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The Mountain Goats played MHOW twice (pics/review from night 2, setlists from both); play Bowery tonight & Tuesday

by Caroline Harrison

John Darnielle at MHOW, 10/14/2012
Mountain Goats

Mountain Goats played their second of four sold-out New York shows and last NYC at Music Hall of Williamsburg last night (10/14) during their current round of dates. They were supported by Matthew E. White who wrote the horn arrangements for the most recent Mountain Goats album, Transcendental Youth.

Matthew E. White recently released Big Inner, an album he recorded with over 30 of his closest friends in his hometown of Richmond, VA. He didn’t bring all 30 with him — though he would have if he could — but was still joined by eight musicians on stage. His set spanned genres from soul to psychedelic rock to dub and country. Eight backing musicians may seem excessive, but White’s masterful arrangements made every note matter. I think a number of zealous Mountain Goats fans were pleasantly surprised, and many came away Matthew E. White fans.

John Darnielle, the man behind the Mountain Goats, has long mocked his own ability to play guitar. His simple rhythms and patterns have never diminished the effect of his powerful lyrics which were front and center last night. Despite a packed house, Darnielle made the Music Hall of Williamsburg as intimate a back room at a dive bar.

Darnielle’s masterfully gut-wrenching prose unite a troubled cast of characters in Mountain Goats songs, and his vocal performance is every ounce as nuanced as it is on record. Mountain Goats were joined by the horn section from Matthew E. White’s band for some of the songs off of Transcendental Youth. The horns reappeared for the first encore, adding to the determination of crowd favorite “This Year.” The Mountain Goats closed out the show with “The Best Ever Death Metal Band Out Of Denton,” to the elation of the packed house.

The Mountain Goats and Matthew E. White move on to the Bowery Ballroom tonight (10/15) for two more sold out shows, concluding their NYC run on Tuesday (10/16). The set list for both MHoW shows and more pictures from Sunday night are below.

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

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Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Matthew E. White

Mountain Goats

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Mountain Goats

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MOUNTAIN GOATS – 10/13/12 SETLIST
Transcendental Youth
Amy AKA Spent Gladiator 1
Up the Wolves
First Few Desperate Hours
Pure Milk
Heretic Pride
Dance Music
Woke Up New
Rotten Stinking Mouthpiece
The Day the Aliens Came
Ezekiel 7 and the Permanent Efficacy of Grace
Lakeside View Apartments Suite
White Cedar
In Memory of Satan
Cry for Judas
Palmcorder Yajna
Spent Gladiator II
—-
The Diaz Brothers
This Year
—-
No Children
San Bernardino

MOUNTAIN GOATS – 10/14/12 SETLIST
The Mess Inside
Harlem Roulette
Amy (AKA Spent Gladiator I)
Wild Sage
Up the Wolves
Love Love Love
Dance Music
Jeff Davis County Blues
Woke Up New
From TG&Y
Ezekiel 7 and the Permanent Efficacy Of Grace
Lakeside View Apartments Suite
Transcendental Youth
White Cedar
Cry For Judas
Broom People
See America Right
Spent Gladiator II
—-
In Memory Of Satan
This Year
—-
Best Ever Death Metal Band Out Of Denton