Mogwai Unleash White Noise

Phoenix Concert Theatre

Toronto, ON

on May 4 2009

Cameron Gordon (CHARTattack)

05/05/2009 1:47pm

Scottish drone rockers Mogwai have always seemed to excel in Toronto, judging by the number of times they've played the city in their 10-plus years. Their recent full-length, The Hawk Is Howling, may have passed last year with barely a ripple, but the boys were in fine ear-shredding form at the Phoenix — a definite treat and anomaly for a Monday night.

Mogwai's stage show has always been positively no-frills, unless the sight of five unshaven beer-swillers gives you an erection. This is especially the case with bassist Dominic Aitchison, who's perhaps the most emotionless player in all of rock 'n' roll. He was decked out in a baseball shirt and blank expression, seemingly reticent to move, aside from the moments when he turned his back to the audience. In lieu of presentation, the band relied on dynamics and pure noise to make their statement. Given the musical dexterity of each member, they did so with considerable ease.

The set clocked in at just less than two hours and, with the exception of opener "The Precipice" and a few other tunes, it was suprisingly devoid of Howling material. Mogwai instead treated us to a smattering of catalogue faves, including the plodding "Auto Rock" and the vocal badness exhibited in "Hunted By A Freak."

Everything was delivered with maximum volume. While Mogwai's lengthy compositions might be tough for the uninitiated to endure, there's no denying it's amazingly captivating to watch these five punters violate their instruments.

Perhaps the most surprising inclusion in the set was the creepy "Small Children In The Background."

Rarity or not, many Mogwai shows culminate with the sprawling "Mogwai Fear Satan," and this performance was no exception. The song clocked in at more than 15 minutes and rewrote the blueprint for the band's quiet/loud/quiet dynamic. They've played it hundreds of times before, but it gets more epic every time it's unfurled.

Another pig of a tune, "My Father My King," dominated the encore. While this reworking of a Hebrew hymn isn't the most vibrant of songs, it did plateau with an intense white noise freakout that saw all five members leave the stage to allow a strobe light and a chorus of guitar feedback to close things. It was a bit painful to endure (even with ear plugs), but Mogwai have never pandered to the sweethearts. We should all be grateful for that.

Here's what Mogwai played:


"I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead"
"Killing All The Flies"
"Travel Is Dangerous"
"Scotland's Shame"
"Small Children In The Background"
"Cody"
"You Don't Know Jesus"
"Auto Rock"
"Thank You Space Expert"
"Hunted By A Freak"
"Mogwai Fear Satan"
"Glasgow Mega-Snake"
"My Father My King" (encore)

Find photos from the show here.