Biffy Clyro Return Stateside With Powerful Set at Irving Plaza
Tuesday nights in New York City might honestly be one of the best nights to catch a show. They typically start earlier, giving commuters just enough time to spill out of work and straight into the venue. Attendance can be a gamble on a weeknight, but that usually means the people who do show up are there because they genuinely care about the band they came to see. And on May 5 at Irving Plaza, that atmosphere fit perfectly for a simple two-band bill headlined by Biffy Clyro with support from Raue.
One of my closest friends, knowing my love for bands like Hot Mulligan, had been pushing Biffy Clyro for a while now. Trying to pin down their sound into one genre is a bit difficult. For me, they fall somewhere between alternative and math rock, but gives arena rock energy. Or as my daughter’s boyfriend pointed out, “Ed Sheeran if he had friends!”
RAUE
This wasn’t my first time catching Raue. Last fall, they opened for South Arcade at Mercury Lounge. At the time, bandmates Paige Kalenian (vocals/guitar) and Jax Huckle (drums) were almost a little too dark and moody for that particular lineup. But paired with Biffy Clyro, the grunge-punk duo out of Southern California felt like the perfect fit.
For a two-piece band, Raue filled the stage with an impressive amount of energy. Paige made full use of every inch of space, launching into chords, pacing side to side, then suddenly stepping forward into more distortion. Midway through the set, they asked how many people in the room had seen them before. In a venue that holds several hundred people, only a handful of fans cheered, myself included. But by the end of the set, capped off with Paige’s now-signature jump kick off the drum kit, they had won over the entire room.
As I chatted with the band as they made their way to merch after the set, several crowd members stopped to congratulate them. After supporting Biffy this run, Raue head into May with a short headline run of their own, looking more than ready to keep building momentum.
BIFFY CLYRO
For Biffy Clyro fans, this North American run came with a bit of extra anticipation after the band was forced to cancel its U.S. dates last December because of visa issues.
The wait ended up being worth it, with the Scottish band finally returning stateside this spring on the Futique tour in support of their 2025 album of the same name. From the moment they stepped onto the stage at Irving Plaza, it was obvious the band was just as eager to be back in front of American crowds again.
Frontman Simon Neil walked out shirtless, showing off an impressive collection of tattoos paired with a kilt, alongside longtime bandmate Ben Johnston and touring members Mike Vennart, Richard Ingram, and Naomi Macleod, who filled in for James Johnston, Ben’s twin brother.
Listening to Futique album, it leans more into reflection and emotion. I gave the album a blind listen to a close friend, who described it as carrying a slightly sad, emo feel. But hearing those songs live, along with other fan favorites from the band’s catalog, it’s a much intense experience than streaming can really capture in your noise-cancelling headphones.
Live, Biffy Clyro balance vulnerability with contagious energy, as fans loudly sang along to nearly every song, including one moment where the crowd echoed Simon in a round. As someone still relatively new to the band, it genuinely surprised me to realize they’ve been together for more than thirty years, headlining arenas and festivals across Europe. But watching them command a room like Irving Plaza for nearly two hours, it made complete sense why they’ve lasted this long.
The North American run has now wrapped, but Biffy Clyro will not be off the road for long. After a short break, the band heads back to Europe for a packed summer festival run, including appearances at BludFest in June and Rock en Seine later in August.
BIFFY CLYRO SETLIST
Irving Plaza, New York, New York (5/5/2026)
A Little Love
Hunting Season
That Golden Rule
Who's Got a Match?
Shot One
Space
Wolves of Winter
Tiny Indoor Fireworks
Goodbye
Friendshipping
Biblical
Different People
A Hunger in Your Haunt
Black Chandelier
Two People in Love
Mountains
Encore
Machines
The Captain
Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies
Bubbles
Many of Horror
