Venue:
The Institute Birmingham
Date: 19/02/2023
Can we say that Mogwai are now entering their Elder Statesmen of Rock period? Ten albums and nearly as many soundtracks in they have a vast catalogue to choose from on a tour that feels like a victory lap for twenty years of brilliant music. The Institute is packed on a Sunday night with people singing along with every word…no not really, but it’s testament to the connection they make that virtually every song receives a cheer of recognition within a couple of seconds of the unfolding riff.
In terms of stage antics there is not much going on. Guitar, keyboards, bass, drums and guitar from left to right. Occasionally the keyboard player adds a third guitar, and Stuart, the nearest they have to a frontman, adds a ‘thanks’. What they do have to look at is a beautiful light show, with eleven all-singing all-dancing lights on tall towers providing visual equivalents to the sonic cathedrals of sound being thrown around the venue.
A set of two halves for me, the first part dominated by the more melodic and synth-driven tracks from the last few albums: Jim Morrison, Dry Fantasy and Boltfor being highlights. The second half saw the Mogwai supernoise back, with three long songs to close out – culminating in Ratts of the Capital and the extra-ordinary 25 minutes of My Father The King.
The audience:
Lots and lots of forty and fifty something blokes.
It made me think..
Who needs singers? Or conventional song structures. And, as many reviewers have remarked, they’re not really post-rock, they are one of Britain’s best rock bands.
Quick word on venues: barely ever had a bad sound mix at the Institute, the Academy, whether at Bristol Road or the old Dale End, often struggles to provide a clear sound.
Mogwai would be a tricky mix with three guitars. See also: The Blue Aeroplanes.
I love the Institute and loathe the Academy. I may have said this before.
I really must try and try some Mohawk; I feel I ought to. Entry level guide, Mr Moles?
As a Mogwai lightweight, I’d suggest Come On Die Young, but I slightly prefer the debut, Young Team. I find that’s all the ‘gwai I really need.
@retropath2 like any really good band there are phases.
Current period: quite filmic, amazingly musical, keyboards quite prominent, I’d go with most recent album As the Love Continues
Mid-period: melodic but still quite a bit of noise at times – The Hawk Is Howling
Early noisy period – all guitars, you can have em fast or slow, but it’s all guitars –
Young Team.
Sidebar: They’ve carved out a (no doubt decently paid) soundtrack career. The most well-known is probably that to the French TV series Les Revenants. Personal favourite is Atomic.
Mogwai are one of those (many) bands I think I should get into. Really liked that Richie Sacramento track from last year but haven’t really heard anything else to grab me.
Never mind, there’s a new Church album due.
Mrs F hates anything with guitars played through effects pedals and/or extended instrumental wig-outs. So my extensive collection of shoegaze and Stereolab rarely gets a spin. Mogwai have a foot in both camps, so I have to pick my moments.
Never investigated Mogwai, for no reason that I can recall.
I just didn’t, so I suppose maybe I should.
Two things here.
1. Stuart Braithwaite has an autobiography out. Entitled “Spaceships Over Glasgow”, it’s a tremendously fun read, and includes the revelation (to me, at least) that the flautist on Mogwai Fear Satan, whose contribution rather makes the song, was the 14 year old daughter of a family friend 😳
2. Young Team is the place to start. It’s amazing.
I saw Stuart Braithwaite play a solo set last night at the oddest venue in Brisbane last night, Season 3, above the sex venues and Chinese wholesalers in Fortitude Valley. A small door entrance off the street and up a dark, narrow staircase, it was like entering a crack den. No bar, toilets or stage, just a room. SB was seated, so I could hear but not see him. Strange support acts also. A most bizarre evening.