Mon the Biffy!” to show their support for the headliners, one could sense the type of behaviour which was to follow. An explosive cheer rang out through the mostly empty Zoo confines as the Glaswegian trio made their way onto stage. With lead vocalist and guitarist Simon Neil already sans shirt, one knew that tonight’s affair would be hard and fast. The intensity of crowd’s raucous cheers made the venue sound like it was anything but bare.

Unleashing their set with a three-hit combo consisting of Saturday Superhouse, Who’s Got A Match? and Justboy, a few of the many Scots (and some non-Scots) in the crowd went about creating a wee circle pit at the front of the audience to express their excitement – to the chagrin of only a few in front of stage.

With this tour being the Scottish three-piece’s first time in Australia, the band performed songs from all four of their albums to date, all with technical precision and blistering intensity. All The Way Down and Hero Management stand out as true heavyweights on their The Vertigo of Bliss and Blackened Sky albums respectively. In turn, Living is a Problem Because Everything Dies from their latest album Puzzle and Some Kind Of Wizard off of 2004’s Infinity Land prove to be more recent favourites with the crowd. With the band departing stage for a brief pre-encore break, Neil breaks free from the band and performs the crowd-assisted Machines, before the Glitter And Trauma finale finishes up a set full of hair, sweat and husky voices.