Post-rock legends come to the country at the beginning of the month as the opening act for Weezer in São Paulo (on 02/11) and for a headlining show in Rio de Janeiro (on 05/11)
THE Mogwai is about to complete 30 years of career. For a group associated with the post-rock scene — a predominantly instrumental genre that peaked at the turn of the millennium — this would mean a lot of nostalgia and celebration of the past.
However, the Scots always keep their vision fixed on the present. This brought them success and a return to Brazil after seven years — something celebrated by the guitarist and eventual vocalist Stuart Braithwaite andm interview with Rolling Stone Brazil. He stated:
“I never complain about how many shows we do, but it’s always the same countries. So we don’t always go to Brazil or other South American countries. It’s a special occasion when we can go.”
Despite the time away from the country, Braithwaite threw cold water on those who expected nostalgia at the show. As Mogwai does not repeat itself — in the musician’s words — the repertoire will be focused mainly on the album The Bad Fire (2025)
He stated:
“We’re not one of those bands that just plays the same set all the time and maybe one or two new ones. We’re going to play a lot of new stuff. I like it when every time you see a band it’s different from the other.”
There will be two Mogwai presentations in Brazil. First, on November 2nd, they open for the Weezer in the external area of the Ibirapuera Auditorium, in São Paulo, composing the lineup of a kind of festival alongside Block Party, Judeline and Otoboke Beaver. On November 5th, they will perform solo at Circo Voador, Rio de Janeiro. Tickets are on sale for both appointments via Eventim.
The type of programming presented in the capital of São Paulo is part of the curatorial initiative Indigofrom the 30emore aimed at the indie audience. The Scottish musician acknowledged: it’s not something you see every day.
“I’m excited for the show in São Paulo, because it’s not something common. There will be people who have never heard our band before. I’m super excited. It’s not the kind of show we normally do. But we know the guys from Bloc Party, and it will be cool to be able to watch them.”
Commercial and documentary success
The return to Brazil comes amid a period of late commercial success for Mogwai. After two decades established in the underground for an epic and noisy sound, the group discovered a more accessible path in their approach. As a result, he had four consecutive albums in the British top 10. As the Love Continues (2021) reached the top of the UK charts.
The album’s recording process was recorded in the documentary If The Stars Had a Soundreleased at the end of 2024. Regarding the work, Stuart acknowledged how strange the whole situation was:
“Maybe we were the only artists to have a good pandemic, as bizarre as that sounds. We didn’t know if we could make the album. We didn’t know if we would have a job, because everything pointed to not having shows for a long time.”
Braithwaite gave a lot of credit to the documentary’s director, Anthony Crooksfor believing in the project when everyone saw the cause as dead. The end result surprised him.
“He didn’t need to make that film. I thought the project was dead at the beginning of the pandemic, but Antony insisted: ‘Ah, let’s keep filming’. And I thought the film was going to get boring. But it captured a unique global moment – hopefully – through the band’s eyes, and generated something unexpected.”
The documentary focused not only on recordings of As the Love Continues (2021), but also in Mogwai’s trajectory, complete with testimonials from fans about the importance of the band’s music for each person. This was the part that got Braithwaite when he first saw the film.
“It breaks me. It’s not something I think about because I’m more thinking about what the next chord is or more boring things. You forget how much music matters to people.”
Three decades of career
As for Mogwai’s legacy after a 30-year career, Stuart Braithwaite says he is very proud of his achievements. Especially since they became the kind of band they wanted to be from the beginning.
“We wanted to be the kind of band that people felt connected to beyond just a few years. I constantly meet fans who were born after we started. And instead of making me feel like an old man, it makes me proud, because I think we always wanted that longevity.”
He continued:
“It was always this type of music that we loved, things like Joy Division, Slint and bands like that. Codeine. We thought, ‘Oh no, people are going to listen to this for a long time. It’s not like these bands were cool for a few years. We wanted to be something that meant something.’”
Even with this talk of legacy, the desire to continue forward remains strong. In The Bad Fire (2025), most recent album, Mogwai decided to leave their comfort zone. Accustomed to working with Tony Doogan and Dave Friedmanthe band recruited producer John Congleton – famous for his work with St Vincent, Baroness and Explosions in the Sky. The American soon fell in with the Scots, according to Braithwaite.
“John is really funny, he loves punk rock and psychedelic rock like we do. I think he was excited to get us in the studio and record us. It was kind of a step into the unknown, working with someone different, but we really liked it. I thought the album turned out really good.”
Launched in January 2025, The Bad Fire it reached number 5 in the UK charts, solidifying Mogwai’s status with a new generation of fans. Some even younger than the band itself, as Braithwaite pointed out.
*On November 2, Weezer performs in the outdoor area of the Ibirapuera Auditorium, in São Paulo, forming the lineup of a kind of festival alongside Bloc Party, Mogwai, Judeline and Otoboke Beaver. On November 5th, Mogwai will perform solo at Circo Voador, Rio de Janeiro. Tickets are on sale for both events via Eventim.
-
bloc party
-
mogwai
-
Stuart Braithwaite
-
weezer
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
