Hailing from Glasgow, Scottish rock band Mogwai has been at the forefront of the post-rock world for the past 15 years. Currently, the band is on a worldwide tour in support of their sixth album, "The Hawk is Howling." Founding member Stuart Braithwaite was generous enough to share some of his musical insight with The Vista, in light of the band's May 15 show at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach.
In his charming Scottish accent, Braithwaite recalled Mogwai's origins.
"Our band started around 1995. At first it was just me and Dom[Dominic Aitchison], but after our first album, then Martin joined, then Jon joined and a little later we added Martin. So the five of us have been making music ever since."
And with a decade and a half under their belts, Mogwai doesn't appear to be anywhere near a stopping point.
The name Mogwai (meaning "ghost" or "devil" in Cantonese) came to the band after watching the film "Gremlins," although Braithwaite modestly said that "it has no significant meaning and we always intended on getting a better one, but like a lot of other things we never got 'round to it."
When asked how he would describe their genre, Braithwaite classifies Mogwai's work as "rock and roll music. Well, instrumental rock and roll music."
One unique thing about Mogwai is their lack of dependence on vocals. Their music is known for its often lengthy guitar sections, enhanced by their use of guitar distortion techniques. A trite comparison of Mogwai would be to Sigur Ros, although the former's music is definitely much grittier and less delicate.
"I think most people are not used to having no lyrics to focus on. Lyrics are a real comfort to some people. I guess they like to sing along and when they can't do that with us they can get a bit upset," Braithwaite said.
Despite his concerns, people generally don't seem to get too upset with Mogwai. Their new album has been well received by critics and long-standing Mogwai fans alike. The opening track, "I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead," appears to be a gentle and melancholic tune until it abruptly soars upward in volume and intensity. However, the track sequencing on the album is excellent and emphasizes the band's diversity, particularly in terms of guitar styles.
Interestingly enough, Braithwaite's recommended track is one from the band's early days, their 1997 hit "Helicon 1." A major fan favorite, this song has remained in the Mogwai show repertoire for quite some time. Make sure to check it out live on May 15 at the Belly Up.
