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The Mountain Goats

Rock

The Mountain Goats Tickets

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About

The Mountain Goats on Tour

The Mountain Goats are known first and foremost for John Darnielle's rich storytelling. He has spun heart-wrenching songs from all manner of inspirational sources, from Bible verses to photos of Judy Garland, and from fictional death metal bands to his own experiences with addiction. The band's 2019 album In League with Dragons (their 17th) draws extensively from Dungeons & Dragons, the game. Even so, none of it is novelty. Set to evocative melodies and an earnest mix of folk and rock, Mountain Goats songs are full of intimate detail, unforgettable characters, gripping narratives and intense emotion. Onstage, Darnielle's devotion to his craft comes to life in a hail of spirited strumming and vocal inflection as he's egged on by a crowd that knows every word. And it doesn't hurt that the Durham, North Carolina, outfit is rounded out by bassist Peter Hughes, drummer Jon Wurster (also of Superchunk) and Matt Douglas, who plays everything from flute to keys in order to properly soundtrack Darnielle's vision.

The Mountain Goats in Concert

The Mountain Goats officially launched in 1991 with a cassette on the beloved cult label Shrimper Records, but the band's origins run tandem to those of founder John Darnielle. His California childhood with an abusive stepdad, his youthful passion for pro wrestling, his post–high school days with a rough crowd in Oregon, his years at Pitzer inventing characters while working toward an English degree — all of it would eventually end up informing the powerful themes and complex narratives of future Mountain Goats albums. While the project's earliest releases were famously recorded on a cassette boombox (culminating in 2002's classic All Hail West Texas), Darnielle increasingly embraced the studio over time, giving records like The Life of the World to Come (2009) and Transcendental Youth (2012) a dynamic sound to match the subject matter. And while some early releases featured Darnielle alone, the band too solidified as the years went by. Still, his writing has remained central, inspiring a somewhat small but incredibly fervent audience that's included fans in high places: In 2017, acclaimed podcaster Joseph Fink started a series devoted to Darnielle's work called I Only Listen to the Mountain Goats, and in 2019, Stephen Colbert joined the band for a rendition of "This Year" on his late-night show.

Reviews

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 based on 130 reviews
  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Solo show gets deep into the catalog

    by lv on 3/9/24Teragram Ballroom - Los Angeles

    Another delightful night, full of great music and charming stories. This was John Darnielle doing a solo show, and he dove into the the deep catalog, some I hadn't ever heard. At least one he wrote the week before. A night full of surprises. (Rett Madison was also excellent, opening the show.) If you are a fan, the solo shows are a unique treat.

  • Rating: 3 out of 5

    A Few Goats Short

    by Toast on 3/5/24Neptune Theatre - Seattle

    I was expecting The Mountain GoatS, plural, not just one guy.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    One of the best!

    by Charlotte on 3/3/24Teragram Ballroom - Los Angeles

    There aren't many bands that perform equally well as the whole band or with a solo performance by only one band member. Founding singer/songwriter John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats offered a brilliant one-man show at the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles this week (2/29/24) singing many of his old songs, so beloved by fans. Cheering, calling out and often singing along, the audience was part of the great vibe that night, and John sang with his usual passion, making the old songs sound as fresh as if he'd written them yesterday. That's partly because the stories he tells are truly timeless, the language inventive, powerful and authentic, his guitar playing a total melodic match with the words. JD also forms a strong bond with the audience right away, chatting and telling stories in between songs, often funny, making us all feel loved in a totally unsentimental way. Thursday night was no exception. In fact, I feel he's hitting some kind of peak in his singing. I was completely wowed. Hope John D. comes back soon, and that next time he brings the band, Jon, Matt and Peter, who are also wonderful!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Love, love, love

    by JEM on 1/30/24The Blue Note - Columbia

    Wonderful concert experience at a very nice venue! This was my first duo Mountain Goats concert and it did not disappoint. I was hoping for more songs from Jenny from Thebes but it was great to hear some of the older songs. I look forward to seeing them again in April!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    The Mountain Goats never fail to entertain

    by Rocking Granny on 12/6/23Aura - Portland

    Great venue - completely full house, rocking to the rafters. John wasn't feeling well but still managed to put on a great show for a lot of adoring fans. Second time seeing them live - I would go again.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    High energy, raucous warmth and joy

    by Ian on 12/5/23The Queen - Wilmington

    I had a blast at this show. The Mountain Goats played a fantastic set together before leaving John onstage to deliver a few solo tunes. The rest of the band returned to close things out, clearly feeding off the high energy of the crowd at The Queen. Everyone whooped and screamed and jumped and danced along to No Children and This Year, and the Goats came back for two encore sets.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Jenny from Thebes plus the classics

    by bridavia on 12/5/23The Queen - Wilmington

    Absolutely awesome show, a great mix of new and old music. The performance was polished, great transitions, and the crowd loved it. This was my third Mountain Goats show and my favorite so far!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    It was worth it

    by Matt Douglas Fan on 10/10/23Ace of Spades - Sacramento

    After standing in line for about an hour and getting in and mistake waiting another half an hour in the merch line thinking it was the line for the bar, my friends and I eventually worked ourselves deeper into the venue to get a half-decent viewing experience. We listened to Mikaela Davis' calm and subdued set that really popped when she had a string break. She left the stage and then there was a considerable wait for the stage crew to set up for Mountian Goats. The lights dimmed and a voice-over started. The band entered and began playing without Jon. After bursting on stage the entire crowd cheered, it was amazing. The entire night was intense. Even the quieter songs on the album were still played loud and powerfully. The crowd nearly drowned him out when performing 'This Year'. We managed to get an encore, an insane five-song encore! It was the best concert I've ever attended and now I'm waiting impatiently for their return.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Weird Tai Chi guy

    by Red Shirt on 10/10/23Ace of Spades - Sacramento

    Loved the show. Weirded out by the Tai Chi guy. He was from outta town & made you feel like you were doing something wrong but you weren’t. What a buzz killer.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    I <3 The Mountain Goats

    by mi on 8/28/23

    My first concert experience in NYC was amazing thanks to these guys and the lovely Pier 17. The only thing I wish had gone differently was I would've loved to have seen a setlist or gotten a better idea of the timing to catch the whole show. Next time!!!