Slightly earlier than usual (doors were 6.30 instead of 7.00) and with Boy Child driving, we set off up the M8 heading towards the OVO Hydro. For the first time in quite a while, FB Son was with us. Having parked at the Science Centre, we finished the journey on foot and joined a surprisingly short queue.

It’s been a few months since we have been to the Hydro. It had been 8 years almost to the day since we had last seen the headliners.

So, who were we there to see?

Biffy F**king Clyro!

Walking into that vast arena bowl is an incredible experience every time. It’s like entering the mothership. As arenas go, this one is my favourite.

I left the boys to their own devices (they had moshing in mind) and found myself a nice wee spot a couple of rows off the rail Happy days!

There was only one support act on the bill – Brighton’s finest, Architects!  I’ll be honest, they initially felt like an unusual choice of support act. They’re a band I was keen to see live having missed their headline tour back in May 2022. When they kicked off their ten song set with Deep Fake from their recently released album The Classic Symptoms of a Broken Spirit, there were more than a few stunned looking Biffy fans. LOL. Architects are a force to be reckoned with. They are hard. They are heavy. They are powerful. Live, they were simply awesome.

Loved front man Sam Carter’s red footwear!

Highlights of their all too short set were Dead Butterflies which was followed by the awesome Doomsday and When We Were Young.

These guys surely gained more than a few new fans from the Biffy camp before they rounded things off with the mighty Animals.

Architects, you certainly “pulled the pin”. Great way to kickstart the night.

At 8:50, the lights went out, the massive video screens pulsed into life and Biffy Clyro stepped out on stage to huge homecoming cheers. They started off their two-hour marathon in rather mellow fashion with Dum Dum before launching into A Hunger In Your Haunt from their current album The Myth of the Happily Ever After.

Dum Dum (set opener) – Biffy Clyro @ OVO Hydro Glasgow 06/11/22 – YouTube

I have to say, I know Simon Neil’s fashion choices can be dubious…but, sir, what was that shirt all about? Ha Ha

The shirt didn’t last long, and it was soon “taps aff” for the bulk of the set for both Simon and James Johnston on bass.

Biffy may have included the beautiful Black Chandelier early in the set but there were no chandeliers tonight. Instead, there was an over-sized series of video screens and spectacular lighting all night. I’ll be totally honest, I’m not a huge fan of video screens. I totally get that they are of huge benefit to those fans standing or sitting further back but personally I find them a huge distraction from what’s going on on stage and at several points, found myself consciously trying not to look at them. Although a giant Simon Neil is rather easy on the eye.

I’d be here all day singling out the highlight moments from their twenty-song main set. There genuinely were so many great songs. The setlist was carefully balanced to encapsulate their entire back catalogue but I was pleased to see no fewer than six songs from 2009’s Only Revolutions album making the cut.

If I have to pick three…no five… favourites from the main body of the set I’d need to go with That Golden Rule (kind of wish they’d opened with this one), Wolves of Winter, Re-arrange which included an awesome guitar solo from Simon, Biblical and The Captain, which rounded off proceedings.

It was hot. It was sweaty. It was lively. It was fantastic…and there was more to follow.

Simon Neil, accompanied by two violinists who had made several appearances throughout the show, was first back out on stage to open the five-song encore with the breathtaking God & Satan…. Love love love this song. Opposite and Glitter and Trauma followed. There were only two of my favourites that hadn’t yet been played…dare I hope…

Yes! Bubbles was the penultimate song with fan favourite Many of Horror finally bringing things to a climax.

WOW…that’s all…. Incredible gig.