Mogwai 25/01/2014

"The lord is out of control"

 

Here we go, first gig of 2014! 

So, exactly one week after my 21st birthday, I started out on the long journey from Cornwall to London. I was on my way to see Mogwai play live as part of their tour supporting their new album "Rave Tapes"

(Mogwai are a five piece Post Rock band from Glasgow, Scotland)

After what seemed like a ridiculously long journey (only 5 hours..), I finally arrived in Paddington station, in the pouring rain. Several tube rides later, and I found myself in Blackfriars, where my Premier Inn was located. Once checked in, and after a very brief shower, I was out again, and on my way to the Southbank centre.

Now as its name suggests, the Southbank centre is on the southern bank of the thames, and is situated right next door to the London eye. After a walk across the blustery Blackfriars bridge, you simply walk down towards the London eye, and the theatre is on your left. 

 After a quick burger and a beer, I was seated inside the theatre. From the outside, the Southbank centre is a pretty ugly concrete building, but is fairly pleasant inside. 

Soon enough, the support band "Clinic" were playing, but I was totally unimpressed by them!

At around 20:45, Mogwai took to the stage and after some poetry by Robert Burns (it was Burn's night after all), the music started. I only own one Mogwai album, and know two tunes from the new album,so I didn't know much of what they played! However, I knew that whatever they did play, I would enjoy, and I was not let down!

Setlist:

1) Heard About You Last Night

2) Travel Is Dangerous

3) Deesh

4) How To Be A Werewolf

5) May Nothing But Happiness Come Through Your Door

6) Blues Hour

7) Hunted By A Freak

8) Master Card

9) Auto Rock

10) Remurdered

11) Mogwai Fear Satan

12) The Lord Is Out Of Control

13) New Paths To Helicon Pt.1

14) We're No Here

Mogwai are primarily an instrumental band, and I think only two tracks they played that night had vocals, and these were done through a vocoder anyway. The band specialises in dynamics and big thick musical textures, resulting in a wall of sound. Subsequently, Mogwai are most definteley the loudest band I've ever heard (something I'd been warned about in advance), so I brought my ear defenders along, just in case. 

The gig was good, and the band was tight, despite a few guitar issues at times. My biggest issue was that some members of the audience decided to shout at the band towards the end, and even worse, the two guys behind me were talking really loudly during a very sublte moment! Aside from that, it was a fine gig! 

By 22:30 the music was over, and I was making my way back to my Premier inn, to get a decent night's sleep in preperation for the large amount of walking I'd be doing the next day...

Um....happy new year?

2014

 

So this is my first blog post since September. Things have happened since then, but they aren't really that interesting to my readers (people read this, don't they?), so I'll just skim over them quickly. 

I play in a big band now (or will do again when I'm home), I saw one of my good friends back in December for the first time in 4 years, and Christmas happened. 

Now it's January, and I'm heading back to Cornwall soon, provided it's not all underwater. So far, 2014 is looking like quite a good year, provided everything goes well. I finish my degree in June, and then have to face the big scary world! Now, this is a pretty scary thought, and until very recently I was pretty nervous about what I actually want to do with my life, but after some serious thinking, I'll hopefully steer myself in the direction I want to go! More on that another time...

January is already shaping up nicely, as I've got a new student house to move into, a few bits of uni work to hand in, a trip up to London to see Mogwai (and visit the zoo..) and my 21st birthday!

Before all that excitement, there is one sad bit of news. As I'm sure anyone who reads this knows, I visit the Cotswold Wildlife Park fairly regularly, and know some of the animals quite well. Sadly, on the 2nd of January the park made the difficult decision to euthanise their 19 year old Asiatic Lioness, Akela. 19 is an incredible age for a lion to reach, and as the mother of 4 cubs, Akela certainly did her bit for lion conservation, and lived a good long life. 

This leaves her companion Rana alone for the moment, but there should be another young female on her way to the park to kick start a bredding programme again. 

Akela was a lovely lion, and my thoughts and sympathies are with both Rana, and the excellent keeping staff at the park. 

Akela, 6/10/19 - 2/01/14

  And with that, this update is finished! I'm aiming to be more regular with my posts, so watch this space.....