Biffy Clyro/Enter Shikari/Blood Red Shoes @ Highline Ballroom

My dear readers, I was wrong and I have failed you. I figure I was doing you a service by pointing out a potential good band in Biffy Clyro. Not only did these Britons disappointed me, I might have to re-listen to Puzzle and ask myself, "What did I see in this band that made me want to see them live?" The other mea culpa, Enter Shikari, might be the worst band I've ever seen. I came because Mr. Tony Wilson gives these bands his stamp of approval as part of the In the City festival. Who am I to argue with him?

On the bright side, Blood Red Shoes are the real deal -- hugs and kisses to Laura-Mary Carter and Steven Ansell for putting on a solid U.S. debut.

I considered not even writing up a post of Biffy and Shikari, but it took a chuck out of my free time tonight to see them and it shouldn't go to complete waste.

The headliner tonight was Biffy Clyro, a three piece who at first impression was a prog rock version of the Foo Fighters. The first song off their latest album, Puzzle, is called "Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies" and it's brilliantly constructed song with big orchestra hits mixed with a lot of guitars. It's pretty ambitious. Maybe, I should have listened to the album in one sitting instead of picking out a few tunes.

I could barely make it through three songs. After witnessing Enter Shikari, my interest level for the rest of the evening was a 2 out 10. In any event, here's what they had on their setlist:

• 57
• Who's Got a Match?
• Saturday Superhouse
• A Whole Child Ago
• Get Fucked Stud
• Machines
• Now I'm Everyone
• Just Boy
• Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies
• Love Has a Diameter
• Semi-Mental
• Glitter & Trauma

Here's the bottom line, after 40 minutes of screaming, I was not in the mood for more screaming and strobe light effects. The shirtless, long-haired band came out to a half-filled room and played their first song. For a second, I thought it was the wrong band because they sounded like Nickleback. It didn't get any better with "Saturday Superhouse." I cut my losses and headed home.

I could dedicate a novella on why Enter Shakira or Shikari could be the worst band in known creation. It's almost biblical in stature the amount of ineptness they display. I'm truly hoping they are some sort of joke band like Tenacious D or Flight of the Conchords and they are all comedians putting on an act.

They combine all the elements that I don't like in music -- screaming for no reason and the same guitar chords in every song. Maybe I'm not the right person to be seeing them or writing up a post. I will, and never will, like hardcore. The fan base is very protective and passionate of their music and scene. I just don't have the personality to understand or identify with it.

Tony Wilson has said something along the lines that they are the best thing in music since the Sex Pistols. I wish he could explain that reasoning to me. On stage, they look like a bunch of drugged up idiots who have no clue what they are doing. Well, the Sex Pistols were that way too. Yet, the crowd loved them and knew every lyric. Hey, more power to them. I'm glad they are reaching an audience.

Musically, they are like a raved-up hybrid version of Korn and The Prodigy. You hear the standard speed metal guitar riffs that Metallica invented, and then it cuts to some early 90s raver beats. Then the guys on stage just jump around and the crowd goes ape shit.

It's not that I hate them, they just really annoyed me. They took way too long to get on stage -- probably because they were waiting for the drugs to kick in or they were debating whether to come on stage with their hoodies up or down. If anything, they were entertaining in that, "They are so bad, I'm laughing on the inside" feeling. The high point was when all the band members dropped their instruments and let the rave music take over. Then they all started dancing like Ali G but it wasn't a comedy routine. The other fun part, check out this introduction to a song: "We locked ourselves in a room with no light and no food for three days. Just water to keep up alive. When we got out, we wrote this song." Not sure if that was a joke or not.

The usually classy Highline was turned into the Warped Tour. By the end, a few scuffles broke out and the room was left smelling of B.O. and fake fog. Icky.

I'm not sure if they are poised to make a name for themselves in the States. They will find an audience. I can see a Honda Civic Tour or an opening spot for A Simple Plan. Their t-shirts will sell fast at Hot Topic in malls across America. Maybe Mountain Dew will license a song from them for an ad.

