Mogwai - The Glasshouse, Gateshead 26.02.2026

No amount of words and pretty photos can ever truly convey the Mogwai live experience. It’s one of those occasions that has to be experienced and taken in in person. So when I try to tell you about the recent show at the Gateshead Glasshouse keep in mind it was probably at least 5 times better than my writing can put across!

It’s my first time back here since the rebrand and the first time I’ve seen all of the downstairs seating removed to make one huge standing area …. I like it!

From the moment the melody of 'God Gets You Back' begins the hairs are standing up on my arms. It’s good to have you back Mogwai!

The band are set quite far back on the stage bathed in blue and purple lights which reflect on the polished stage surface, creating a mirror of colour in front of them as the melody dances along before drifting into its off kilter beat to see it through 'Hi Chaos' is next with its peaks and troughs coming at you almost like huge waves of sound in a deep red glow of light like molten lava.

For the first time in I don’t know how many years I was required to take my camera to be stored securely in the cloakroom if I wanted to remain after my allotted time slot in the photo pit. So by the time I got packed up trooped out found someone to take my kit and make my way back I’d missed 'Kids Will Be Skeletons' and settled into my seat for the closing bars of 'Take Me Somewhere Nice'.

It’s so easy to just sit back and let the music take over, coupled with the stunning lighting that accompanies you can just lose yourself completely and be as one with it all which I have to admit I happily did.

'How To Be A Werewolf' is an absolute giant of a song building and building louder and louder I always feel a sense of triumph in this tune as everyone’s heads are nodding in time I swear it could go on three times its length and it wouldn’t bother a soul!

I also have to say it’s been a long long time since I’ve been in such a respectful crowd, very few phones were out and when they were it was brief and you could hear a pin drop during those beautiful quiet pieces which is very rare at gigs these days! Mind you the flip side of that was as that quiet crashed back in with a huge white strobe and a brain crushing riff the lady in front of me spectacularly jumped in the air from her seat!

The set is well balanced spanning the length and bredth of their career perfectly with four tracks from the latest album 'The Bad Fire' slotting between old favourites and nice surprises.

Stuart Braithwaite is a man of few words at gigs thanking the crowd here and there but to be fair when the music is as powerful and majestic as this you really don’t need to talk! Similarly the band barely move except between instruments their five silhouetted shapes creating this glorious sound!

'Mogwai Fear Satan' followed by 'Auto Rock' has to be up there as one of the most intense double bills I’ve ever witnessed (the former creating that seat jump mentioned earlier) the absolute battering of the senses from the guitar assault followed by the emotion of the piano driven 'Auto Rock' coupled with the strobes and pin spots just knocked me sideways!

Throughout the night both sound and lights are amazing, this room lends itself to the sonic attack and the lighting director has plenty of room and scope to create some true visual gems totally accentuating the music.

The epic 'My Father My King' is saved for our encore treat. The three guitars building the counter melodies over each other getting louder and louder heavier and heavier weaving in and around each other descending into a wall of feedback leaving no stone unturned in its 20 minute perfect ending to an incredible experience!!!

Another quick thank you and a wave and it’s all done and dusted, time has flown and I have to compose myself retrieve my kit and try gather my senses as to what just happened.

Mogwai

Photos & Review - G's Gig Shots