Live Review: Biffy Clyro – Album Release Live Stream

This year has been disappointing for music lovers and bands alike, with all live gigs being cancelled since March and with little hope that they’ll return anytime soon. This has made the industry change how they operate with acts starting to live stream their performances; This has allowed for the community around the world to come together and enjoy their favourite music at home. One of the bands that jumped on this opportunity early on was Biffy Clyro, where Simon Neil would jump on facebook every week and just sit down with his guitar and sing. Since these weekly streams have come to an end the band has been working hard to get ready to launch their new album ‘A Celebration of Endings’, to mark the launch of this new album the band announced that they would be doing a special one night livestream from the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow. So turn those speakers up, as we dive into what Biffy Clyro’s stream was like.

As we tune into the stream the band thanks and welcomes us for joining them on this stream. We then jump straight into a twenty-five minute  “Soundcheck” with a countdown in the corner. This bit of the stream is in black and white, reminding us that this is just the warm up to the main event. The band performed some of their classic discography, ‘Victory over the sun’ is first up, just because it’s a soundcheck however doesn’t mean it doesn’t sound great and full of sound. Between songs the band starts tuning their instruments as we get cut to some clips from L.A of when ACOE was being recorded. We then get cut back to Barrowland where Simon tells the band that “we’ll play bubble next and then have a think” with Ben joking that they should play “smoke on the water” after; this banter between the band mates makes it feel very free flowing.

The remaining ten minutes of the soundcheck we go backstage and are told to dawn headphones for the full experience as the next part was recorded with immersive audio. It’s just Simon and his guitar now, he starts this immersive experience off with ‘Machines’. His voice bouncing around the room complementing every note strum on his guitar. Midway through the song he starts walking around the camera, anywhere he moves in the room his audio follows in our headphones. He’s joined by Ben who sings the backing vocals to the song. This is an experience like nothing I’ve ever had at a live gig, it felt like it was just me and the band in the room. After some more clips from the recording of the album the band jump back with an acoustic rendition of ‘Re-Arrange’ also in immersive audio, this time Simon is joined by both Ben, and James. Again the audio feels the room and makes you feel like you’re there with them.

A minute countdown fills our screen, building up anticipation for the main event.

It’s quiet as we’re shown shots of the venue filling up with smoke. The band came onto the stage and went straight into the first song on the album ‘North Of No South’ this was really the point that sold me that live streams aren’t all bad, this steam had been recorded with excellent sound quality. Moving into ‘The Champ’, Simon Neil climbs off the stage and we get a glimpse of the entire orchestra that joined the band to play through their albums. Each member of the orchestra wearing a face mask, this is a good reminder of why we are currently watching this live stream instead of watching the band live at a venue in a room full of people. The band played through song after song with very little said between each one. As the band performs they move around the venue taking advantage of the fact there’s no crowd in the room. In ‘Tiny Indoor Fireworks’ the band go into a mirror box to perform. When performing ‘Cop Syrup’ Simon is seen going down the stairs and out the venue and continues playing the whole time.

This stream really sets the bar in my mind of how good live streamed shows can be, not only did it sound great but it sounded like they were in the room with us thanks to the use of the immersive sound. With the production that went into this stream I wouldn’t be surprised if the band has plans to release this on DVD or maybe even a cinema release at some point. No live streams are not replacements for actual shows (although I doubt anyone truly believes that), however that doesn’t mean they don’t have their place and especially in times like this it brings back a sense of control in this world.