Mogwai - Barrowland Ballroom 23/12/2022

This gig took the audience to a different dimension with the songs and the lights

Christmas was around the corner and everyone from the UK was finishing up work for the year and preparing for the most wonderful time of the year, but live music continued on and one of Scotlands most loved bands were to play 2 sold out gigs in one of Scotlands most loved venues, and that of course is Barrowlands.

Mogwai do not need much of an introduction to the local music scene or rock lovers in general, hailing from Glasgow this post rock, synth band consist of Stuart Braithwaite (guitar, vocals), Barry Burns (guitar, piano, synthesizer, vocals), Dominic Aitchison (bass guitar), and Martin Bulloch (drums).


The gig was held in Glasgows Barrowland Ballroom, photo by Stewart Fullerton

Mogwai normally compose guitar-based instrumental pieces that feature melodic bass guitar lines, and heavy use of synthesisers as well as a very loud and dark tone of sound.

Let me set the scene, the backup band was fantastic who are called Revmagnetic this alternative, nineties band blew the audience away with their rock music.

The Atmosphere was cool, laidback, with a mix of loud with a hint of eagerness for mogwai to come on, they were people of all ages present, looking forward to a great night.

The roadies are gearing up quickly for the night ahead, drums banging loudly, bass drum, snare, high hat, guitar (loud) strikes a chord, and that is just the sound check.

Mogwai comes on and the crowd come alive they start the set off with Boltfor , a song with the style of electronic, 90s, time and space. The stage setup was typical of Mogwai, with those bright backlights and everybody were silhouettes on the stage.

How to Be a Werewolf was a song involving a lot of keyboard playing, guitar riffing and kicking drums, there was definitely a Scottish feel with the guitars playing with the keyboard, the band thanked the crowd for coming out especially in the run up to Christmas.


Mogwai at Barrowland Ballroom, photo by Stewart Fullerton

The set continued with songs such as Dont Believe The Fife, featuring that haunting yet amazing bass sound, Christmas Steps which featured Luke Sutherland and of course one of their most loved songs Helicon 1, and also a personal favourite.

“Are you all doing ok?” said Stuart Braithwaite in a Glasgow accent to the crowd as the set finished off with the upbeat Ceiling Granny, with the audience flinging peace signs up in the air, Ratts of The Capital which reminded me of a late night house party in the 90s and Like Herod, the band then left the stage as the Encore began.

As the band returned they concluded the gig with the ethereal sounding Ritchie Sacramento and My Father, My King, dark tones of a masterpiece.


Mogwai at Barrowland Ballroom, photo by Stewart Fullerton

This gig took the audience to a different dimension with the songs and the lights, like being teleported back in time to the mid-nineties with the unique sounds of theirs, the whole audience were engaged from start to finish, some people where that into the music they did not notice anything around them, this is what happens when you get lost in the moment and especially with such a great band, the whole night was amazing.

There is a so-called “indie sleaze” trend happening right now, where people from the Gen Z era are reviving interests of bands such as The Libertines, Arctic Monkeys, MGMT, Franz Ferdinand and Jamie T, bands popular with older Millennials at their peak, but for younger people who have not heard of Mogwai, there are definitely ones to add into your nineties alternative playlist, and are definitely a band to check out live.

Mogwai will continue their tour in 2023, stopping by at the likes of London, Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham and Cardiff before finishing off at Brighton.

You can view a full photo gallery of the show by clicking the link below.

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Review by Michelle Nursimiloo, Photography by Stewart Fullerton

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