Monday, February 28, 2011

Fuji Rock - 29th to 31st July 2011

Mogwai are amongst the first batch of acts confirmed for Fuji Rock 2011. The festival takes place at Naeba Ski Resort, Yuzawa-machi, Niigata, JAPAN between 29th and 31st July 2011.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Clash Music interview with Stuart

Off Festival - 5th to 7th August 2011

Mogwai played a well-received set at Off Festival in Poland in 2008, and they're amongst the first bacth of confirmations for this year's event.

Off Festival
Katowice, Poland

5th - 7th August 2011

The exact date of Mogwai's appearance is currently unknown.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

'Hardcore...' at 25



'Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will' hit the giddy heights of no. 25 in the UK Album Chart today.

Mogwai's highest album chart entry ever? Certainly higher than Mr. Beast (no. 31) and The Hawk Is Howling (no. 35) achieved. It would be interesting to know how the first-week sales figures compare.

Update - narrowly pipped by 'Rock Action (no.23 in 2001)
http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=859
Thanks Craig and Jon

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Video from Vic Galloway session



Mogwai recorded four tracks for BBC Radio Scotland's Vic Galloway show on 17th Jan 2011.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Tom Robinson session, BBC 6Music

Mogwai were in session on BBC 6Music's Tom Robinson show this evening (7pm - 9pm).

Listen again: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00yby5x
Scroll through to 0:51

Session tracks:
George Square Thatcher Death Party
Rano Pano
Letters To The Metro
plus an interview with Stuart.

Apparently the three songs were recorded at Chem19 in Hamilton, the same studio used for the recording of 'Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will'

If anyone recorded this, please get in touch. As with most BBC radio sessions nowadays, there seems to be no reliable way of finding out in advance that they're happening.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Thursday press

Barry on Drowned In Sound:
http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4141989-mogwais-barry-burns-on-being-a-bar-owner-in-berlin

Barry on Synconation:
http://synconation.com/reviews/simple-and-effective-a-conversation-with-mogwai-about-their-new-album/

Lots of great reviews of the album around:
drowned in sound | the quietus | echoes and dust | indieethos | aquarius records

And hey, a shitty Pitchfork review. Surprise!

Mogwai - ATP 'I'll Be Your Mirror', 2nd Oct 2011

Pitchfork tells us that Mogwai have been added to the line-up for ATP's 'I'll Be Your Mirror' event in Asbury Park, New Jersey on 2nd October 2011.

Other acts performing on the same date include headliners (and curators) Portishad, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra, Earth, People Of The North, Anika and DD/MM/YYYY

Further info:
http://www.atpfestival.com/events/ibymasburypark/news/1102171400.php

Recent history would suggest that this means Mogwai will be undertaking a second 2011 North American tour this autumn.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

More Hardcore press

There's a two-page 'On The Road With Mogwai' feature in today's NME (19th Feb, The Strokes on the cover). Written by Luke Turner from The Quietus, the piece covers the Scottish shows last month.

Stuart was interviewed by Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1 last night.
Listen again (scroll through to 1hr 28mins):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00y6mjp

Five Myths About Being In a Band by Barry Burns:
http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4141990-mogwai-week--five-myths-about-being-in-a-band-by-barry-burns

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Gigography appeal



See that, above? It's the setlist from Mogwai's show in Leuven, Belgium on 6th November 1997, and it's appeared online for the first time ever today. Thanks to Christophe for having a trawl through the vaults.

So - can you help? Brightlight seems to be enjoying an upturn in traffic, with Mogwai being out on tour again (I think there might be a new record too? Not sure about that one though, they seem to be keeping it quiet). If you've seen Mogwai in the past, and there's any info on the show(s) you saw missing from the gigography, I'd very much appreciate you getting in touch. Setlists, comments, photos etc etc etc. Get that box out of the loft/basement/shed, take a photo of that setlist you've had stashed for ages on your fancy iPhone and send it in! Easy! (You can take photos on an iPhone, right?)

The gigography is here, by the way:
http://www.youngteam.co.uk/brightlight/eng/gigog.php

Do Mogwai have a new album out, or something?

