BIFFY CLYRO + thisGIRL + BRIGADE23rd September 2004Four-piece Brigade took to the stage first and set the pace for the night – fast, furious, raw energy, juxtaposed with moments of heaven-sent delicate melodies. Fronted by Will Simpson, brother of Charlie from Busted, and accompanied by Naoto Hori, Fimbo and James Plant, the band performed to an appreciative audience, and opened the night on a definite high note. thisGirl bowled the audience over, proving just how much they deserve their awesome live reputation. It’s exhausting just watching them, especially frontman Liam Creamer, whose frenzied acrobatics on stage throw caution to the wind as he comes perilously close to taking out his fellow band members with a stray leg, or particularly vigorous pelvic thrust. Thankfully, their set warranted the stage theatrics, as great song followed terrific tune, creating a fusion of every genre, including punk, jazz, metal, emo and adrenalised rock, for a unique blend of . . . well, pure genius! But, as the old adage goes, all good things come to those who wait. And wait, all be it impatiently, we did, for the unparalleled and inimitable Biffy Clyro to set up and commence our musical enlightenment. The Scottish triad, who were nominated in the Best British Band category of this year’s Kerrang! Awards, alongside Muse, Lost Prophets and eventual winners The Darkness, shuffled on stage with no hint of the melodic explosion that was to follow. Simon Neil, Ben Johnston and James Johnston set heartbeats racing at break-neck speeds as they launched into their set. Soaring echoes of angst, with vocals that jumped from ethereal and fragile to throat-cutting cries within the one song, were complemented with complex and experimental riffs. Try as I might, Biffy Clyro are impossible to pigeon hole into just one sound, and drawing comparisons between themselves and their mainstream contemporaries is futile. Their set pushed the boundaries of expectation at every turn, with renditions of tracks from their two albums, The Vertigo of Bliss and Blackened Sky, and several new songs that went down a storm. For me, highlights of Biffy Clyro’s set included "Justboy" and "Scary Mary", and particularly the wonderful "Joy. Discovery. Invention". Lead singer Simon has said of the band: “Our only real ambition is to be our own favourite band.” Well, they’ve realised that ambition and, along the way, they’ve become the favourite band of legions of fans. Rachel Devlin, Peterborough Evening Telegraph |