The Best Ever

I’m going to say this very matter-of-factly. If you ‘get it’, you’ll know how I’m feeling, if you don’t, you don’t.

Last night, I saw The Mountain Goats play.

John Darnielle was completely bug-eyed and insane, and clearly enjoying it a lot. He played a lot of songs from the latest album, a few from the Tallahassee and We Shall All Be Healed era, and a few earlier ones. It was awesome, even though of course not everyone could get the songs they wanted. The band left for a few songs, meaning we got a good variety of songs–some with Darnielle screaming and thrashing his acoustic guitar like the ‘old days’, some with him plonking away by himself on the piano, and some with the whole band making a racket.

I got a prime position, second row, with only two very short people in front of me. I was also right between the keyboard and the standing mic, which meant that no matter whether he was on keys or guitar he was no more than a metre or two away. I may have wet myself with excitement a couple of times. During the first encore they played Houseguest, a cover song that John clearly loves, and he got into it like he was singing along to his favourite song in his bedroom. Except that then he started leaning over into the crowd and sticking his face into other people’s faces, even at one point ‘serenading’ my girlfriend… is it getting warm in here? We had better move on.

Actually, I don’t know where to go from there.

Edit: Check out FasterLouder’s photos of the gig, and see if you can spot the excited kid.

4 Comments

I suppose the big question is whether your girlfriend is still that after being serenaded John Darnielle. By the sound of it: yes, therefore you win.

Mellow, April 15th



I am still waiting to be serenaded by Tristan. I have a feeling that I will be waiting a long time.

Girlfriend, April 20th



maybe tristan should get some tips on serenading from his good friend david alias girlfriends brother

mother of girlfriend, April 22nd



Into my arms?

Tristan's one man serenading band, April 23rd

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