#themountaingoats — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #themountaingoats, aggregated by home.social.
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Ten Songs With … The Mountain Goats
“Ten Songs With…” is a new, irregular series of posts in which I explore the music of a group or artist I like but am only familiar with a small portion of their catalog. Unlike my previous Deep Dives series this will be more focused, limited to highlighting – yep, you guessed it – ten songs.
Ten Songs With … The Mountain Goats
I became aware of The Mountain Goats around 15 years ago, and am familiar with several songs the band has released over the past couple of decades. But I was surprised to learn that The Mountain Goats have been recording since 1991, and have released 24 studio albums – plus live albums, compilations, EPs, singles, cassettes, and limited releases. This was going to be a challenging catalog to explore!
The Mountain Goats are essentially a project of John Darnielle, born in Indiana, raised in California, and now based in North Carolina. While Darnielle attended Pitzer College from 1991 to 1995, he released his first recordings as The Mountain Goats. Many early recordings were just Darnielle and his guitar, but he was joined by Rachel Ware on bass and vocals from 1992 to 1996. Peter Hughes joined for a brief stint on bass and vocals in 1996, and then returned to play with the band from 2002 to 2024. The other two long-time members of the band are Jon Wurster, drummer since 2007, and Matt Douglas, a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist since 2015. Numerous other musicians and collaborators have contributed to The Mountain Goats sound live and in the studio.
The first decade of The Mountain Goats drew on Darnielle’s urgency to record songs as soon as possible by playing them straight into a tape recorder. While Darnielle returns to this “lo-fi” style from time to time, since the release of Tallahassee in 2002, albums by The Mountain Goats are typically recorded in a professional studio with a full band. Tallahassee was also the first album released on a major label, 4AD. The Mountain Goats later recorded with Merge Records for 15 years. Since 2025, new releases by The Mountain Goats are independently released on their own Cadmean Dawn label.
Darnielle is known as a talented lyricist with a literary style. Many songs are autobiographical and confessional, including stories of growing up with an abusive stepfather (on the album The Sunset Tree) and his addiction to methamphetamine just after high school (We Shall All Be Healed). A recurring theme across his works include song cycles about the dysfunctional “Alpha” couple, who argue in character through the song lyrics. Darnielle has also created concept albums based on his various interests such as the Bible (The Life of the World to Come), professional wrestling (Beat the Champ), and goth culture and music (Goths).
To prepare for this post, I searched for lists of “Best Albums” made by fans of The Mountain Goats, making a composite list. From this list, I chose to give a close listen to the ten albums that seemed most essential (see below) as well as various singles and playlists of the bands best songs. From this project I made my list of Ten Song, albeit it seems to only scratch the surface of The Mountain Goats’ outpout.
1994 Zopilote Machine
1995 Sweden
1997 Full Force Galesburg
2000 The Coroner’s Gambit
2002 All Hail West Texas
2002 Tallahassee
2005 The Sunset Tree
2008 Heretic Pride
2012 Transcendental Youth
2017 GothsMy Ten Songs
“Alpha Incipiens” – Zopilote Machine (1994)
“No Children” – Tallahassee (2002)
“Alpha Rats Nest” – Tallahassee (2002)
“This Year” – The Sunset Tree (2005)
“Dance Music” – The Sunset Tree (2005)
“Amy aka Spent Gladiator 1” – Transcendental Youth (2012)
“The Legend of Chavo Guerrero” – Beat the Champ (2015)
“Rain in Soho” – Goths (2017)
“Training Montage” – Bleed Out (2022)
“Rocks in My Pockets” – Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan (2025)
Have you listened to The Mountain Goats? If so, let me know your favorite songs in the comments.
Previous Ten Songs With…:
#FolkRock #indieFolk #indieRock #Music #TenSongsWith #TheMountainGoats -
Triangle Big Ticket Event Guide August 20–27, 2026 Edition
The Triangle’s late-August entertainment calendar is packed with major concerts, comedy performances and nightlife events. Billy Idol, Jack Johnson, Jordan Davis, The Mountain Goats, Three Dog Night, KevOnStage, Hasan Minhaj, Ronny Chieng and many more are scheduled to perform across Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Carrboro, Chapel Hill and surrounding communities.