Today's batch of interviews etc (well, the ones I've seen, anyway):

Ian Rankin & Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite On Words, Music & Scotland:
http://thequietus.com/articles/05697-ian-rankin-mogwai-stuart-braithwaite-interview

Stuart Braithwaite and Ian Rankin In Conversation from theQuietus on Vimeo.


The Quietus album review:
http://thequietus.com/articles/05694-mogwai-hardcore-will-never-die-but-you-will-review

Five Records: Mogwai:
http://www.factmag.com/2011/02/15/five-records-mogwai/
Prize quote - Stuart: "Geographical plagiarism is wack!"

And most entertaining of all:
"You don't know Jesus, son!" - A Day in the Life of Martin from Mogwai
http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4141986-you-don-t-know-jesus-son-a-day-in-the-life-of-martin-from-mogwai

Monday, February 14, 2011

Threelobed 10th anniversary vinyl boxset



Tenuous Mogwai links? Erm...Bardo Pond?
It'll be well worth every penny of your Kickstarter investment.

Drowned In Sound - Monday

Mogwai's takeover of Drowned In Sound begins with a full and favourable review of 'Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will'
http://drownedinsound.com/releases/15957/reviews/4142023

And yet another from Stuart's seemingly-inexhaustible supply of playlists, this one titled '10 Songs That influenced Mogwai'
http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4141988-mixtape-monday--10-songs-that-influenced-mogwai-by-stuart-braithwaite

'Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will' out today



Mogwai's new album 'Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will' is released today (unless you're in the US and Canada, in which case it's tomorrow).

Mogwai's UK tour started in Belfast last night.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Festival Musilac - 14th July

Numerous French sources are reporting that Mogwai will play Festival Musilac in Aix-les-Bains, France on Thursday 14th July 2011. There's nothing on the festival's website yet.

If confirmed, Mogwai will play alongside Carlos Santana and Morcheeba, amongst others.

Update: this has now been confirmed by the band

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Drowned In Sound next week

In their news story on the Mexican Grand Prix video, Drowned In Sound note that:

We'll take this opportunity to tell you that the band themselves will be taking over Drowned in Sound all of next week, with a variety of articles on various matters written by the band. Yeahhhhhhhhhhh!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Frankly Mr Shankly, 'Hardcore...' is rubbish

From http://www.cm-life.com/2011/02/09/mogwais-new-album-suffers-identity-crisis-strays-too-far-from-post-rock-sound/

It’s not that these songs are bad; it’s just that they are too jarring to listen to. When you attempt to deconstruct the fundamental aspects of post-rock you absolutely destroy the genre. Without its long compositions, effect-laden instrumentation and beautifully emotional stimulation, post-rock is nothing but a shell of its former self.


This doesn't sound like a bad thing to me?

Links to further reviews, both good and bad, appreciated.

In other news, 'Mexican Grand Prix' video



Stuart's done a Pitchfork 5-10-15-20 feature, on key records at different points in his life:
http://pitchfork.com/news/41428-5-10-15-20-mogwais-stuart-braithwaite/

The setlist for last night's Mogwai show in Hoxton is here:
http://www.youngteam.co.uk/brightlight/eng/gigs11.php

Last week, we reported that a Mogwai remix of Esben and the Witch was available as part of a package of downloads from beggarsjapan.com. Don't know if anyone's received the Mogwai remix yet, but the second zip file (containing the worriedaboutsatan mix) turned up yesterday.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Monthlies



A quick flick through the magazine racks in the supermarket this morning for reviews of 'Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will'

NME: 8/10
Q: 4 stars
Uncut: 4 stars
Mojo: 3 stars (although this doesn't tally with what seems to be a positive review - probably one of those 'editor doesn't like the band so he's removed a star' jobs)

Rock Sound has a covermount CD including 'Rano Pano'

If anyone has time to scan or transcribe any of the reviews from paper sources, I'd greatly appreciate this. There's an increasing number of links to online reviews here:
http://www.youngteam.co.uk/brightlight/eng/hwndbyw.php
Again, if anyone's seen further online reviews, please pass on the links.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Mogwai - Burn Girl Prom Queen (Nathan Fake cover version)

Mogwai - BurnGirlPromQueen (nathan fake cover version) by nathan fake •official•

Hoxton - 9th Feb 2011 - stage times etc

From http://www.atpfestival.com/newsview/1102071126.php:

Mogwai play a special tour warmup show at London's Hoxton Bar & Kitchen this Wednesday, the times for which are below. The show is sold out. There will be no tickets available on the door or any returns.

