MOGWAI / THE TWILIGHT SAD | LIVE REVIEW
St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Mon 26 Nov
Mogwai fans poured into St David’s Hall, prepared – or not – to be transported into a mind-bending rock reality. The enduring Glasgow band [above] brought us things old, new and everything great in between. But not before a fine warmup set by fellow Scots The Twilight Sad [below].
The band toured widely with The Cure in 2016, and recently released details of their fifth studio album, It Won’t Be Like This All The Time, out on Fri 18 Jan via Mogwai’s own label, Rock Action. Lead singer James Graham’s energy never wavered as he threw himself around the stage to heavy riffs and melodic, 80s-ish synth parts – with the exception of one track, Keep Yourself Warm. An ode to the late Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchinson, here Graham simply stood to the side, deep in thought.
With the crowd feeling slightly more energised, Mogwai opened with a classic, Heard About You Last Night. The four-piece had the crowd in a trance from the get-go with their typical build-up of soft cymbals and euphoric keyboard distortion. Taking things up a notch, we’re guided through Hunted By A Freak’s beautifully melodic bassline, which ascends into an earthshattering mixture of every instrument on stage. Their constant switching of instruments and clever use of loop pedals makes it difficult to distinguish between sounds, making what they do even more impressive when you see it live.
Each track takes us on a journey into the abyss – some straight to hell and back like Rano Pano, which dives straight in with typical riveting rock riffs from the offset, alongside a fiery hot red-and-white lightshow. While the beginning of Don’t Believe The Fife has us all fooled, a deep moment of peaceful euphoria which erupts into ear-shattering noise, thrashing guitars and an uproar of cymbals. Finally, we’re treated to some older classics: Mogwai Fear Satan ends the night on a nostalgic note, and reminds many people why they’ve held this band close to their heart for two decades.
words SARAH MORGAN photos HUGH RUSSELL
