I went to Carrboro's Cat's Cradle last night to catch the Reach for the Skye benefit concert featuring the Mountain Goats. The show started at nine, and had four bands on the bill, which is good for ten dollars, but bad if you have to be somewhere early the next morning. I got there at a quarter to ten as the first band, Hope & Anchor, was finishing their set. I couldn't really make much of the Asheville-based group from the one song I heard, except for the notion that they both looked and sounded like they were indeed from Asheville, which is pretty much saying they looked and sounded like they were from Carrboro. I said hi to friends after their set and checked out who else was in attendance - David Karsten Daniels and Perry from Prayers & Tears were there like always, and took a seat for the next act, the Moaners. The Moaners are two girls, one playing a slew of slide guitars, one on drums, and they are pretty much awful. The Moaners reminded of everything I hated about the whole rock and roll revival idea - sludgy sound, poor musicianship, garage rock, Kurt Cobain vocals, and the notion of loud + fast = good! There set seemed much longer than thirty minutes. No more will be said about them.
Bellafea was up next, and I was rather interested in hearing them. This three piece really reminded me of the better post-hardcore/angular indie from the late 90's. There was the abrasive sonic aspect and metrical changes of At the Drive In, as well as more reigned in moments that were similar to Denali and Engine Down. If I were sixteen again, I probably would have gone ape-shit over their set and would have fallen in love with Heather, the singer/guitarist. However, I am not sixteen anymore, so I just go ape-shit over seeing the Mountain Goats these days and fall in love with John Darnielle.
Last night's Mountain Goats set was a solo one for Darnielle, and was the first time I've seen him play sans-Peter Hughes. I figured it would be a good night from the moment JD walked on stage wearing a t-shirt that said "True Norwegian Black Metal" in Olde English font. I can't remember the entire set, but here is a run through of songs I can recall in order.
Palmcorder Yajna
'New song that was a throwaway from the new record'
Neon Orange Glimmer Song
Dilaudid
Evening In Stalingrad
Keeping House
Game Shows Touch Our Lives
New Monster Avenue
Snow Crush Killing Song
Dance Music
Color In Your Cheeks
Broom People
The Mess Inside
Going to Georgia
Love Love Love
See America Right
(encore)
Jenny
No Children
I am fairly sure those were the songs played. They may be a bit out of order. John said after a couple songs that he decided to put lots of material from Full Force Galesburg in the setlist and wanted to know if anyone minded, and of course there was applause. However, it became evident that the setlist was out of the window halfway through the set for multiple reasons - 1. John couldn't remember the tuning to a song he said "hasn't been played since 1996," 2. John couldn't read the setlist because he didn't have his glasses on, and 3. the crowd was full of people yelling requests at the stage. If JD didn't know a song requested, he would say, "Don't remember that one any more." The call for songs became a bit annoying after a couple rounds of it. I really wish people would just let John play what he wants to play. Sure you might really want to hear him play "This Year" or "No Children." We all do. But do you really want to hear it for the third song? Or do you want John Darnielle to close with it? Wait your turn.
I like seeing the Mountain Goats in any lineup possible, and really did enjoy last night's performance. But I feel like John has a little bit more fun and looks a lot livelier when Mr. Peter Hughes is up there next to him. So, yes, Peter was missed. Who doesn't like Peter Hughes? The man is a great bassist and seems like an all around nice guy. And who else has John Darnielle recorded a record in honor of and called a savior? No one. Anytime the Mountain Goats are on stage, it will be a good time. Any time Peter Hughes is missing, it won't be the same either. John did give us some of his usual hilarious stage banter, likening playing "Going to Georgia" to seeing an ex-wife after twelve years and starting to kiss her and thinking, "Oh, why am I doing this," but by the time the kiss gets to tongue you are like, "Oh yeah, this is great!"
My definite favorite from the night had to be John's inclusion of "Snow Crush Killing Song" and "Neon Orange Glimmer Song" from Sweden. "Snow Crush" had a little extra push behind it that made it great to sing along with. When the Mountain Goats play, there will always be songs left out that you want in. I doubt John ever plays "Sendero Luminoso Verdadero" anymore. It is sad anytime "This Year" isn't played live. And playing a show in Carrboro should always mean he has to play "Wild Sage" just for the 15-501 reference. I've never seen John play "Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton" live. But for every song he doesn't play, he delivers with "Snow Crush" or "Orange Glimmer." Or "The Mess Inside." Take your pick.
Oddly enough, after John's last Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill show in May at the Local 506, I heard him talking with a guy afterwards and the guy asked about "The Mess Inside." John said he never played that song anymore but would make sure to play it next time he was in town. He delivered. You have to love John Darnielle.
I might or might not be going to see The National supported by Doveman tonight. Will probably be a last minute decision.
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