Just saw them live two weeks ago, it was orgasmic.

I've seen them about 10 times now. NEVER miss Mogwai live.

i've been told they are far and away the loudest band ever.

I dunno if they are the loudest ever, but I've seen them many times and they are VERY FRIGGIN LOUD! Moreso than just sheer amplitude, they are very "noisy." You have to have a good ear to hear all the melodies amongst all the various sounds they're putting out. I saw them play in Austin once with 5(!) lead guitars!

They certainly aren't the loudest, but I actually saw someone cry at one of their shows they were so loud. (Yes, really.) And, Woland? The only way you'd have seen them in Austin with 5 leads is if Trail of the Dead were on stage with them. They have never played Austin when it wasn't their only, and original lineup.

Chances are, though, we have passed in the night at Emos or Austin Music Hall, or perhaps Casino El Camino..

Hey omni, I saw them in that config during the SxSW festival back in 2000-ish, at some big venue whose name I can't remember (probably Austin Music Hall), but it was about 5 blocks from Antones (I rememebr that because Eric Johnson was playing the same night as Mogwai, but at Antones). They definitely had a lot more folks on stage with them than normal, but no idea if it was Trail of the Dead or what.

I saw them a few other times in Austin as well (although I lived in SF at the time, and now live in Seattle) so we've probably passed in the night as you say.

Yep. I was there. It was the SXSW show at Austin Music Hall. That's actually where I saw the woman cry and bury her head in her boyfriends chest.

That show was the loudest of theirs I've seen, by far. It felt like I was listening to speakers in a trashcan with my head shoved into the can.

But, man, good show. Glad you saw it!

BTW, my vote?

Tie for loudest band:
1) Sonic Youth in the 80s
2) Slayer

Slayer was just way beyond Too Loud.