Encore:

Luke Sutherland on vocals on Mexican Grand Prix, guitar on Lionel Richie, violin on Christmas Steps (amongst other things)

Support from The Twilight Sad

Academy

Reviews/comments

From Rob:

A fine show, after a brief misfire at the start (Killing All The Flies didn't seem to come together, for some reason). Hasenheide was a revelation live. Really enjoyed all the other new tracks, although White Noise and Thatcher seemed to scoot by before I'd really had chance to get into them. Loved the cycling film running behind Werewolf (didn't love the idiot just in front of me making a very blurred film of the film with his phone) and Lionel Richie's evolving film based around the album sleeve photo.

The crowd were noticeably noisy during the quiet section at the start of Lionel Richie, and particularly at the end of Helicon 1. The latter always improved by a chorus of drunken shouting from a small group, of course. They got short shrift from Stuart when the song ended. The vast majority seemed very into the show, noticeably those around me - thanks folks. One further comical incident at the start of Christmas Steps - a little way behind me, some guy phoned his mate, then proceeded to shout into the phone "Listen x, Mogwai are playing Christmas Steps" so loudly that a couple of hundred people must have heard him.

By far the heaviest song played all evening was Mexican Grand Prix, a proper monster live this, as I was hoping it would be.

From Andy Parsons:

After getting quite excited over the setlists for the previous shows on the tour, I must admit that the Academy show was a slight disappointment, lifted by some sublime moments. You're Lionel Ritchie was superb (reservations about Dylan Carlson asking for a writing credit aside) and Helicon 1 and Fear Satan were as fantastic as they always are. It was great to see Luke Sutherland playing with the band again and his violin playing on xmas steps made that song one of the best performances I've seen of it. The rest of the set was solid, despite some sound problems for Barry and John on guitar (a suspicious low end feedback being present on several tracks). The new material fitted well into the set and Jim Morrison and 2 Rights got enthusiastic reactions from the crowd.

However the crowd noise and shouting was clearly annoying the band, particularly with the main bar being so close to the stage. Considering how many obscure tracks were being shouted for, I'm surprised these fans didn't feel like shutting up during the quieter parts (when was the last time they played Burn Girl Prom Queen live?!!). This came to a head at the end of Helicon 1 when Stuart was visibly pissed off and at the end suggested the idiots that had talked loudly at the front through the whole song before shouting for Xmas Steps "should take a long slow shit in the toilets during the next track" in case they thought it was due to their heckling that Mogwai had decided to play it.

The lack of My Father My King was probably the most disappointing part of the show, as I've still only heard it live a couple of times - but with promises that they would be back again soon (Glastonbury?), here's hoping we get to see it next time.

From Eddie:

It was really good, very happy with setlist (last 5 songs of main set = wow) but chatty crowd particularly at the end of Helicon 1, Stuart got annoyed and called the talkers rude wankers who should pop off to the toilet, before they played Christmas Steps. Sound wasn't as good as a usual Mogwai gig and there were issues with the bass during San Pedro (a constant humming loud mess rather than hearing the actual notes). Can't wait til London.

From Jim:

I thought the sound was amazing last night, but otherwise, not a classic Mogwai show. Started so well with White Noise and the brlliant Acorn Electron style graphics - was so brilliant, then was a bit strange because there wasn't any visuals for a load of songs and they seemed a bit flat after. Large part of the crowd, uncharacteristically for Bristol, was annoyingly chatty and dis-interested and just seemed to be doing some Saturday drinking with no interest in the show. SB rightly called them wankers, but it took a bit of the steam out of the show.

In short, obviously essential, but lacked intensity, mainly due to those talking dicks.