Ever since I first head the 'gwai (on the amazing British skateboard video 'First Broadcast' - which also featured Plaid, Portishead, South and Badly Drawn Boy) I was mesmerised by their brilliant melodies, obsession with vocoders, their ability to use violins, violas, cellos, pianos and more (banjos, anyone?) to great effect.

Since then, I've never been disappointed whilst scowering through their back catalogue and the latest releases they put out were just... I don't know, they really took a special place in my musical life. Particularly 'Happy Songs...'. I even started to like their, seemingly arrogant, profile they had during interviews where they'd inevitably slag off a band. So yes, going to see them live was a no-brainer and after being set to stun because of their forthcoming release, 'Mr Beast' accidentally (ahem) being given to me and thousands of other internet/Mogwai lovers, I was pretty much making plans to get there seconds after I heard.

I managed to miss the support acts so... we'll pretend they never happened (apologies).

Needles to say, I was in a kind of shocked state when I walked into the room. I really didn't know what to expect. I realised how much I had been missing out just by listening to them through some headphones - their sound is just so 'panoramic' in comparison, so many layers and, that old cliche, walls of sound.

New tracks came across ten times effective as they did on the record (most notably the new single, 'Friend Of The Night' and 'Travel Is Dangerous').

The venue itself (an arts centre) seemed alright for the music, not really as amazing as it appeared it would be when it was announced, "Ooh! Mogwai at the institute of contemporary arts?". I don't remember seeing much art, but I did snag a few copies of the latest Vice from their bookshop. The lights on the stage were they only real thing that separated it from any other venue.

As far as performers go, Mogwai hit the right spots as far as some are concerned. For me though, it leaves me in a rather confused situation. Yes, they perform the music perfectly and it is ten times better than listening to it on record but with more improvisation, more changes to their old stuff, then they'd be THE band to see live, before or during death.

That said, the emotions ran through the crowd in a wave of energy pretty much any time they started a new song. An encore was had, with 20 minute+ instrumental, 'My Father My King'. Stuart Braithwaite and Dominic Aitchinson (I think) staying behind to make noise on their pedals. It was a pretty great night and you felt that even without Mogwai's enormous reputation (as, like, the best band in Britain to be making music through the past ten or so years) they could've played this set anywhere, to any audience and they would've walked away suitably satisfied. As I did.