DOORS: 8.00PM
QUIETUS DJS: 8.00pm-8.30pm
REMEMBER REMEMBER: 8.30pm-9.00pm
QUIETUS DJS: 9.00pm-9.30pm
MOGWAI: 9.30pm-11.15pm
BAR CURFEW: 1.00am

Monday, February 7, 2011

Rock Action update - Errors, Remember Remember



To coincide with their live shows in the US with Mogwai and at SXSW, Errors will release a very limited picture disc release of ‘Magna Encarta’ and ‘Ganymede’. The single will also be available via major download services.

A: Magna Encarta
B: Ganymede

The band have also announced a series of live shows for the UK in April.

APRIL//
2 // GLASGOW, Nice n Sleazy
7 // LONDON, Bethnal Green Men’s Club
8 // BRIGHTON, The Hope
9 // MANCHESTER, Joshua Brooks

Ticket details for the UK shows here:
http://www.rock-action.co.uk/index.php?id=241

==========================================================

Remember Remember started a brief run of UK dates this week.
Full details here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/RememberRemember/8348968609

TUESDAY FEB 8th: LEEDS
The George, 67-69 Great George Street w/ Pifco and Not Great Men

WEDNESDAY FEB 9th: LONDON
Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, Hoxton Square supporting MOGWAI

THURSDAY FEB 10th: BRIGHTON
The Green Door Store, Trafalgar Arches, Lower Goods Yard w/ Nordic Giants and Plurals + Stuart Braithwaite DJing.

SATURDAY FEB 12th: LIVERPOOL
Don't Drop The Dumbells, Hardman Street.

SUNDAY FEB 13th: GLASGOW,
Nice & Sleazy, Sauchiehall Street w/ Tangles

Immergut Festival - 27th/28th May 2011

Mogwai

Immergut Festival
Neustrelitz
Germany

27th + 28th May 2011
http://www.immergutrocken.de

The exact date hasn't been confirmed yet.
This festival is the same weekend as Mogwai play Primavera Sound in Barcelona.

Update: - Primavera has been confirmed for 28th May, meaning Mogwai play Immergut on Friday 27th May.

There's no doubt a whole raft of European festival appearances to be confirmed shortly.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Mexican Grand Prix 7" - 7th Feb



Mogwai release 'Mexican Grand Prix' as a 7" single and download tomorrow (Monday 7th Feb 2011). The a-side is taken from new album 'Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will' (released 14th Feb 2011). The 7" single, released by Rock Action, has an edition of 1500 copies, and comes with an mp3 download code.

B-side 'Slight Domestic' is previously unreleased outside Japan, where it appears as a bonus track on the Japanese CD edition of 'Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will', released on 2nd Feb.

Order the single:
http://mogwai.sandbag.uk.com/Store/DII-1311-3-mexican+grand+prix+7%22+vinyl.html

The image above is Neale Smith's original photo, of the view to the south overlooking the River Clyde from Glasgow Central Station, which was used for the single sleeve.
http://www.nealesmith.com/

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Esben and the Witch - Mogwai remix



From beggarsjapan.com/artists/EsbenAndTheWitch/ (via Google Translate):
When you register your email address at this website, receive the Esben and the Witch ep "Lucia, at the Precipice" for free! Sequentially delivered by e-mail announcements and then the other four songs download.

1. Lucia, at the Precipice (65daysofstatic remix)
2. Skeleton Swoon (Worried About Satan Remix)
3. Marching Song (song from the album)
4. Eumendies (Mogwai Remix)

Comments from Mogwai:
Among the newcomers that I heard recently, the Witch band is well cool and Esben is outstanding. I really enjoyed doing this remix.