Okay that's enough, let the nasty comments begin.

Now time for the positive. Blood Red Shoes lived up to my expectations. They ruled. Their two person power garage rock was smoking and rocking. Yes, it's the White Stripes formula, but they are little more indie based than blues rock. That guitarist has the chops and the drummer never missed a beat. What an amazing duo they make. I hope you take a listen to them, because they've got the goods.

Comments

[Loop]

You write:

"Tony Wilson has said something along the lines that they are the best thing in music since the Sex Pistols."

That should have been a flag right there. When anyone is compared to the Sex Pistols (the worst band in history), why would you even consider going to this show?

[andrew]

The Sex Pistols, the worst band in history? What the fuck are you smoking, mate?

[Gavin]

Biffy Clyro are the most creative, imaginitive band of the past few years. Sounds like you had your period that day.

[El Dave Magnifico]

This is not a good review at all, you've hit the nail on the head about enter shikari being fucking awful, but all the bad things you've said about biffy are utter bullshit, it's not even well constructed bull shit. Maybe you should go in a darkened room for 3 days and take some lessons on how to review bands properly.

[Esambo De-A-Rouse]

I'm not sure I believe what I'm reading.
Sure, you're pretty much right about Enter Shikari. But Blood Red Shoes are one of the least impressive live bands I've ever seen - they don't do anything special, and they sound like so many bands before them. They also seemed so up themselves when I saw them (maybe they weren't at your gig, but they were annoying as anything inbetween songs).

The major problem with this is your review of Biffy though.
1) Anyone who thinks that Living Is A Problem is ambitious would do well to take an intrest in previous work by the band. I can assure you that you could pick almost any song off the previous three albums and it would be far more ambitious.
2) How the hell can you say 57 sounds like Nickleback!?!? Seriously, you come across as someone who has never heard more than 10 bands in their life. The fact you are actually reviewing this band and can make such a poor comparison is incredibly worrying.

Mind you, I've just read your top 5 British bands to look out for in 2007 post and can see that you recommend mainstream music that doesn't challenge the listener in the slightest. Not something i expected on a blog called "Music Snobbery". In a way I'm now glad to see this review, if someone who recommends the Automatic doesn't like Biffy. Non-the-less, I'd recommend you check out Vertigo Of Bliss by Biffy Clyro - mainly because it's probably the best album of all time.

[Jamie]

How can you say such things about a band like biffy clyro!

They are amazing live, have four outstanding albums, and are one of the most genuine and hardworking bands around.

What your saying is absolute bullshit.

Mon the Biffy!

[Alastair Shiels]

The weakness of your review is the fact that you have failed in your role as a reviewer to balance your own subjective opinions with objective comments.There is a problem when discovered UK bands attempt a breakthrough in the US, in that a natural arrogance comes across and the reviewers always consider "What makes this band so popular?" and so don't really consider the performance in itself.

You are in fact just a weak live music reviewer, pick up a copy of any of the leading European music mags and learn your trade.

[El Dave Magnifico]

merked

[Rodders]

Well clearly you are afraid of embracing modern culture and instead love to opt for something of the same musical substanance as the White Stripes - possibly the most boring and dire band in the world.

Enter Shikari are an amazing live band, who, as you said, get the crowd going (which is the main purpose of a gig isn't it? To entertain?) and perform their upbeat, energising numbers at the same time. They're billed as good for a reason.

Biffy Clyro are the best band in the world. End of story. They combine intelligence, charisma, amazing dynamics, beautiful harmonies and one of the most awe-inspiring live shows that I've ever seen. You compare 57 to Nickelback, a comparison which has no standing whatesoever seeing as Biffy are Gods of the experimental and Nickelback are commercial shite. Then again, I can see you liking Nickelback.

Sadly you seem to be one of the many people who love the commercial aspect of Biffy's new music, but are not willing to appreciate the wonderful eclecticness of their earlier work.

Maybe you should retitle your site to something less elitist, possibly 'Music-by-numbers'?

[russell]

Yep, go back to your day job mate.. somewhere where no one hears your trite opinions