Random Set Lists -- Mogwai 28 April 2011, St. Andrew's Hall, Detroit

I've been listening to Mogwai for many years now, and when I finally saw them live, I was fully prepped. I can't say as I could recognize many song titles -- Mogwai is like Joy Division for me in that their work is a sonic experience that is more emotional than cerebral, thus rendering the need for concrete markers like song titles a bit unnecessary -- but it hit me hard nevertheless. It wasn't as loud as I thought it might be, based on their reputation as a crushing live act, but the power was present from start to finish. Didn't hear a few tracks I would have liked to hear, but with a catalog like theirs -- and a new album to promote -- I didn't mind in the least. Can't wait to see them again. Their set list from their show at the historic St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit is as follows, and any (sic) is fully intentional:

White Noise

Rano Pano

Ithica

Thatcher

Death Rays

Jim Morrison

Werewolf

Friend

Mexican GP

Lionel Richie

2 Rights

We're No Here

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Autorock

Hasenheide

Glasgow MS

I used to be a lot more of a set list grabber -- I found set list from Wild Beasts and The New Pornographers in the same pile as the Mogwai set list -- but I haven't done much of it recently. Again, I'm trying to let it be more of an emotional experience, which means that documentation -- set lists, cell phone pics, etc. -- is to be at a minimum. But if you were looking for a nice way to whittle the catalog of Mogwai down to just over an hour of engaging material, the above list is a good start.

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