Use the DoRaleigh Triangle Big Ticket Event Guide to explore upcoming shows from Thursday, August 20, through Thursday, August 27, 2026.
Thursday, August 20
Wilderado
Catch indie-folk band Wilderado at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh.
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Venue: Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard
- Location: Raleigh
Jonnie W.
Comedian Jonnie W. brings his observational humor and storytelling to Goodnights Comedy Club.
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Venue: Goodnights Comedy Club
- Location: Raleigh
Happy Landing
Happy Landing performs an energetic Thursday night show at Cat’s Cradle.
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Cat’s Cradle
- Location: Carrboro
FattMack
FattMack takes the stage at one of downtown Raleigh’s best-known live music venues.
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Lincoln Theatre
- Location: Raleigh
Flowerbomb
Flowerbomb performs at Local 506 on Franklin Street.
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Local 506
- Location: Chapel Hill
Friday, August 21
Jordan Davis
Country music star Jordan Davis headlines an outdoor concert in downtown Raleigh.
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Venue: Red Hat Amphitheater
- Location: Raleigh
Hasan Hates Ronny: Ronny Chieng and Hasan Minhaj
Comedians Ronny Chieng and Hasan Minhaj bring their joint “Hasan Hates Ronny” show to the Durham Performing Arts Center.
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Venue: Durham Performing Arts Center
- Location: Durham
Zoso: Led Zeppelin Tribute Band
Zoso recreates the sound and energy of Led Zeppelin during a Friday night tribute concert.
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Venue: Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard
- Location: Raleigh
Jaimee Harris and Wes Collins
Enjoy an intimate listening-room performance featuring singer-songwriters Jaimee Harris and Wes Collins.
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Venue: The Wake Forest Listening Room at Magnolia Roots
- Location: Wake Forest
Laila Biali
Award-winning vocalist and pianist Laila Biali performs at the Halle Cultural Arts Center.
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Venue: Halle Cultural Arts Center
- Location: Apex
Three Dog Night
Legendary rock band Three Dog Night brings decades of recognizable hits to the Carolina Theatre.
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Carolina Theatre
- Location: Durham
Guardians of the Jukebox
Travel back to the age of synthesizers and big hair with Guardians of the Jukebox.
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Lincoln Theatre
- Location: Raleigh
Songs From the Road Band
Songs From the Road Band brings its blend of bluegrass and Americana to the Cat’s Cradle Back Room.
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Cat’s Cradle Back Room
- Location: Carrboro
Sub Empty
Sub Empty performs a Friday night show at Kings in downtown Raleigh.
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Kings
- Location: Raleigh
Ragie Ban
Ragie Ban takes the stage for a late-night performance at The Fruit.
- Time: 9 p.m.
- Venue: The Fruit
- Location: Durham
Carsen White
Comedian Carsen White performs a late show at Goodnights Comedy Club.
- Time: 9:45 p.m.
- Venue: Goodnights Comedy Club
- Location: Raleigh
BOLO
Finish Friday night with BOLO at Aura Lounge & Nightclub.
- Time: 10 p.m.
- Venue: Aura Lounge & Nightclub
- Location: Raleigh
Saturday, August 22
KevOnStage
Comedian and digital creator KevOnStage presents two Saturday performances at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts.
- Times: 5 and 8 p.m.
- Venue: Fletcher Opera Theater
- Location: Raleigh
Kristin Key
Comedian, musician and viral entertainer Kristin Key performs at Goodnights Comedy Club.
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Venue: Goodnights Comedy Club
- Location: Raleigh
GUTTING
GUTTING performs Saturday evening at The Pinhook.
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
- Venue: The Pinhook
- Location: Durham
The Statler Experience
Celebrate the music and legacy of The Statler Brothers during this tribute performance.
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Venue: Liberty Showcase Theater
- Location: Liberty
El Tri
Mexican rock band El Tri performs at The Ritz in Raleigh.
