Scenestar

ARTICLE BY CHERYL CHENG
PHOTOS BY DREW REYNOLDS

SEPT. 9 | LOS ANGELES—Upon asking Mogwai fans to describe the live experience of the band, they most likely will be fairly succinct: “loud.” This point was further emphasized when conversations could be heard about earplugs and hearing loss. Obviously this Glasgow band doesn’t muck about; they are known for their eardrum-shattering live shows. But tonight was more than an experimentation in sound volume; it also was an exploration in what defines music itself. Mogwai and openers F*ck Buttons could be described by some as just noise-makers, challenging those here tonight to really listen and discover these bands’ music.

Self-described as “experimental,” F*ck Buttons can be a challenging listen. For the unacquainted, watching Benjamin John Power and Andrew Hung, the duo behind the band, perform live can bring shrugs of confusion. They perform facing each other with a variety of unconventional instruments in between them, including a plastic mic surrounded by what looks like a funnel that Benjamin sings into. Well, sort of sings. The noises they make into their respective mics only vaguely resemble lyrics. At one point, Andrew mimics tribal noises as he dances spastically. There are moments of light melody, when it’s simply the tinkling of keyboards, but it often gives way to distortion and various sounds. F*ck Buttons walks a fine line between what some would describe as nonsensical noise and other would describe as experimental, progressive music—and there were several fans here tonight cheering the duo. Perhaps that blurry distinction is suitable for a band with such a controversial name.

When Mogwai bounded upon stage, they wasted no time in creating the sonic landscape that would envelop the evening. Alternating between quiet and loud, and then really, really loud, the group concentrated on their instruments and the music, offering only brief thank yous. Though Mogwai resembles any typical band—guitars, drum kit, keyboards—they are mostly instrumental, which could leave some bored and unengaged. But for those who are fans of these wordless tracks, it would seem quite unnatural to attach lyrics to them. And the music itself speaks volumes about emotion.

During the quiet bits or in between songs, the crowd yelled various requests, from “Louder!”—which caused ripples of laughter—to the counter remark, “Softer!” But when Mogwai is about to transition from a softer melody into an ear-splitting rock jam, the anticipation is palpable. “Play it!” “Get to it! C’mon!” impatient fans scream. And then the amps begin to shake and the sound is literally all around you, inside you. It’s quite a sensation, to say the least. At the end of the night, many ears were ringing, even for those who wore earplugs, but most didn’t seem to mind. Both Mogwai and F*ck Buttons perform music that is slightly off the cuff and difficult to hear on mainstream radio, but if music is defined by the emotional response it elicits, then the audience heard sweet, sweet music tonight.