As The Mountain Goats opened their set with the pounding mysticism of "1 Samuel 15:23," their leader John Darnielle almost screamed the double edged lyrics: "My house will be for all people who have nowhere to go." While that statement invokes the bible verse it quotes from on the most recent Goats record The Life of the World to Come, the cheer it elicited came from a earthbound agreement. Since his songs have slowly built a sizable audience through several eras of indie rock, Darnielle's tent has become a large and diverse place which still accommodates the intimacy of his writing. The listeners who cling to the sense of disaffection and dread in his words find a home in these songs instead of a haunted castle to escape from.
Even if one wanted to escape, the 9:30 Club was packed to the rafters at an early hour the Friday after Thanksgiving. Owen Pallett (under his moniker Final Fantasy) opened the night with a set that thundered with an energy which isn't often articulated clearly on his records. With only minimal accompaniment, his violin playing was lithe but with a sharp dramatic flair that is aided by Pallett's sweetly low registered baritone voice. For a taste of things to come, Darnielle came out and sang "Alpha Omega" while Pallett accompanied the early lo-fi era Goats classic on violin. His trademark high pitch nasal shout is among the most commanding and distinctive voices you'll ever hear at a concert; capable of shoveling complex descriptions that conclude with statements that are simple and crestfallen. He jolted Pallett's set into high gear and sent off the crowded club like a bottle rocket. Pallett seized the night and pushed the balance of his set into high gear, ending with newer songs that promise to be better than anything he's done in the past.
There's little to add to the conclusion that you must see The Mountain Goats live if you have any love for their music. Some songwriters see the most satisfying part of their craft in completing a song on paper or in the studio. Darnielle finds his most exciting moments in performing what he's written: the newer the better. The set was heavy with the biblical torments of Life of the World to Come. Several were performed with Darnielle on piano; a departure from his iconic role on acoustic guitar. Through the ivories, he gave the ancient soliloquies of "Deuteronomy 2:10" and "Genesis 30:3" an added frailty that appeared more human than biblical. Adding more to the divine side of things, Pallet came out to flesh out "Hebrew 11:40" with his melancholy violin to reprise his role as string arranger on the new record.
When on his tried and true guitar, Darnielle travels deep within his psyche either to shout or slowly unfurl tales of creeping desperation. This was made all the more prevalent by the heavy presence of tracks from the autobiographical album The Sunset Tree in the night's setlist, which was highlighted with forceful performances of "Hast Thou Considered The Tetrapods" and "Song for Dennis Brown." During the old school solo set Darnielle dug deep into his back catalog to resurrect "It's All Here In Brownsville," "Cobscook Bay" and "Song For Dana Plato," showing that the esoteric Mountain Goats spirit is neither diminished by the new scope of their band or the polish within their delivery. They're never far from the obscure region where the music originated and Darnielle can revisit his own creative past at the drop of a hat. With new dimensions as a singer and musician he can make the old songs sound better.
But make no mistake this is the best band Darnielle's assembled. With longstanding bassist Peter Hughes and indie powerhouse Jon Wurster on drums he's retained a rhythm section that adds an immense weight to lyrics already pregnant with severe implications. The newest member of the touring band was Perry Wright of the group The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers. Wright stepped unobtrusively into his role on second guitar and added small and rich layers without overwhelming the rest of the band. His guitar solo at the end of "Old College Try" was sublime.
Hearing the four of them perform "This Year" and seeing that number swell to five with Pallett playing piano for "No Children" during the encore brought into focus how easily The Mountain Goats can expand from one man to an extended family. It is true that the band will always be a house for Darnielle's keen mind and generous spirit. But even though all his gifts are locked up in a personal place, the door they stand behind will always be on a shaky hinge, ready for the rest of us to push it open.
by Neal Fersko
[Photos: Greg Turner]
