Gig Review: Mogwai- Barrowland Ballroom 23rd December 2022

Mogwai performing at the Barrowland Ballroom. Picture source: Donald Erskine

'Mogwai' were at their brooding best as they captivated a sold out Barrowlands crowd on the 23rd of December. The final date on the Scottish leg of their tour saw them providing their trademark gift for Christmas: a healthy dose of tinnitus.

With a stage adorned with amplifiers galore, a Mogwai show offers a full-body experience. Bar some softer dynamic shifts, the two-hour setlist sent distorted vibrations through every cell in each audience member's being. Accompanied by a captivating light show and the spectacular sprawling anthems they play, it’s no wonder most of their material is purely instrumental – it leaves you lost for words.

The spectacular light show during Mogwai’s performance. Picture source: Donald Erskine

Ably supported by the Glasgow-based 'Rev Magnetic', who are signed by the band’s Rock Action Record label. Luke Sutherland’s live incarnation of this project charmed the early crowd with their ethereal soundscapes.

Braithwaite, Aitchison, Bullock and Burns then took to the stage. Treating fans to a career-spanning setlist, Mogwai walked on in their usual unassuming manner before proceeding to raise decibel levels high enough to decimate the December air. At the rapturous volumes the Glasgow post-rock stalwarts play at, they must have been close to shaking the famous stars from the ballroom’s ceiling.

Opening with new release ‘Boltfor’ they navigated their expansive discography to the delight of the crowd. The guitar and bass akimbo Mogwai hit full stride from the off, weaving new and old favourites and Sutherland joining them on the violin for ‘Christmas Steps’. Standout tracks such as ‘Drive The Nail’, ‘Ratts of the Capital’ and ‘Remurdered’, showing off the evolution of their sound.

Mogwai incorporated a horror film-worthy ‘jump scare’ into their set, using their loud-quiet-loud-quiet dynamic to its full effect in pre-encore closer ‘Like Herod’ – the cacophony’s crescendo was nothing short of cinematic.

Mogwai performing their last show of the year. Picture source: Donald Erskine

The encore was a fitting coda for the show, new hit ‘Ritchie Sacramento’ followed by old favourite, 2001’s ‘My Father, My King’. Leaving the stage in a frenzy of feedback Mogwai left a stunned crowd captivated in the chaos, rooted to the spot as they drank in the last of the distorted deliciousness expertly served up.

With Braithwaite having recently released a curtain-peeled-back auto-biography and the band finishing 2022 in a sold-out Barrowland Ballroom. You would be remiss not to take a look back at how far the band have come – when they are playing shows of this calibre you can guarantee that what’s to come will be just as exciting.

Rounding off a celebratory year for the band, riding high on 2021’s critical and commercial success ‘As The Love Continues’ and nearly 30 years into their journey. Mogwai played a hometown show that cements them within the new heights they have risen to, and celebrates the musical journey they’ve travelled, right back where it all began.

★★★★★ - 5/5 - Mogwai continue to provide the most bone-shaking shows in Scottish music, go for the guitars; stay for the goosebumps.