Thursday, November 12, 2009

Metro, November 5, 2009

First of all, I have to note that I'm not used standing in the adult line to get into a show. I'm accustomed to stumbling into a club at an all-ages show around 7 PM, and the above mentioned performance(adults only!) started at 9:00. Oddly, there were more of us old farts at the last all-ages show I attended (Riot Fest) than this one, which apparently was pitched toward the mature (or at least the legal).

But I digress. The opening act was Final Fantasy. Basically this was a guy, Owen Pallett, who seemed like a nice person, singing and playing the violin, using the miracle of modern technology to repeat and overlay his violin melodies while he warbled along. Another guy (apparently his beau), played guitar and drums. Well, not to my taste, but I'm glad there are some career options available for classically trained musicians other than being eaten alive by their high school music students.

Then we come to the Mountain Goats...John Darnielle mainly. I was introduced to them on a mix CD someone was nice enough to make for me. There were some bands on it I love (i.e. Aztec Camera), and some that would send me screaming from the room (i.e Cat Power), and plenty of warbling (i.e. Anthony and the Johns). The Mountain Goats stopped me cold. I've never heard anything quite like them: yelping vocals, twisted humor, yet with a sense of goodwill and fellowship with the listener. I still remember driving my car the first time I heard "No Children," an account of a marriage going down the toilet. Image followed horrifying image until Mr. Darnielle described the unhappy couple going into eternity "hand in unloveable hand." I was laughing so hard I almost crashed the car.

I got to see them the first time at a benefit concert in honor of Sean Silver, a young man who died after a long struggle with cancer. The concert raised funds for the Ulman Fund, an organization dealing with cancer in young adults. John Darnielle played with the drummer from Superchunk, the headliners (they were smokin', but that's another post). I was very impressed by how respectful he was of Sean, especially since I don't think he knew him.

This show did not disappoint. I laughed, I cried. John Darnielle has an unusual world view and he is awfully funny. Check out The Mountain Goats!

www.mountain-goats.com
www.ulmanfund.org

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