After the dark depths of making the new record, Biffy Clyro look like they're heading for superstardom.
New double album Opposites had a problematic manufacturing process, as miscarraiges and alcoholism made life pretty depressing for camp Biffy - it almost drove them to a break-up. But after making it through that, they've done the full Shawshank Redemption and come out the sewer pipe smelling of roses.
A number one album and a UK arena tour that includes a sell-out night at the O2 in London are exceptional statuses for any of band, and the big league could well beckon if they play their cards right at this summer's Reading Festival headline slot.
Night two of their arena trip brings them to a shiny pink shed on the outskirts of Birmingham. Here is the test - to see if they can get an arena of over 11,000 shivering Brummies on their feet.
The show begun well-restrained, with just Simon Neil in front of a white curtain as the church organ intro of Different People reverberated around the room. Through the curtain the band's stage show began to glow through it until the curtain revealed the band and the huge skeleton tree looming large. This was a mightily impressive feature, with one similarly impressive touch being the sheer number of people with high-vis jackets, hard hates and drills taking it down after the show ended.
A rowdy crowd lapped it up, and then went into overdrive as the pummelling sensory assault of That Golden Rule almost blew the roof off the venue. Not bad for the 2nd song.
The song was also the only old song in the first six, with all the others coming off new double record Opposites. Not that the crowd seemed to care too much. Crowds can often be tempermental with new stuff but this crowd lapped up a smooth trio of heavy rockers and was also appreciative towards the title track - the evening's first slower song.
Predictably a rather rowdy crowd went truly epic for the hits. A one-two of Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies and Bubbles sent the standing section into a mood beyond overdrive. It helped the performances were similarly well done.
The band piled in songs, with new ones sharing time with old fan favourites like A Day Of... and There's No Such Thing As A Jaggy Snake. More remarkable was the lack of a drop in quality, with the band sustaining a well oiled groove.
There was a brief period to chill too, with The Thaw accompanied by a blizzard visual that ironically predicted the weather forecast we were greeted with upon leaving the venue. This was sandwiched by solo performances of God & Satan and Machines, which both allowed the crowd to sing.
A final run through of all sort of music concluded the main set, with a euphoric Picture A Knife Fight and a well run rendition of The Captain closing things out. This preceded a well worked triple song encore, which ended the show.
This was a great show in every sense. There was a spectacular show that didn't provide an hold to a spontaneous show, while hits and fan favourites. The whole venue was able to slink off into the cold at the end of the gig sufficiently warmed by such a wonderful occasion.
4.5/5
Also in tow at the venue was City and Colour, which is the recording alias of Canadian singer/songwriter Dallas Green. They provided a 45 minute set of chilled out music which was reasonable, if a little bit forgettable. However the crowd was reasonably receptive and considering they'd just flown over from the USA they did well enough.
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