A Rare Treat
John Darnielle may be a fairly inextravagant character - just a suit and tie to dress him up - but he earns a reverential silence as soon as he steps onstage at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. His songs follow the same pattern; they're down to earth and subtle, nothing too showy but there's really nothing more ambitious or impressive than the thorough range of emotions that his live shows paint. The Mountain Goat is solo tonight with just a piano and guitar as accompaniment. He even expresses his gratitude to the crowd for letting him play the former, the only instrument that he has real training in, and one which he rarely gets the chance to play publically these days. Of course, when he does, it's all the more special.
The intimate show in a large hall is packed with Darnielle's quick quips and tales about his songs, making for a warm, funny and witty performance, which is just what you want from someone who is going to play love songs so epic that they make your heart feel like it's splitting, after all, you can't take too much angst on a Saturday night.
The lyrics of the new album are especially well demonstrated by these early hushed moments on the piano. 'Ezekiel 7 and the Permanent Efficacy of Grace', with its beautiful refrain of, "Drive til the rain stops, keep driving" and 'Genesis 30:3's heart-breaking of admission of "I will do anything you ask me to, because of how I feel about you" make you wonder whether Darnielle needs any other instrument to convey his solemn feelings. But then 'Psalms 40:2' begins with a bolshy guitar accompaniment perfectly matching the spitting, vitriolic vocals. The fact is that Darnielle shines whatever he's backed with instrumentally.
Wanting to please a British audience who rarely get to witness his exuberant performances, Darnielle accepts several song requests, although ‘No Kids’ is a no go thanks to the fact that he left the magical “little machine” needed for it back home. ‘The Best Ever Death Metal Band Outta Denton’ is certainly a reasonable substitute though, offering the chance to join in with the rousing lyrics. Tonight’s is a special performance that feels intimate and charming on every level, although Darnielle may not make it to the UK very often, when he does it’s a rate treat that no indie lover should pass up.