Main content

6 things we loved about Mogwai at 6 Music Live

Day 2 of saw Glasgow's finest bring the house down at Maida Vale. treated us to an hour of raw energy and instrumental noise in a way only Mogwai could, proving exactly why they're one of the best live bands around. Here are 6 things we loved about their performance:

1. How LOUD they were!

Ear plugs at a gig are always recommended but for Mogwai they're a must. Dominic, Stuart and Barry cranked the amps up to 11 and managed to combine in a beautiful cacophony of noise. They're renowned for their dramatic changes in volume but today's session was a real sucker punch to the chest.

2. They performed tracks from their new album 'Every Country鈥檚 Sun'

Mogwai kicked off their set with 'Coolverine' and 'Party in the Dark'; tracks 1 and 2 from their brand new album as they were intended to be heard. Towards the end of their set they played the title track from album number 9 - the release of which 6 Music celebrated with a listening party in August - an epic rendition of 'Every Country’s Sun'.

Sorry, this clip is not currently available

Mogwai - Every Country's Sun (6 Music Live 2017)

Watch the title track from Mogwai's latest album performed live at Maida Vale.

3. And they also blew us away with an absolute classic

20 years on from the release of second studio album 'Come On Die Young', Mogwai revisited title track 'Cody'. Their 成人论坛 sessions went on to inspire a collection of live recordings: 'Government Commissions: 成人论坛 Sessions 1996-2003', with the band making their Maida Vale debut for John Peel in 1996. Since then they've become firm 6 Music favourites, previously performing for us at the 6 Music Festival in 2015.

Sorry, this clip is not currently available

Mogwai - Cody (6 Music Live 2017)

See a live performance of a classic track from the band's second album.

Radcliffe and Maconie remember that time 6 Music got caught out by Mogwai鈥�

4. Stuart talking about his love of Joy Division

"Joy Division are probably my favourite band, they made two perfect albums and a tonne of perfect singles and EPs."
Stuart Braithwaite, Mogwai

Stuart Braithwaite joined Lauren Laverne for a special edition of , where he talked through his musical influences and favourite artists. His choices included Aphex Twin and Bardo Pond, as well as a Joy Division favourite. Stuart told Lauren, who'd dug out a copy of Joy Division's 'Substance' from the 成人论坛 library, he's a huge fan of the band. "They did it off their own backs" Stuart explained, "They were pretty much just a bunch of kids playing in a punk band, but they had a bigger vision for it."

Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite on his musical influences

The Mogwai star chats to Lauren Laverne about Joy Division & more music that inspired him

5. Mogwai borrowed Honeyblood鈥檚 drummer Cat Myers

There was a different - yet familiar - face joining Mogwai on stage at Maida Vale. Cat from fellow Scots Honeyblood proved a more than capable stand-in, in the absence of Martin Bulloch. Stuart said in an interview before going on stage: “Martin hurt his back a few weeks ago, Cat’s come in the last minute and just played and played and played. It’s sounding good I think!”

6. The band have been writing horror music

Years of being 6 Music favourites has taught us one thing: Mogwai are big fans of horror films and love a good fright when they find themselves downtime during recording and touring. We found out Mogwai's guitarist Barry has made a song that'll make you scream. It's inspired by the horror films the band had been watching and apparently sounds a bit like John Carpenter meets Insane Clown Posse.

Mogwai chat horror films with Lauren Laverne ahead of their 6 Music Live performance

Mogwai chat horror films with Lauren Laverne ahead of their 6 Music Live performance

Mogwai at 6 Music Live in 30 Seconds

A week of live music continues at Maida Vale.

  • See Mogwai's performance from the first day of 6 Music Live 2017 on 成人论坛 iPlayer.

Features