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Venue: The Ritz
- Location: Raleigh
Jack Johnson
Singer-songwriter Jack Johnson headlines a Saturday night outdoor concert at Walnut Creek.
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Venue: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
- Location: Raleigh
The Mountain Goats
Indie-rock favorites The Mountain Goats return to Durham for a performance at DPAC.
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Durham Performing Arts Center
- Location: Durham
Machinegun Earl
Machinegun Earl performs at Local 506 in Chapel Hill.
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Local 506
- Location: Chapel Hill
Carsen White
Carsen White returns for another late-night comedy performance.
- Time: 10 p.m.
- Venue: Goodnights Comedy Club
- Location: Raleigh
Sunday, August 23
Squeeze, Adam Ant and Haircut 100
Three defining names from British new wave and pop-rock share the stage for a major Sunday night concert in Cary.
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Venue: Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park
- Location: Cary
Kristin Key
Kristin Key closes the weekend with another comedy performance at Goodnights.
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Venue: Goodnights Comedy Club
- Location: Raleigh
Carrboro Indie Night
Discover local and regional performers during Carrboro Indie Night.
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Venue: Cat’s Cradle
- Location: Carrboro
Billy Idol
Rock icon Billy Idol brings his catalog of hits to Coastal Credit Union Music Park.
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Venue: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
- Location: Raleigh
Carsen White
Carsen White performs an additional Sunday night comedy show in Room 861.
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Venue: Room 861 at Goodnights Comedy Club
- Location: Raleigh
The Well
The Well performs at The Pour House Music Hall in downtown Raleigh.
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: The Pour House Music Hall
- Location: Raleigh
Kai and Clyde
Kai and Clyde close out Sunday night at Local 506.
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Local 506
- Location: Chapel Hill
Wednesday, August 26
Mustard Service
Indie band Mustard Service performs at Motorco Music Hall.
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Venue: Motorco Music Hall
- Location: Durham
Slow Teeth
Slow Teeth takes the stage at the Cat’s Cradle Back Room.
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Cat’s Cradle Back Room
- Location: Carrboro
Thursday, August 27
Eslabon Armado
Regional Mexican group Eslabon Armado brings its chart-topping sound to The Ritz.
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Venue: The Ritz
- Location: Raleigh
Shawn Gardini
Comedian Shawn Gardini performs at Goodnights Comedy Club.
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Venue: Goodnights Comedy Club
- Location: Raleigh
Ghalia Volt
Blues-rock musician Ghalia Volt performs at the Lincoln Theatre.
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Venue: Lincoln Theatre
- Location: Raleigh
Weight Shift
Weight Shift performs a Thursday night show at Local 506.
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Local 506
- Location: Chapel Hill
Destructo Disk
Destructo Disk takes the stage at The Pinhook in Durham.
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: The Pinhook
- Location: Durham
The Barons
The Barons perform at Kings in downtown Raleigh.
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Kings
- Location: Raleigh
Also on the Triangle Entertainment Calendar
Classic Country Jubilee
The Classic Country Jubilee brings traditional country entertainment to the historic Rudy Theatre in Johnston County. The date was not included in the supplied event listing, so confirm the schedule directly with the theater.
- Time: 12:45 p.m.
- Venue: Rudy Theatre
- Location: Selma
Plan Your Next Triangle Show
The biggest weekend highlights include Jordan Davis at Red Hat Amphitheater, Jack Johnson and Billy Idol at Walnut Creek, The Mountain Goats and “Hasan Hates Ronny” at DPAC, and Squeeze, Adam Ant and Haircut 100 at Koka Booth Amphitheatre.
Comedy fans can also choose from KevOnStage, Kristin Key, Jonnie W., Carsen White and Shawn Gardini.
Tickets, performance times, age restrictions and venue policies may change. Check with the venue or official ticket provider before purchasing tickets or traveling to an event.
Follow DoRaleigh.com for everything Raleigh, including Triangle concerts, comedy shows, nightlife, festivals and weekly event guides.
