Yesterday the Mountain Goats announced that they'd be touring as a duo for a 20 date all-ages tour during June. It's the first time they've toured without their drummer of choice, Jon Wurster (Superchunk, Bob Mould Band), since 2007. If you've never seen the Mountain Goats live, you really need to make it a priority. Singer-guitarist-songwriter John Darnielle is one of the most engaging rock and roll frontmen you'll ever come across. He acts like he's actually having a great time up there. He'll tell some stories, make up jokes on the spot that are funny, and along with longtime bassist Peter Hughes, play the hell out of their generous setlist. They've got a boatload of great material to play, including last year's excellent album Transcendental Youth and 2011's All Eternals Deck, both from Merge Records, and both of which were on my year-end best of lists. Here's the video for "Cry for Judas", from Transcendental Youth.
I was especially happy to see that Denton, Texas's Baptist Generals will be opening for all of the June shows. A buddy and I saw the stripped down version of the Baptist Generals (in this case, a solo acoustic set by guitarist/singer Chris Flemmons) when they opened for Centro-matic at Local 506 in Chapel Hill many years ago. When Flemmons took the stage, there were only about 10 or 12 other people in the place, including one John Darnielle (of course I didn't talk to him, what the hell kind of weirdo stalker do you think I am?). Anyway, Chris Flemmons was breathtakingly good, and to this day I can't shake the thought that he's like an equally talented, perhaps slightly less hinged Jeff Mangum (the latter impression formed from listening to the shenanigans at the end of the first song on their excellent combination debut/last record, 2003's No Silver/No Gold). Well, in doing a little backgrounding for this post, I discovered that after 10 years, they've finally finished their followup album. Jackleg Devotional to the Heart will be released on 21 May by Sub Pop. Having heard nary a note, I can guarantee that you'll not want to miss it. Here's a really cool video of them playing in front of a crowd of 11, followed by the tour schedule.
The Mountain Goats on tour:
* = w/ The Baptist Generals
May 1 Boone, NC Appalachian State University
June 3 Washington, DC 9:30 Club*
June 4 York, PA Strand- Capitol Performing Arts*
June 5 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell's*
June 7 New Haven, CT Center Church on the Green*
June 8 Portland, ME Port City Music Hall*
June 9 South Burlington, VT Higher Ground Ballroom*
June 11 Munhall, PA Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead*
June 12 Detroit, MI Majestic Theatre*
June 14 Cincinnati, OH Taft Ballroom*
June 15 Bloomington, IN Buskirk-Chumley Theatre*
June 16 Evanston, IL Space*
June 17 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall*
June 19 Kansas City, MO The Record Bar*
June 20 St. Louis, MO Old Rock House*
June 22 Birmingham, AL The Bottletree*
June 23 Gainesville, FL High Dive*
June 24 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room*
June 26 Charleston, SC The Charleston Pourhouse *
June 27 West Columbia, SC New Brookland Tavern*
June 28 Wilmington, NC The Soapbox *
July 26-28 Newport, RI Newport Folk Festival
September 13-16 Miami, FL Atlantic Ocean Comedy and Music Festival
Mountain Goats website (always a great read, including John's commentary on the upcoming tour)
Baptist Generals at Sub Pop
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