Mogwai Live Review at The Royal Albert Hall by Ryan Beardsley
It’s night 3 of the spectacular lineup of the Teenage Cancer Trust shows at the Royal Albert Hall, and Glaswegian legends Mogwai take to the stage (at 21:30 on a school night??). Elbow laid down the gauntlet with an incredible hit-packed show on Monday night, can Mogwai up the stakes? Hell’s yes, they can.
First up was enigmatic electronic pioneer Craven Faults, the mysterious ambient wizard was supported only by analogue synths, resembling the controls of a 1970s nuclear reactor primed solely at his disposal. His eclectic extended pieces culminated with Hurrocstanes and had the RAH transfixed throughout, a rare treat to see him live.
After a typically moving tribute to a young cancer victim, we were treated to a surprise appearance by living legend Roger Daltry, honorary patron of the TCT, who introduced a group of brave survivors who received a well-deserved standing ovation.
On to the main event, and Mogwai take to the stage in typically unassuming style. Kicking off by going right back to the beginning with their debut album opener Yes! I Am A Long Way From Home, effortlessly filling the auditorium with an avalanche of shoegaze uproar before Hi Chaos from their most recent LP, The Bad Fire illuminated just how far the post rockers have come over the last 30 years.
It wasn’t just a spectacle for the ears, as an inventive light show peaked during Helicon 1 as the trademark delicate beginnings culminated in a crash of pure noise and emotion. I wasn’t the only one who had to look away for fear of being overcome by the visuals!
Singer Stuart Braithwaite is a man of few words but took the time to thank everyone in attendance, as well as paying tribute to the kids who have been directly affected by tonight’s cause, before singling out curator Robert Smith for praise as they launched into an earth-shuddering Auto Rock anchored by the hypnotic drumming of Martin Bulloch.
We get a couple of non-instrumental numbers, Cody offers Braithwaite the chance to caress the hallowed walls of the RAH with his fragile tones, followed by Ritchie Sacramento has the place bouncing with a track that in a more enlightened age, could have been a no1 single. Then
Killing All The Flies gives Barry Burns a chance to shine, utilising a vocoder to modulate his voice, transporting the Hall to another dimension.
The night ends in suitably epic style with their fifteen-minute magnum opus Mogwai Fear Satan to blow everyone away and put an exclamation mark on a transcendent evening of live music. Does it get any better than this? Up to the Manics tomorrow night, if you can find a ticket, be there.
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