Biffy Clyro
24th April 2018
Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review by Lauren Sanderson. Photography by Connor Crawford.
After crisscrossing the Northern Hemisphere for over a year to celebrate the release of their seventh studio album Ellipsis, Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro landed on New Zealand soil yesterday and took over Spark Arena for a night of pure musical madness.
The arena was packed with eager Biffy Clyro fans and as they took to the stage in true Biffy style (and looking as good as ever), the crowds screaming reached deafening levels. Lead singer Simon, lead guitarist James and Ben on drums waited under spotlights with their heads down until finally launching into Wolves of Winter, a track from their new album Ellipsis. As soon as the riffs from the guitar kicked in and Simon’s rustic voice echoed throughout the arena, we knew we were in for a good night.
Their choice of attire was interesting, topless (not complaining) and in tracksuit bottoms, just shows how comfortable and at home they are on stage, and that they let their music do the talking. Not only are they musical genius’ but they’re also amazing showmen – they brought humour to some of their tracks by using facial expressions and body language while telling a story through their lyrics – making us follow every word.
The power trio played a variety of old and new songs and the balance was just right. Biblical was a crowd favourite alongside Who’s Got a Match? As the catchy lyric “I’m a fire and I’ll burn burn burn tonight” was spread around the arena, the crowd chanting each lyric word for word and clapping in unison. The pace of the show was phenomenal, it was a conveyor belt of epic music that just kept on giving. Simon and James were given a different guitar for each track and would jump from one song to the next with complete ease, leaving the crowd in awe.
Finally, they took a moment from playing and welcomed us by saying “Kia Ora Auckland” and that they’re so happy to be back after three years, and we couldn’t agree more, they certainly came back with a bang. Next song ‘Bubbles’ was the highlight of the night as the energy was incredible and everyone bounced simultaneously to the much-loved rhythm.
Simon showed of his vocal range as he took to the stage solo for Medicine and Machines, he is an incredible singer with a flawless range that encompasses so much, from deep howling to sweet pop harmonies, there is really nothing he can’t do. As for twins James and Ben, they both are masters of their trade and even though they play different instruments, when they perform they play almost as if they are linked together. You can feel the strong connection between the trio and that’s why we love the lads of Biffy Clyro.
Old time classics like I am a Mountain and Many of Horror triggered a raw emotion amongst the crowd and reminded us exactly why we fell in love with the Scottish trio. Overall, there is nothing I can fault, Biffy Clyro – you have made us fall in love with you all over again and hopefully it won’t be another three years until we see you next!
Until next time.
Were you there at Spark Arena for this high energy rock show? Or have you seen Biffy Clyro sometime else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Biffy Clyro Setlist:
- Wolves of Winter
- Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies
- 57
- Biblical
- Who’s Got a Match?
- Bubbles
- Spanish Radio
- Black Chandelier
- That Golden Rule
- Re-arrange
- Medicine
- Howl
- Mountains
- 9/15ths
- Animal Style
- There’s No Such Thing as a Jaggy Snake
- Many of Horror
- Machines [encore]
- Stingin’ Belle [encore]
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