On Saturday night, I headed along to the Factory Theatre in Marrickville to see Biffy Clyro and their support Red Ink. It was my third night out at live music in a row, and I was seedy, tired and looked like I hadn’t showered in two or three days.

Red Ink. Wow. These Melbourne based indie rockers dripped power, and were rawer than freshly beached whale, but they’re still lyrically strong and tight on stage. Acts like Red Ink remind me why Australian independent music is the best in the world.

The energy they threw into the song "Catching a Killer" was incredible, and I wish I knew more of their music so I could have appreciated it more. It’s not that hard to believe these guys would trash a car, even if they dress like like the indiest of indie kids.

That said, their sound was a little bit hollow at some points (which may have been a problem with the mixing, not with the band. Still, I’m looking forward to seeing them at Peat’s Ridge over New Years.

Now for Biffy Clyro. Chances are, unless you’re living under a rock in rural Australia (like me, right now) you’ve heard one of Biffy Clyro’s songs. Every if you didn’t know it, if you’ve watched any television, you’ve probably picked up a passing knowledge of the work of this Scottish performance powerhouse.

They took to the stage with their shirts already discarded. I’ve never seen so much flesh so early on at a gig – but it was a good indicator for the rest of the set. Biffy Clyro are rockers at heart, and seem to be ready to tear apart at the slightest provocation.

Their latest hit "God and Satan" was the first song that produced a massive sing along. They immediately dropped into a heavier section dominated by the song "Living’s a Problem Because Everything Dies". I also loved "9/15ths (Hellslide)".

Almost immediately, there was a switch into Simon Neil’s solo acoustic set, during which he played "Machines", "Many of Horror", and "Who’s Got a Match". What really surprises me is exactly how well Biffy Clyro jump between their heavier rock songs and their softer ballads.

It’s the mark of a truly impressive band to build the amount of ebb and flow into their set that Biffy Clyro do. They have certainly developed as a band in their time as performers, and their set showcases every aspect of that. So does their crowd – couples banded together with much enthusiasm during "Mountains", and the unshaven mass (like myself) created a filthy mosh during "The Captain".

If you can catch them before they head back home, do. It was my third night in a row, and it couldn’t have been better.

Photo: Cassandra Hannagan