TK. MAXX PRESENTS... THE PIECE HALL HALIFAX - BIFFY CLYRO // THE PIECE HALL, HALIFAX
biffy clyro make their long awaited return to music scene after two years, as they play their first show at
tk. maxx presents… the piece hall at halifax
★★★★★ (5/5)
BIFFY CLYRO PERFORMING AT TK. MAXX PRESENTS... THE PIECE HALL AT HALIFAX
PHOTOCREDIT: CUFFE & TAYLOR & THE PIECE HALL
Biffy Clyro returned on Friday night having not played together as a band for two years, the chosen venue for the reunion was the fantastic Piece Hall in Halifax which has really ramped up its concert schedule this year.
Due to accidents, traffic queues etc I barely made it in time (7.59) for the 8pm curfew for entry (which I know isn’t to everyone’s liking but which I think really works to get the crowd in and build the atmosphere). The security to get in was efficient and moved everyone along at pace while being friendly and polite. Something other venues could learn from.
As a result of my travel issues, I didn’t see the whole set from the support act, Witchfever, so I don’t feel able to review it. What I did see was a band working really hard to engage the audience and get the atmosphere going within the venue. I had just found myself a good spot (not too near the front but with a good view) and was starting to watch Witchfever when I realised the lead singer was walking past me singing, I know there are some singers who love to get into the audience but this was going above and beyond, the singer and security must have been half way in and just kept going, past me and weaving their way in and around everyone, most of whom didn’t initially realise they were there. That’s some serious dedication to your support duties. I’ve seen the band before and know they are a mixture of rock and punk with some indie sensibilities thrown in, but this was an act who had a captive audience and gave it their all to win over some new fans. Whether they succeeded only time will tell but they left the stage having left nothing in their lockers but with a request to the audience to consider buying their merchandise which I later saw some doing. It was a full on noise fest.
I do love the Piece Hall both as a venue and the sheer number of different vendors, both bars and food. As I’d had to go straight after work, I was hungry and decided to sample the burgers, good size burgers with a generous helping of chips on the side. It was just what was needed and impressively not too over-priced in terms of quantity and quality. As I was driving, I wasn’t able to sample the bars, but I know from past visits they are well worth it, especially the ones at the sides. I suspect after the success of this year’s gigs there will be even more shows next year, personally I can’t wait, it’s been a highly eclectic mix of acts and while I’ve been there for both good and bad weather the venue is so good, the backdrop to the stage so prefect and the atmosphere so lively I for one can’t wait for more gigs!
Finally, it was time for the main event, the reason we’d all travelled to the people’s republic of West Yorkshire, the Ayrshire powerhouse that is Biffy. So, was there any rustiness? Any sign of them not quite gelling? Any missteps? Absolutely not! This was probably the best Biffy show I’ve seen. All the big songs, a couple of surprises, all the audience interaction but with a fantastic light show, smoke billowing across the arena and some of the best staging I’ve seen in a long time. I’m happy to call it now, this was the best gig I’ve seen all year! It was a truly outstanding experience, the crowd were totally up for it, Biffy were clearly loving playing together again, the banter from the stage was excellent, the whole thing just flew past to the point I was caught out when they announced the final song of the night creating a massive sing along.
This is a band on top form, does this return to gigging mean new music? I really hope so. The world shouldn’t have to wait this long for a new Biffy album.
When you can walk out on stage, feel the wave of love and open up with The Captain you just know it’s going to be a good night. The crowd were fully engaged, even the two women next to me who barley stopped talking all night (why do people go to gigs to chat, I just don’t get it, I eventually moved) did stop their incessant chatter from time to time to sing along.
For the fans Born on a Horse was played, Saturday Superhouse was fully electric for the first time in a long time such classics as Black Chandelier, Instant History, Mountains, Wolves of Winter, Bubbles and Many of Horror were played but the reality is there wasn’t a weak song in the whole set,
Personal highlight was the mass singalong to Machines which felt very emotional and an almost cathartic experience. To go from Machines to Wolves of Winter totally changed the mood but Machines was the highlight of a night which felt like a long series of highlights with no lows.
As I said above gig of the year for me and given some of the acts, I’ve seen this year that’s a big call. I don’t think I’ve sung, clapped, danced, bounced or even just swayed as much as I did at this gig, and I wasn’t alone. This was a team effort, Biffy, the crowd, even the staff at the bar when I went to get some water were singing along. The light show was perfectly timed and just added to the whole experience, the moving staging, framing the band at times, at other times lighting the whole arena, the band moving about, up the back, down the front, wherever they felt. It was all just prefect.
I would love to know if the guy with the sign asking Biffy to play the first song at his wedding got anywhere with his cheeky request but I’ll guess we’ll never know, given he eventually moved from besides me and the good natured abuse he was getting to the front of the crowd you never know, maybe someone saw the sign and told the band but I very much doubt it.
I can sum all of this very easily, Mon the Biff! Does it get better than this? If it does, I really want to be there as I was still singing as I drove home and had a hoarse voice the next day. Totally worth it though, Biffy Clyro are back and they’re better than ever!