Biffy Clyro, Glasgow review: 'plenty of unbottled angst'
This was the first time Biffy Clyro had ever played Glasgow without bassist James Johnston, yet replacement Naomi MacLeod proved a solid stand-in and even brought something new to the mix, writes David Pollock
Biffy Clyro, Hydro, Glasgow ★★★★
A Biffy Clyro live set typically contains plenty of unbottled angst in the songs, but a sense of warmth and humility from their creators. This Glasgow show was the final date of the UK tour supporting last year’s tenth album Futique and, as singer Simon Neil put it, “it makes perfect sense to end it here” - a sentiment which clearly impressed by the huge homecoming crowd.
It’s no secret that the band have had problems recently, with livewire bassist James Johnston sitting out this tour to deal with, in his own words, “mental health problems which have led to addiction issues”. In his place the trio (a live quintet) were joined by Naomi MacLeod on bass, completing the core line-up alongside Neil and Johnston’s drummer brother Ben.
Practically this made no difference to the set’s sound and energy, although Neil’s stripped-to-the-waist Wildman demeanour cut a lonelier figure without Johnston as his similarly sweaty wingman. Yet MacLeod brought something new, her chiming backing vocals contrasting with Neil’s lead on the ballad A Thousand and One.
Neil occasionally sang from atop a multi-tier backdrop, which resembled a visual representation of the band’s song Mountains - played here as part of a last-quarter crescendo also featuring the strobing, staccato tension of Living is a Problem Because Everything Dies and their most melodically poppy hits The Captain and Many of Horror.
New numbers including A Little Love and Hunting Season demonstrated Biffy Clyro’s skill with such songs hasn’t dimmed any, although less noisy changes of tone were always welcome, for example the pair of violins added to Different People, the acoustic reading of the gorgeously tender Machines and the almost disco rhythm and keyboard stabs of Two People in Love.
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This was the first time Biffy Clyro have ever played Glasgow without Johnston, said Neil, “so we want to send some love to him”. It’s a feeling anyone who cares about this band will echo, and hopefully he’s back for their just-announced Summer Sessions date at Ingliston in August. For the moment, though, his place is in safe hands.
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