Aware that Paul Weller had supported Richard Hawley at one of the earlier War Child gigs for Brits Week – a series of shows in which huge names play special tiny one-off shows for the charity – fans waiting eagerly to hear who might be supporting Biffy Clyro at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire last night (February 20) were in for a shock when the support act turned out to be… early Biffy Clyro. Here’s how the evening played out…
Pictures by Jamie MacMillan – Twitter (@jamiemacphotos), Facebook (@jamiemacmillanphotos), Instagram (@jamie_macmillan_photos)
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When asked who they wanted to support them at their War Child gig, Biffy reportedly said “ourselves”. So early doors fans were treated to an eight-song set culled from Biffy’s first three albums ‘Blackened Sky’, ‘The Vertigo Of Bliss’ and ‘Infinity Land’.
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Many of these songs hadn’t been played since 2014, including ‘Toys, Toys, Toys, Choke, Toys, Toys, Toys’, ‘Questions And Answers’ and set-closer ‘There’s No Such Thing As A Jaggy Snake’.
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Biffy then took to the stage for their second set, cracking into ‘Wolves Of Winter’, the lead single from their latest album ‘Ellipses’, and fan favourite ‘Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies’, the sound of being assaulted in an alleyway by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
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The crowd, who’d paid just £5 per pair of tickets in a ballot for entry, were walloped in close quarters with the almighty ‘Biblical’, the stately ‘Black Chandelier’ and the Alp-heavy ‘Mountains’.
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The encore was similarly intense, as Biffy fired up a closing trio of ‘Machines’, ‘Animal Style’ and cataclysmic showtune closer ‘The Captain’.
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Brits Weeks continues with shows from The 1975, Wild Beasts, Basement Jaxx, Jack Savoretti and, oh yes, Rick Astley. Best of luck following this.