We had a Valentine's date with Mogwai at Rock City...
It was Valentine's evening and I got to spend it at Rock City seeing the awesome Mogwai. I'd been waiting to see them play live for some time and I knew they would not disappoint. But first, the incredible Brainiac – or 3RA1N1AC – hit the stage for a high energy performance
Formed in the 90s and not having played in this country for over 25 years, they managed to put on a brilliant show. The crowd showed a lot of love for their ragged, angular guitar sounds, mixed with some really interesting electronica, with guitars, bass, drums, synth and enough energy to win over all of the folks who wanted to be entertained on this romantic evening. I'm a fan for life, and they left me wondering when they will be releasing new material!
At precisely 9pm, Mogwai silently hit the stage. They are a band of musicians with few words, who prefer to let the music do the talking, and a packed Rock City hung onto every note and every beat. The Glaswegian legends have just re-released their first two albums and they were eager to demonstrate why they are the masters of post rock.
They may be a little older, but they have not lost any of their passion and creativity. Stuart Braithwaite (guitar), Barry Burns (guitar, piano, synthesiser), Dominic Aitchison (bass guitar), Martin Bulloch (drums) and Alex Mackay (guitar/synth) presented a faultless set of cinematic tracks to an appreciative audience.
Synth lines swelled, and the use of two bass guitars on certain tracks created an overwhelming low end to the music, whilst guitar riffs soared overhead. Mogwai have a reputation for playing very loud music and they did not disappoint tonight. I only wish I had brought my ear plugs, as I still had ringing ears 24 hours later!
A ninety-minute set and twenty-minute encore gave every Mogwai fan the show they wanted, and fans left Rock City with emotional fatigue. Valentine's Day may only come once a year, but it's worth the wait if it includes Mogwai.
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