Biffy Clyro w/O’Brother
Neptune Theatre, Seattle, WA
03.30.17

Biffy Clyro’s reputation as a live band proceeded them, leading up to a great evening of rock and roll at Seattle’s historic Neptune Theatre.

First up was the sludgy rock of Atlanta’s O’Brother, supporting their 2016 release, Endless Light. Vocalist/guitarist Tanner Merrit’s haunting voice had a range that played into the atmospheric sounds emanating from the stage. Guitarists Johnny Dang and Jordan McGhin created some pretty ethereal riffs while bassist Anton Dang and drummer Michael Martens kept the groove and low-end beats driving each song.

O’Brother’s music is hard to categorize and they created a sound that is uniquely their own. Hints of Muse, A Perfect Circle, and King Crimson come to mind. A dynamic and colorful strobe light show flowed along with the pacing of each song, adding to their vibe.

The stage was then cleared and the crowd prepared for the headliner, including several fans in the front row that have been following the band. Many have seen more than a few shows on this tour. I found it pretty cool that they have such a loyal fan base that have known the band, and are catching the tour for as many stops as possible.

Everyone in the front row again told me how great Biffy Clyro are live, as I look over the stage and see vocalist/guitarist Simon Neil’s pedal board covered in plastic. I was told he puts a lot into the performances and tends to sweat a lot.  This was going to be great.

The lights dimmed and backlighting revealed the silhouettes of the band as they took the stage to screams of adoration. They opened with “Wolves Of Winter,” the lead track from their 2016 release, Ellipsis, and everyone sang along.

Bassist James Johnston and drummer Ben Johnston were so much fun to watch as well. Everyone moved and the energy was infectious. The Scottish rock trio had the entire venue eating out of the palms of their hands, as they displayed immense conviction in their performance.

I could see the love that the fans have for them as they drew songs from their 7 studio albums. Crowd faves like “Many Of Horror” really highlighted the adoration. It felt odd to not be as intimately familiar as the audience, but Biffy Clyro won me over with their performance.

Catch their remaining dates while they are here in the US, you will become a fan if you aren’t already!

Review and photos by Neil Lim Sang

Biffy Clyro


O’Brother