The sign-up box is on the right-hand side of this page:
http://www.beggarsjapan.com/artists/EsbenAndTheWitch/index.html

Not sure exactly how this works - so far I've received one email with a link to a zip file for the 65dos mix. Presumably more will follow...

Stuart mix for The Quietus


Seems there's an unreleased Aloha Hawaii track buried in here - this is Stuart's collaboration with Aidan Moffat, last heard back in 2008.

http://thequietus.com/articles/05643-quietus-mix-010-mogwai-s-stuart-braithwaite:
We're pleased to present a mix from Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite to celebrate the release of the Scottish group's new LP, and even more churffed to say that it includes zero tracks from what the rest of Mogwai told us was Stuart’s distressing fraggle past, back in the early 90s. However, he’s still got the Sisters Of Mercy representing his proud goth heritage (Mogwai’s soundman Kenny likes to rib the band that their songs resemble The Cult’s ‘She Sells Sanctuary’ slowed down a bit) along with some ear-bash hip hop, Quietus mix series’ most popular artist Chris Carter, some batshit track by a group called The Soft Moon, a fiddle with Kanye, tQ favourites Walls and Factory Floor, and the Reverend Johnny L Jones. The Quietus will be repaying the favour at Mogwai’s Hoxton Bar & Kitchen gig next Wednesday, February 9th. Check www.thequietus.com in the next few weeks for an exclusive filmed interview featuring Stuart Braithwaite in conversation with the Scottish writer Ian Rankin.

Tracklist:
Stl - Storm
Blanck Mass - Track
Balam Acab - Big Boy
Third Eye Foundation - Closure
Num Num - Hi Num
Walls - Burnt Sienna
Ooooo - Mumbai
Kid Prince Moore - Sign Of Judgement
Bardo Pond - Vent
Loscil - Gallium
Chris Carter - Clouds
Deon - Kill A Man With A Joystick In Your Hand
Kanye West - Monster (Chopped And Screwed)
White Ring - Lxc999
Raekwon - New Wu (Remix)
Chris Carter - B.E.A.T
Aloha Hawaii - Dm777
The Soft Moon - Circles
Factory Floor - Lying (Chris Carter Remix)
The Sisters Of Mercy - Train
Reverend Johnny L Jones - I Know I've Been Changed

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Barrowlands - 22nd December - pre-sale

Mogwai

Barrowlands
Glasgow

22nd December 2011

As you may know tickets for the Barras show on 22nd December go on general sale at 9am this coming Friday, however we've got a pre-sale link for the mailing list which will be active from Thursday 3rd February at 9am.

Pre-sale: http://www.seetickets.com/Event/MOGWAI/Barrowland/537057/?pre=mogwai

Tokyo - 2nd Feb - setlist

* White Noise
* Mexican Grand Prix
* Rano Pano
* Death Rays
* San Pedro
* Letters To The Metro
* George Square Thatcher Death Party
* How To Be A Werewolf
* Too Raging To Cheers
* You're Lionel Richie
* Christmas Steps
* Killing All The Flies
* Mogwai Fear Satan

Encore:

* 2 Rights Make 1 Wrong
* Batcat

Thanks Miyuki.

Live debut for Too Raging To Cheers.
Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will played in full and in order as the first 10 songs.

Mogwai - further 2011 releases

From http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/9458/1/mogwai-will-never-die:

We have plans for an EP of four new songs and a remix album before the year is out.

The rest of the article is worth a read too.

Thanks Jonny.

Update - another decent article:
http://www.theskinny.co.uk/article/101385-mogwai-hardcore-4-life

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

St Petersburg - 7th April 2011 - date change

Back in December, we reported that Mogwai were to play their first show in St Petersburg, Russia. This has now been confirmed, but the show takes place a day after initially reported, on 7th April 2011.

Mogwai

Kosmonaut
St. Petersburg
Russia

7th April 2011

This presumably means that the mooted Moscow show (7th April) has been cancelled.