Biffy Clyro, Calling All Cars@ The Hi Fi Bar, Melbourne(16/12/2010)

Sat 18th Dec, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Returning to our shores for a second time this year in support of Muse, Scottish hard rockers and occasional sombre ballad writers Biffy Clyro brought an almost capacity Hi Fi Bar to its feet, playing over ninety minutes worth of material at their only Melbourne side show.

Melbourne trio Calling All Cars opened the night, delivering a set full of energy and zest. Vocalist Haydn Ing is always a pleasure to watch perform. The set was as you would expect; blisteringly loud, overly energetic and hitting all the right marks. Opening song Animal is notorious for having Ing leave the comforts of the stage and enter the pit, but tonight was a different story. With Hold, Hold Fire and Disconnect, Ing uses what little stage room he has to give it his all, but the real highlight of tonight’s performance comes in Run Away, the band’s finest song to date. Calling All Cars played a much more mature set than usual, proving that they are ready to tackle the big leagues of Australian rock n’ roll (ironic, given that they were a support act earlier in the year for AC/DC.) I commend Calling All Cars on their performance, and look forward to future gigs!

Chants of “Mon the Biff!” surge throughout the Hi Fi, as the 45-minute wait for Biffy Clyro to descend the stage raises the room temperature to the ideal level for sweaty, moshing rock.
Half-hour support slots for Muse earlier in the week had seen the band showcase songs exclusively from Only Revolutions, yet tonight’s 23-song setlist would be comprised of hits and fan favourites spanning over their past five albums.

The lights drop and Biffy Clyro, assume their positions, along with very special guest guitarist Mike Vennart of underground prog rock group Oceansize. Kicking off appropriately with The Captain, the startling difference in Simon Neil’s vocals is astonishing. Back in May, Neil’s voice was scratchy, untrained and a bit of a train wreck. Perhaps he was ill, or just had an off night, because seven months later, Neil sounds almost perfect in his pitch, and delivery.

Booooom, Blast & Ruin, 57 and Bubbles, with its distinctive riff, lead the chargeand after a predominantly Only Revolutions based beginning, Joy.Discovery.Invention makes a surprise appearance. With Neil now covered in sweat, it’s a song that allows the band to have something of a break in terms of pace and hard work. Whorses and the welcome inclusion of All The Way Down are up next, before the band push through_That Golden Rule._ Bassist James Johnston and his twin brother Ben on drums, drive the song to its pinnacle. The duo’s onstage demeanour is somewhat reserved, but they make up for a lack of crowd interaction with sheer professionalism.

An extended intro for Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies builds anticipation, before Neil breaks into the core of the song with the superb lyrics; ‘I fear God because everything dies babe/got a gun in the back of my car.’ In what appeared to be a highlight for many, Neil held the floor alone and began a sombre and heartfelt acoustic rendition of Folding Stars, which brought lighters out and the arms waving. It was a special moment that many in the room would have felt privileged to witness. An acoustic Machines followed, before the band returned for Who’s Got A Match?

With Vennart casually continuing to play the role of second guitarist, Saturday Superhouse sees the the Hi-Fi crowd thrashing around like a disturbed hornets’ nest. Punters are pulled from the crowd, and we love every moment. The inclusion of There’s No Such Thing As A Jaggy Snake is one not many would have seen coming, and with it done and dusted, Many Of Horror, a song recently butchered and blasted into the spotlight via The X-Factor UK, brings the set to a triumphant close.

An expected encore brought Glitter and Trauma, Justboy and of course, the brilliant Mountains. Biffy Clyro had made all the right moves, knocking off the early pieces with fan favourites, taking the Queen, and checkmating King with a Mountains finale. With the band declaring they’ll be back soon, don’t be surprised if Biffy Clyro are playing to bigger crowds in bigger venues as their status and reputation continues to grow. Mon the Biff!

Special mention to annak_76 . Her photos accompany this article.

Setlist
The Captain
Booooom, Blast & Ruin
57
Bubbles
Born On A Horse
God & Satan
Joy.Discovery.Invention
Whorses
All The Way Down: Prologue Chapter 1
That Golden Rule
Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies
Shock Shock
9/15ths
Folding Stars (Acoustic)
Machines (Acoustic)
Who’s Got a Match?
Saturday Superhouse
Know Your Quarry
There’s No Such Thing As A Jaggy Snake
Many Of Horror

Encore
Glitter and Trauma
Justboy
Mountains