Photos and review by Jennie Book
@jenniebookphotography

Biffy Clyro turned The Belasco into something bigger than its beautiful walls could hold on April 20, 2026—an arena-scale experience compressed into a room that the crowd there for the Futique tour was super lucky to witness on the first night of the US tour.

The stage was simple and two-tiered, with some Marshall amps stage right that singer Simon Neal climbed on, and drummer Ben Johnston on a little riser in the back on drums. Neil came out shirtless and wearing a kilt, and within minutes was covered in sweat while jumping around and playing guitar. It was a physical show, with not much standing around happening, and that energy made its way into the crowd, who were was also not standing still, with the largely elder millennials rocking their yayas out for the entire set.

The band lineup was made up of original members Neil on vocals and guitar, plus Johnston on drums, with longtime touring bandmates Mike Vennart on guitar, and Richard Ingram on keys, plus bassist Naomi MacLeod stepping in for original mate James Johnston while he takes a band sabbatical. They were super tight together, everybody singing and feeling the music, the whole effect rocking and beautiful. Also excellent was the sound in the venue, and the lighting was dramatic and atmospheric and supportive of the material, and not dark-defaulting like so many lighting techs are choosing these days.

Biffy’s been playing the same set this whole tour, which may be hard for the traveling fans who are hitting multiple cities, but it makes for a very polished hour and a half because of all the deep favorites plus new songs mixed in from their latest album “Futique.”

Throughout the night Biffy knew how to pace the crowd’s devotion. Things started off with “A Little Love” and “Hunting Season,” then “Biblical” graced us, which turned into a singalong. The intensity of the bandmembers on the stage plus the fervor of the room was really something to witness, and it continued into a more quiet vibrating energy like when Neil played “Machines” on acoustic guitar, and then it switched back up when “Mountains” turned the room anthemic again. “Two People in Love,” was beautiful, “Bubbles” was a rockin party during the five-song encore, and then the night closed with everybody’s favorite, the genius “Many of Horror.”

California hasn’t seen a Biffy Clyro show since 2022, and San Francisco isn’t getting to see them this tour leg, and if my DMs were any indication after I posted photos of the LA show, the Bay Area folks are pretty sad about it. The rest of the US continues in Denver on April 23 in Denver, with many shows to look forward to before they hop overseas for some summer festivals after their May 7 date in Philly. You can keep up with all the latest news and info at biffyclyro.com.