Biffy Clyro played Download, Glastonbury, Barrowlands and the Reading/Leeds Carling Weekend this year, bagging themselves a nomination for best Festival Rock Act in the process. As mychemicaltoilet.com’s self proclaimed gig-monkey my expectations were high and I was expecting a damn good show…

How did you rate the venue?
I quite like the Bristol Academy. As a venue it covers all the basics you’d hope for. It’s a good size and you can usually wiggle to the front if you want to, as long as you can un-stick your shoes from the floor.

What were the crowd like?
The crowd was a little bit bonkers actually. Thankfully - getting old as I am - I had the forethought to warn my friend that it may get a little rowdy in the middle of the “pit” area, where she wanted to stand. Later, as the crowd began to pulsate violently in waves of sweaty teenage boys, my friend thanked me and I smiled to myself knowing I was only 8 people away from the “secret” side bar. Oh, and there was a fight between a bunch of old men. Yes!

Was the support act any good or did it send you to the bar?
We caught part of the support from Blood Red Shoes. I’d heard lots about them, so was quite excited, until my friend reminded me we’d seen them before supporting The Young Knives. I don’t know about you but, personally, if I forget I’ve seen a band it’s not a good sign. They played a couple of foot-tapping tunes and guitarist Laura-Mary inspired heckles of “I wanna bang you!” but there was nothing life changing. Just don’t call them indie.

Venue staff – nice or nasty?
Useless. I waited so long to get served at one spot I actually gave up and went do a different bar. You just can’t get the staff…

Toilets – swilling with piss, or spick and span?
Sticky but plentiful. A veritable corridor of cubicles means queues are a thing of the past.

Highlight of the show?
The hairy Scots really do know how to thrash it out, with a hint of a scream here and there for good measure. Overall though the best bit had to be either a) the band walking on to entrance music of Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” or b) noting that Simon Neil, frontman, jiggles his head up and down when he sings in a fashion not dissimilar to the way the Canadians in South Park talk.

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