By Casey Habetler Dean | October 22, 2024
Hailing (Satan) from North Carolina, The Mountain Goats continue to transcend generations with witty, intricate lyrics intwined with relatable, angsty ear worms. A sense of excitement outside of the Taft Theatre Sunday night was present as fans of all ages and walks of life gathered in a line to see their eccentric hero, John Darnielle, who for all intents and purposes is The Mountain Goats. However, this current lineup is particularly exciting to the long time fan as Matt Douglas (The Proclivities) and Jon Wurster (Superchunk) are GOAT’d in their own right.
The tour, called Rule of Three Tour, was named due to long-time member Peter Hughes leaving the band in August, leaving it to the trio to perform songs off of at least a dozen albums. The Taft Theatre couldn’t have been a more fitting venue for the Mountain Goats with its character. And, as if it couldn’t get any more whimsical, murmurs of the backdrop being from a children’s production of Beauty and the Beast earlier in the day make quite the impression. After much anticipation, John, Jon, and Matt took the stage to “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley.
The opener, Elijah off of the The Coroner’s Gambit (recently released vinyl reissue out now) filled the theatre. The momentum effortlessly transitioned to the beloved Idylls of the King of Tallahassee, a cult favorite. And as if things could get any more magical, as the set went on it was apparent that not only did the band decide to the leave the Beauty and the Beast backdrop up, they kept the lighting sequence as well. The untimely and mismatched moments of the coloration of the castle inspired the unconventional set. The Taft Theatre, the diverse fan base, were all perfectly woven to create the most magical experience. One of the many highlights of the show was when John did his solo songs for the night. You could feel the pain and the promise in his somehow direct yet intricate lyrics. Occasionally he would stop to chat up the audience about a subject he knew like his rare Japanese Greco guitar or baseball player Dwight Gooden.
Arguably the most special moment of the night is when a super fan requested a song that John absolutely hates playing—Going to Georgia. While he initially refused to play the song, a quick change of heart led the theatre absolutely irrupting. A polite theatre crowd (no seriously you could hear a pin drop) let loose. Closing out the set, a cheeky cover of I Hope You Dance merged into “No Children” with which the theatre absolutely exploded. John’s lyricism and musicianship can draw in everyone—from Gen Z TikToker’s to Boomers and Gen X’ers, and of course the aging millennial. All of this to say, this is a show you must see for yourself. I will be basking in the glow of the icon, the legend, John Darnielle for weeks to come.
C.H Dean is a freelance photographer for Majestic Music Magazine. See more of their work here
