Tonight was the first of Mogwai’s two night stint at the wonderful Leith Theatre as part of Light on the Shore for the Edinburgh Festival.
What better way to check out the structural integrity of the building than a few hours of melodic seismic overload.
Rev Magnetic are the latest venture of longtime Mogwai collaborator Luke Sutherland. They were the perfect aperitif to the main event with their shimmering, playful compositions, combining elements of dream pop, post rock and even R’n’B – all warmly recieved by the sell out crowd.
Mogwai emerged from the darkness, and for the first time in a while, featured a full line-up with Martin Bulloch resuming his live drumming duties. The opening notes of ‘Heard About You Last Night’ ease us in gently as it built to its bewitching climax.
Witnessing Mogwai live is akin to standing on the shores of a symphonic ocean, a tsunami of decibels washing over you while a lethal riptide draws you deep into their complex soundscapes. It’s also a physical experience, the notes vibrate through your whole body and the stunning light show burns into your retina.
The set was a relentless assault on body and mind with tracks from ‘Every Country’s Sun’ slotting in alongside fan favourites such as ‘I’m Jim Morrison, I’m Dead’ and ‘Cody’. Notable absentees tonight included ‘Mogwai Fear Satan’ or any material from the recently released ‘Kin’ soundtrack.
Finishing off with the slow burn of ‘New Paths to Helicon, Pt. 1’ and a titanic rendition of ‘My Father, My King’ it was reassuring to find that the venue had remained intact and passed this test, a bit like Mogwai who left the with integrity enhanced and a lasting sense of euphoria for all who were there.
Words and pictures: Calum Mackintosh @ayecandyphotography