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#AdamAnt #August2026Events #BillyIdol #CarrboroEvents #CaryConcerts #ChapelHillConcerts #DoRaleigh #DurhamConcerts #events #Haircut100 #HasanMinhaj #JackJohnson #JordanDavis #KevOnStage #liveMusicRaleigh #News #RaleighComedyShows #RaleighConcerts #RonnyChieng #Squeeze #TheMountainGoats #thingsToDoInRaleigh #ThreeDogNight #TriangleBigTicketEvents #TriangleEvents -
CW: A spotlight on the live double LP from the Annie Haslam edition of symphonic prog band Renaissance (CW'd for length)
Renaissance – Live at Carnegie Hall (1976, UK)
Our next spotlight is on number 307 on The List, submitted by 955_36.
Formed from the ashes of (the original 1963-8 blues rock incarnation of) The Yardbirds, this band first began in 1968 as an acoustic duo of Keith Reif (vocals) and Jim McCarty (drums) named Together, expanding to a quintet who released a couple classical- and folk-tinged prog rock albums under the name Renaissance, the 1969 s/t debut and then Illusion (1971). The lineup then changed completely (though McCarty would continue writing songs for the group up to their 1974 release), with Annie Haslam joining on vocals following her audition in January 1971, plus John Tout (keys), Jon Camp (bass), Terry Sullivan (drums), and Michael Dunford (guitar). The group’s sound also evolved from about Ashes Are Burning (1973) on, bringing in a more orchestral sound and moving to symphonic prog, plus dropping their until-then frequent use of excerpts from classical pieces.
With such deep changes, it could be said that Live at Carnegie Hall catches the group just before the release of either their sixth or – if we consider this lineup an entirely different band – fourth studio album, Scheherazade and Other Stories (1975). Recorded during a 3-night run and backed by the New York Philharmonic, this double LP is essentially a “best of” of this second edition of Renaissance, with the entire second disc showing their epic just-as-good-as-in-the-studio chops via the 29-minute (and then still unreleased) “Song of Schedherazade” and (what seems to be a common fan favourite) the 24-minute “Ashes Are Burning”. After the release of this album, the band’s label (BTM, owned by the band’s former producer and soon to become The Police’s manager, Miles Coupland) went bankrupt, which resulted in their next studio album, Novella (1977), being released in the US before the UK.
Or, as The Mountain Goats put it:
“Six years hard labor on the heavy blues
they haggled and bargained when we gave them the news
one more long shift, then free to do as we please
stay home and stare at the trees
crystal clear transmission
in January ‘71 at the auditionMaybe you don’t recall,
but Renaissance played at Carnegie Hall
maybe you don’t recall,
but Renaissance played at Carnegie HallCan’t have the heavy drinking, there’s bills to be paid
money to be made
and no, before you ask, it isn’t all about greed
but can’t do what you like if you can’t get what you need
find where you fit in, make some wishes
maybe bet a little ambitiousMaybe you don’t recall,
but Renaissance played at Carnegie Hall
maybe you don’t recall,
but Renaissance played at Carnegie HallI don’t know if any footage survives,
but I can picture Annie Haslam onstage
They played their most popular song
And then another one that was twenty-nine minutes longMaybe you don’t recall,
but Renaissance played at Carnegie Hall
maybe you don’t recall,
but Renaissance played at Carnegie Hall”The Mountain Goats – “Annie Haslam Imperial Phase”
from Days (2026)Happy listening!
- Songlink: Renaissance – Live at Carnegie Hall or Sndlink: Renaissance – Live at Carnegie Hall[1]
- Discogs: Renaissance – Live at Carnegie Hall
- Fedizen @[email protected] created this tool which is similar to Songlink, but it includes some streaming services that Songlink doesn’t (e.g., Bandcamp, when available) and drops some that might not be that common any more. Let me know if y’all have a preference between the two, I can either include both or switch to Sndlink completely for future spotlights! ↩︎
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I have ordered a panasonic rx ft-530, partially because of the Mountain Goats and what John Darnielle achieved with an ft-500, but also because I would like to record another album like what I did before on a handheld cassette recorder.
I love cassettes.
