Scotland, the brave - and the bold

They were a long time coming to the City of Angels, but Scottish rockers Mogwai finally graced their Bangkok disciples with a show at Moonstar Studio last Friday. 

Together since 1995, the instrumental rock group has never reached the superstardom level but can claim legions of fans in many parts of the world. Thailand is no exception and Mogwai’s debut concert was greeted with a great turn out of both Thai and foreign followers.

As the crowd started to flock into Moonstar Studio, the first supporting act, Toe from Japan, hit the stage and wowed Bangkok’s post rock fans with their enigmatic act. Inspired by Mogwai and other groups of same genre, Toe left the fans screaming for more after their 45-minute performance.

Then it was the turn of Moderndog. The band is not at all a post rock collective, but the crowd gladly welcomed the change of music style and enjoyed singing along to songs they know so well. A few left the hall to stack up on Chang beers, but most stayed glued to the concert, as it’s rare that Moderndog give a full live show in a hall with a decent sound system. 

A long pause followed before Mogwai took the stage at 10.30pm. The group kicked off their set eerily but enticingly with their unique rock sounds of heavy distortion and lengthy guitar-based instrumentals. Without words or introduction, the band took the fans on a musical rollercoaster – travelling downwards with melancholic melodies then soaring up with intensified, heavily distorted guitar parts. Thanks to the good sound system, Mogwai sounded astounding and big, and the captivating effects reverberated in the mind long after the song finished. In between songs, the appreciative crowd clapped and cheered, while the band politely responded with “thank you” in Thai. 

A very inspiring and gripping performance, Mogwai worked their musical magic without having to dance or put on a visually enhanced show. 

It was a nice choice of venue considering the capacity and sound system, though for those not travelling by car, getting there and back again was a hassle.

The organiser might want to consider adding more exits to the venue, as one little door cannot accommodate heavy traffic should any emergency happens. Oh, and please provide more toilets, especially when a beer brand is sponsoring the concert!