It’s been nine years since I’ve seen The Mountain Goats in Bristol.
Since 2015 there’s been a pandemic, they’ve released seven more albums and multi-instrumentalist Matt Douglas has become an even more vital addition to their live sets.
Over that time the band, focused around singer songwriter John Darnielle, and also including drummer Jon Wurster and bassist Peter Hughes, has increased markedly in popularity.
Bigger songs, larger audiences and their 2005 track This Year even became an anthem during the long Covid year of 2020. Many of us indeed said once or twice that we hoped to “make it through this year if it kills me”.
As a result of their heightened fame, it’s a bigger venue for them, moving from Trinity Arts Centre across the city to the larger Beacon.
With Douglas, and Wurster’s expressive drumming, their sound is bigger, their songs more ambitious. Like movie-scores at times. It’s a fitting venue for them in front of a packed crowd.
But at their heart they are a small band, with Darnielle’s incredible story telling and us.
For example, Darnielle jokes with the band he’s forgotten the lyrics and chords to songs, that he himself has written. Performing looks like its as fun for the band as it is for us.
This is what the band skilfully achieved this week, at the start of their European tour in Bristol. They are a small fans favourite band but with a big accessible sound for all, across an hour and a half set including a lengthy encore.
The furthest they went back was Itzcuintli-Totzli Days from 1994’s Beautiful Rat Sunset.
This set’s most recent was from last year’s life affirming Jenny from Thebes, whose central character takes in strays and refugees on her ranch.
Fresh Tattoo, Clean Slate and Water Tower are the songs to get an airing from this 2023 album.
Jenny’s first appearance on 2002’s All Hail West Texas is not forgotten and her song’s performance from that album is among many highlights tonight.
There’s more older classics too. Lovecraft in Brooklyn, from 2008’s Heretic Pride is a perfect opener, featuring some bullet like passionate drumming from Wurster.
Naturally there’s This Year, the closing track of the main set.
And No Children, from 2002’s Tallahassee is resplendent live, with added Lee Ann Womack cover I Hope You Dance bringing the love, before the hate.
With Tallahassee being this author’s favourite Mountain Goats album I was delighted to see two more of its songs played, See America Right and International Small Arms Traffic Blues during the seven-song encore.
This extra set also featured one of their other most well-known tracks, Up the Wolves from Sunset Tree as well as Heel Turn 2 from Beat the Champ. When I last saw them, this track was new and was already a live favourite. They lose themselves in this one and its a fitting close to a show that perfectly merged hits, with album tracks and fans favourites throughout.
Gently Tender
Support was from Gently Tender, whose name sounds like they are going to be one of those Enid Blyton character dressed indie bands. In fact, they look like Wilco at a trucker’s rally. While being English their sound is immersed in US alternative rock and indie. They impressed the crowd and are a band I’ll certainly be checking out more by.
Words and Pictures by Joe Lepper
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