Concert Review
Group: Mogwai
Date: 6 September 2008
Venue: Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, British Columbia 

Reviewed By: Lauren Eldridge (Port Moody Correspondent - Canada)

The Scottish post-rock band I have such difficulty describing to others blew me away! While music that involves singing is generally more interactive, there is a quiet passion in the instrumental music lover. A group of five men on stage playing such an intricately woven fabric of music is unbelievable. Their timing was perfect, their rhythm never faltered, and the audience was really enveloped by the beauty of Mogwai’s tunes. Each band member played an important role in the creation of such music, and the group was a true collaboration. The man who thanked us after every song was simply the closest to the mike rather than the dominant “lead” performer.

The quiet beauty of Mogwai’s music attracts an audience of quiet dignity. Though the Commodore audiences can get energetic (as with Estelle ), or crazy (as with Girl Talk ), this group of listeners crowded towards the stage so the experience could wash over them. There was no pushing or shoving, minimal yelling and whistling, and the only audible chatter came from a table that was smoking something rolled by hand. People enjoyed the music in their own way; some let it surround them, others let it move them. Some swayed and some danced, some nodded their heads and some simply listened without moving. It was an experience unlike any other. I have thus determined that Mogwai can only truly be appreciated in one of two environments: live on stage, or as a stargazing soundtrack.

Given fair warning, we were told the last song was an incredible ten-minute symphony of sound and feeling; emotion and music have never merged quite like this. Mogwai thanked us, raised their beers, and left the stage. The crowd stamped and cheered for what seemed like ages. The Commodore even turned on background music but still we demanded an encore. Just as we were about to give up, after ten minutes of cheering, the man who spoke on the mic came out and said they were floored, that the last time they played in Vancouver the audience sucked. He also told us that Mogwai never does encores, but it was too bad because there was a sound problem, until an employee ran up and told him it was fixed. The audience continued to cheer as the band came out and took up their instruments. The talkative one admitted that he should be embarrassed that someone else was tuning his guitar, but that he was “drunk off his face!” If Mogwai is that good drunk, they are worthy of the praise I vow to lavish upon them for ages to come. Even if instrumental, alternative, or post-rock music isn’t your scene, give Mogwai a listen. You’re bound to find something you like, that moves you somehow. I’d recommend the album Mr. Beast, featuring their hit single “Friend of the Night.”