Mogwai - Someset House, London, 12/7/2007
by Daniel Cressey
published: 23 / 7 / 2007

intro
In a gig at London's Somerset House, Dan Cressey watches Scots post-rockers Mogwai play a soaring and relentlessly powerful set
After nearly an hour of tortuously looping adverts for dire bands on the video screens Mogwai take the stage at Somerset House. Despite the genteel surroundings of Somerset House and the summer-picnic atmosphere of the crowd it soon becomes clear they will not be taking prisoners tonight. They have hit a rich vein of form this year and tonight is no exception. From start to finish the Scots pound the crowd with a post-rock sound that veers from uplifting to near-terrifying and is never less than beautifully, brutally loud. For a band who have been around as long as they have it is remarkable they still sound so fresh, and so unlike anything else. When they play like this Mogwai simply blow most other bands out of the water. Soaring, thundering guitars meld with driving beats in an affair that is not for the faint of heart – this is a relentless sonic attack that leaves you slightly shaky afterwards. After one song a few member of the audience are looking slightly stunned by the sheer power of it all. “Yes please, more of that,” says someone from the back. “Turn it up,” shouts someone else. Before the band drown out everything in another haze of noise there is time to hear one more request, a scream that just goes, “Mogwai”. As the last instrumental fades it would be fair to say all three got what they wanted. If Jesus ever comes back to Earth I suspect it will sound like this.
Picture Gallery:-


interviews |
Interview (2007) |
![]() |
Post rockers Mogwai are currently working on their sixth album which will be released next year. Sarah Johnson speaks to the group's leader Stuart Braithwaite about it and the group's strong Glaswegian roots |
live reviews |
Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall |
![]() |
Uh oh. Looks like someone fed them after midnight. Mogwai may have enjoyed a period of relative calm on their 'Rock Action' LP, but judging by tonight’s performance that was only the eye of the hurricane. In a set that’s parenthesised by a demon-cleani |
London Shepherd's Bush Empire, 19th April |
reviews |
Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will (2011) |
![]() |
Provocative seventh album from post rockers Mogwai, which finds them reinventing themselves with spectacular results |
Batcat (2008) |
Zidane : A 21st Century Soundtrack (2006) |
Travel Is Dangerous (2006) |
Rock Action (2001) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Garfunkel and Garfunkel Jr. - Interview
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Clive Langer - Interview
Sukie Smith - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPBoomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Doris Brendel - Interview
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Kay Russell - Interview with Kay Russell
Pulp - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Barrie Barlow - Interview
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart