On Tuesday 10th November, I popped down to the Shepherd’s Bush Empire (or rather, the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire as it now is) to see Mew for the fifth time as a headlining band. my gig companion for the evening was the rather marvellous writer and friend Shreena Soomarah. As you might have guessed, I’m a pretty big fan of this Danish group that’’s pretty difficult to define to one genre – wild, far-reaching prog rock with a hefty dose of ambient dream pop is probably about halfway there.

I’ve always been a fan of the venue, given that it has probably the best sound of any mid-size venue in London. Well, I was a fan until they charged me £4.10 for a rum and coke. Four pounds and ten pence! If you get change in coins from a £5 note for a drink, there’s a problem.

Fortunately I had an evening of amazing music to help me get over it. The support for the night was Choir of Young Believers, a band who I’d been instructed to see by my erstwhile associate and darkroom botherer Christo Geoghegan, who’d seen them the night before in Bristol.

Choir of Young Believers live at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on 10th November 2009.

I was glad I made it down in time for them, because they were exceptional. I’m pretty sure any band leader with a beard is summoning musical powers via the God of Folk somehow, because there’s a lot of them about. Regardless, these Danish types delivered up some beautiful melodies, combining Fleet Foxes-style folk with heavier rock influences. They had some pretty epic songs which meant that their half hour set flew by.

Mew live at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on 10th November 2009.

And so, to Mew. A band that never disappoints live, such is the scale of their live show. They’ve been doing video projections to accompany their music since I saw them back in Nottingham five years ago, but in a venue like the Empire it takes on a whole new scale, expecially given the place used to be a theatre.

New album No More Stories delivers more of their grandly scale blend of rock and pop, and opening with two tracks form it set the stage for an unrelenting ninety minute set. Alongside old favourites 156 and Snow Brigade, tracks like Introducing Palace Players and Sometimes Life Isn’t Easy went down a storm.

Mew live at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on 10th November 2009.

Whether it’s projecting violin playing rabbits, talking bears that lead singer Jonas Bjerre interacts with or choirs of children as backup singers, the one thing you can never accuse Mew of is being stale. They’ve evolved with every album form poppier beginnings to one of the more beguiling acts currently playing, and I could see them a thousand times and not get bored.

Finishing with the epic ten minute encore of Comforting Sounds is the only thing that remains a constant with Mew’s live show, but it’s always how they go out with a bang. One of the best times I’ve seen them play, and one of the best gigs I’ve ever seen put on.

Mew live at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on 10th November 2009.

All of my photos from the gig can be found over at my Flickr.