The Mountain Goats: “From TG&Y”

I went to see the Mountain Goats play a couple weeks ago. It was rescheduled from a prior date when John Darnielle had been sick and had to cancel – if he had made it the first time, it would have been a full band concert, which I was really looking forward to, but as it was, he drove down by himself and played solo. As such, the show was loose in form – no set list, numerous requests entertained, songs decided upon and played off the cuff, lots of between-song patter… it was a good time.

As a Mountain Goats devotee for many years now, I knew all of the songs, save one, which he introduced as kind of an epilogue to the events of The Sunset Tree, an album devoted to exploring/chronicling his abuse at the hands of his stepfather. Live, it was more powerful and accusatory; the studio track heard here is more reflective and accepting – both versions are heartbreaking and beautiful. This song has never been officially released – I offer it here in thanks and remembrance of a fantastic night listening to the songs of John Darnielle and in hopes that he would approve.

The Mountain Goats: “From TG&Y” (right-click to download)