Thanks Mogwai for rescheduling your Glasgow ABC show and not telling me. Luckily a friend mentioned it two days beforehand so I didn’t waste my ticket (which I had to RUN across town for previously).

Anyway, my first time in the new ABC. I was never in it when it was a cinema – although the ABC in Aberdeen was the shockingest awful cinema ever with a certain run-down, £2.50 a film charm – and I like it. Well, I liked it when it was half full. I liked it less when I’d been standing in it for 3 hours peering round tall people. Mostly I liked the disco ball the size of THE MOON. I’m almost not exaggerating as this is the biggest disco ball I have ever seen in my life – truly about 10ft tall and capable of killing many people should it ever fall before hurtling its way down the twisty stairwells crushing hundreds of indie kids under its massive bulk. We afforded it the respect it deserved and gave it numerous looks of awe throughout the evening. I dearly hope this is the zenith of Mogwai’s disco ball collecting career although, if so, I think they’ll have to split up now as there’s no topping that.

The infamous Trout opened proceedings and were fun in an indie punk pop way though their banter was indecipherable. Were they ever signed to Guided Missile? They should have been. That’s a compliment by the way.

“WE’RE AIRWOLF!” mumbled the next band. “WHAT?” we said. I soon figured out they were actually ERRORS mainly through the application of logic + bands connected to Mogwai. Errors are my new favourite band. They were awesome, hella awesome. Imagine The Faint if they weren’t eighties goths. Or if they were eighties goths in a good way. Proper nasty squelchy synths, clattering beats, guitar and vo-co-der. I’m going to pester them.

So, Mogwai. I spent the time beforehand trying to count how many times I’ve seen them live but got stuck at 11 after being unable to remember seeing Mogwai in any Glasgow venue other than the Barras. It’s been at least a year though, hasn’t it? Maybe even two! They always still make me sigh and laugh and break my heart and this was no different. I felt spoiled by the wealth of old, nostalgic tunes (Tracy! Summer with the xylophone bit!) and stupidly happy with the first few shots of RARR noise. By half way through I was listing to myself all the reasons Mogwai are my favourite band (yes, I’m that fickle. Sorry Errors) and Rock Action my favourite Mogwai album (that during a phenomenal 2 Rights Make 1 Wrong) but by ye olde Mogwai Fear Satan I was dead on my feet and yawning throughout and silently wishing for them not to do an encore. They deserved it but how much do I wish they’d played a short quiet song to finish up. Come on, Mogwai. Don’t give them what they want – finish a set without the feedback and then I’ll still be standing there bewitched by the disco lighting instead of edging my way out of the room while the feedback fades so I can beat the crowd down the stairs and on to the bus. I’m old, I know.

(I just checked on Bright Light and this was my 13th Mogwai gig! And I haven’t seen them play any Glasgow venue other than the Barras unless you count their 15 minute set at the ChemU birthday party)

Posted: 08|19|05 at 8:30 pm. Filed under: live reviews.
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