Heavy. Not just heavy, Scottish heavy. Heavy like a bunch of boulders. That’s the closest approximation to the feeling of Mogwai. This is not just the volume, it is just the general weight of it all.

Set opener To the Bin My Friend started melodic and restrained, but anyone who knows Mogwai knows that restraint is a judiciously used property. Once the full band kicks in there is a sound you don’t hear so much as feel. And that, my friends, is the magic of Mogwai. Music you feel. Seismic music.

Their second song, I’m Jim Morrison, I’m Dead provided a cold and bleak soundtrack to what had been up until now a bright and sunny day. But like vengeful spirits Mogwai called for rains in Naeba, called for moors. Cold and heavy.

The crowd got into things when the band started Hunted by a Freak, with its clear guitar lines and very unclear vocals. Again, the end of the world viewed from a snow dusted moor. And a heavy one at that.

How to be a werewolf saw the set rise up and get a little cheerful for a moment. Pulsating synths and jangling guitars. Ritchie Sacramento also got a big rise out of the crowd, perhaps because it was again a song with vocals. But beyond simply that it was a banger and Mogwai nailed it.

It was brought up during the set that Mogwai were making their 22 year anniversary return to the Red Marquee tonight. I can’t imagine a better place at Fuji Rock for them. Their home here will hopefully always be open to them, and trust in heaven that we’ll have them back again soon.