| You know you're at a good show when you can feel the music. All concerts allow you to watch and listen to a musician. Some spectators may put forth cheesy sentiments about how they've been touched by a specific artist's lyrics or actions and can feel their message deep in their soul. This isn't what I'm talking about. When I say feel the music, I mean it in the most literal sense possible. As Mogwai ripped through their closing number, Like Herod, during the first of two shows at the Liquid Room, the power and sheer volume of the music caused attendees legs to wobble, spines to rattle, and teeth to clatter. Doing their best to let everyone truly experience the phrase "ear splitting decibels, the Scottish quintet would be wise to purchase some stocks in a hearing aid company so that in the coming years they can truly reap the benefits of all their hard work. |
 After the quiet opening it was time to start doing some permanent damage to the crowd's hearing. Introducing themselves in Japanese, Part Chimp's drummer John Hamilton screamed 1, 2, 3, 4" and the band instantly engulfed the venue in a beautiful wall of sound. Extremely short-lived, the pleasant noise was replaced by a potent and heavy as fuck blend of post-rock and hardcore. Tim Cedar howled his way through the lyrics from their debut album, Chart Pimp, while his and Iain H's guitars collectively and individually battered and bruised ears. Going with the completely underrated less is more approach, the quartet steamrolled the audience with a tight, 25 minute set of rock.  |
The night started off simply enough with a solo acoustic performance from the James Orr Complex. Performing tracks from Chori's Bundle, as well as a great version of "A Million Men" from 2001's Figa EP, the low-key set was well received by the growing audience.
With everyone's ears still ringing, Mogwai took to the stage. Looking to get some use out of his microphone, Stuart Braithwaite said "Hello. It's nice to be back," before launching into "You Don't Know Jesus, the first of a dozen excellent, predominantly instrumental tracks. |
| Offering little surprises, the show featured everything that Mogwai fans have come to love and expect. Atmospheric, theatrical music- check, building crescendos check, a lot of distortion and feedback check, the ability to switch from beautiful, soothing chamber pop to crushing death metal in a fraction of a section check, seizure inducing flashing lights check, playing loud enough to explode the skull of a small child check, phenomenal music talent check. |
| Touching upon each of their four full-length efforts, the group held the near capacity crowd mesmerized for 90 minutes with gems such as "Ithica 27-9" and "Summer. Exploring every aspect of the quiet/loud dynamic, the band lulled the audience into a relaxed, dreamy state before slapping them in the face with a blast of thundering, dissonant rock. Slowing things down to allow the audience's eardrums to heal, the crowd kept their guard up knowing that the next wave of deafening guitars could hit at any time. |
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Although many no doubt had difficulty hearing the next day, on this night all they cared about was the sonic bliss being created by Mogwai. Judging by the spirited applause that followed the conclusion of "Like Herod, you can bet that they will be willing to suffer temporary deafness next time the group is in Tokyo. - set list - You Don't Know Jesus Hunted By A Freak Mogwai Fear Satan I Know You Are But What Am I? Ithica 27-9 May Nothing But Happiness Come Through Your Door Killing All The Flies Summer Ratts Of The Capital 2 Rights Make 1 Wrong New Paths to Helicon Like Herod |
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report by shawn and photo by keco |
| MOGWAI / PART CHIMP / JAMES ORR COMPLEX |
 mag files : Busting Eardrums : (04/10/05 @ Ebisu Liquid Room) : review by shawn, photo by kecophoto report : (04/10/05 @ Ebisu Liquid Room) : photo by kecoillustration report : (03/11/11 @ Nagoya Bottom Line) : illustrated by chikaphoto report : (03/11/10 @ On Air Osaka) : photo by ikesanphoto report : (03/11/06 @ Shibuya AX) : photo by maikokkoスチュワートに敬意を表して : (03/11/05 @ Shibuya AX) : review by nob, photo by kecophoto report : (03/11/05 @ Shibuya AX) : photo by kecoロックの"先"に見えたもの (01/04/28 @ Osaka Big Cat) : review by ken, photo by ikesan圧倒的な轟音の緊張感 (01/04/28 @ Osaka Big Cat) : review by ikuyo, photo by ikesanno title (01/04/25 @ Akasaka Blitz) : review by nob, photo by nishioka |
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The official site of MOGWAI is; http://www.mogwai.co.uk/ The latest album  "Happy Songs For Happy People" ( 国内盤 / US import / UK import ) |
previous works ;
"Rock Action" ( 国内盤 / US import / UK import ) "Ep + 6" ( UK import ) "Come On Die Young" ( 国内盤 / US import / UK import ) "MOGWAI Young Team" ( 国内盤 / US import ) "Ten rapid" ( 国内盤 / UK import ) and more... check the albums? |
shawn's works-->2005  2004CD review : "Christmas" : Old Man Gloom (28th Dec)Music Soothes the Savage Beast
: eastern youth (20th Dec @ Shibuya Club Quattro)And to all A Good Night : Shonen Knife (19th Dec @ Daikanyama Unit)Exciting Music for Exciting People : illreme (6th Dec @ Shibuya Club Quattro)It's In Their Hands Now : Franz Ferdinand (29th Nov @ Shibuya AX)Lights, Camera, Action : Brahman (15th Nov @ Ebisu Liquidroom)Mostly Business : The Stills (8th Nov @ Ebisu Liquidroom)Scare The Rock Right Outta Ya : Halloween Ball 2004 feat . The 5,6,7,8's, Gasoline, The Woggles (30th Oct @ Shiomkitazawa Shelter)Three More, Two More, and Take it to the Left : Hawaiian6/ Idol Punch (11th Oct @ Shinjuku Loft)Busting Eardrums : Mogwai (5th Oct @ Ebisu Liquidroom AX )Medical Breakthrough : The Most Notorious Vol. 18 feat. Melt Banana and K.K. Null (25th Sept @ Shimokitazawa Shelter )Grey Skies Are Going To Clear Up... : HUSKING BEE (5th Sept @ Shibuya AX )no title : V∞REDOMS (8th Aug @ Ebisu Liquidroom )CD review : Andre Ethier With Christopher Sandes : Andre Ethier2003Cause Music Must Be Magic : Mayor McCa (21st Dec @ The Casbah,Hamilton, Ontario )Make It a Double : EVANESCENCE (28th Jul @ Shinjuku AX)Getting Knifed in Tokyo : Shonen Knife / bloodthirsty butchers(12th Jul @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Hail Hail! Some of Japan's best come together to pay tribute to San Diego's finest : TRIBUTE TO ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT feat. John Speedo with Jet Boys, Retro Gretion, and KEMURI, (21st June '03 @ Shibuya Club Quattro)The Canucks are Coming! The Canucks are Coming! : Simple Plan & GOB (26th Apr @ Akasaka Blitz)no title : Banda Bassotti with Doberman, Oi Skall Mates & Rude Bones (12th May @ Kawasaki Club Citta)The Enchanting Sounds of Summer : KEMURI (31st May @ Shinjuku ACB Hall)Absolutely F**king Brilliant!! : The Coral (21st Apr @ Shinjuku Liquid Room)no title : Short Circuit w/ Asparagus (24th Mar @ Shibuya AX) |