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🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on #BBC6Music's #RileyAndCoe
The Mountain Goats:
🎵 Shallow Grave -
JD has become a much better singer over time, especially in the last few years. Listen to the most recent stretch of shows and a few from, lets say 2012, and you'll notice the difference almost immediately.
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I didn't know I needed a full band version of You Were Cool, but I kinda needed a full band version of You Were Cool. ❤️🎶
#TheMountainGoats #Music #LiveArchive #InternetArchive #Bootlegs
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🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on #BBC6Music's #RileyAndCoe
The Mountain Goats:
🎵 Shallow Grave#TheMountainGoats
#newRelease 🆕 single -
The Mountain Goats: All Hail West Texas (Merge MRG481, 2013)
The second shelf starts with a couple inches of Mountain Goats albums. This was the first one I heard, way back in 2001, and I’ve written a bunch about what it means to me (a whole lot), so when Merge reissued it on vinyl in 2013 I jumped on it. “I find great comfort in you.”
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Maybe everything that falls down
Eventually rises -
This song is for the rats
Who hurled themselves into the ocean
When they saw the explosives in the cargo hold
Were just about to blow -
Did what I always do when I'm feeling anxious nowadays: Downloaded a few more shows from the archive and sorted them into my collection to listen to them over the next few days. Couple things from 2019, 2020, bunch of In League With Dragons stuff in there from the looks of it. Exciting!
#TheMountainGoats #Bootlegs #InternetArchive #LiveArchive #Music
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Mountain Goats Release Album About Mountain Goats Albums
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The bass guitar on the new single from the forthcoming album by The Mountain Goats is ace 😊
Charlie Sheen Reaches Out To The Feds - The Mountain Goats
👍🏻
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/charlie-sheen-reaches-out-to-the-feds/1892515538?i=1892515645
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4Nx6uVBaesj4bx1tGCWeAz
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🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on #KEXP's #90TEEN
The Mountain Goats:
🎵 Peruhttps://themountaingoats.bandcamp.com/track/peru
https://open.spotify.com/track/5EU1VTFCSe7PPE1P3MFxGN
🎶 show playlist 👇
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/20Rz1l3z2ghKiLzcxe3HpQ🎶 KEXP playlist 👇
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6VNALrOa3gWbk794YuIrwg -
The Mountain Goats and Ron Sexsmith coming to the west coast in the same month!
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And I dreamt of a factory
Where they manufactured what I needed
Using shiny new machines
And the headstones climbed up the hills -
When we never make it back to California
I want you to know I love you -
Yesterday's poem, number 14.
[Hyperbaric Chamber Failure](https://myceliumgirl.codeberg.page/mycelialisms/blog/2026/01/poems-for-john-darnielle-going-to-norwalk/)#poetry #poemsforjohndarnielle #writing #Music #themountaingoats #thisyear
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And we have caught up with the calendar. Poem #13 for John Darnielle is coincidentally also called [Anattā Platinum #13](https://myceliumgirl.codeberg.page/mycelialisms/blog/2026/01/poems-for-john-darnielle-the-last-day-of-jimi-hendrixs-life/)
#poetry #poemsforjohndarnielle #Music #themountaingoats #thisyear #writing
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Our mother has been absent
Ever since we founded Rome
But there’s gonna be a party
When the wolf comes home -
Todays poem is called [Prayer of the Rogue Horologers](https://myceliumgirl.codeberg.page/mycelialisms/blog/2026/01/poems-for-john-darnielle-new-star-song/).
#poetry #poemsforjohndarnielle #Music #writing #themountaingoats #thisyear
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Our love is like the border between Greece and Albania
Our love is like the border between Greece and Albania
Trucks loaded down with weapons crossing over every night
Moon yellow and bright -
Yesterdays Poem, Today! Poem #10 for John Darnielle is called [Photokeratitis Revisited](https://myceliumgirl.codeberg.page/mycelialisms/blog/2026/01/poems-for-john-darnielle-seeing-daylight/)
#poetry #writing #poemsforjohndarnielle #Music #themountaingoats #thisyear
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🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on #KEXP's #MorningShow
The Mountain Goats:
🎵 See America Righthttps://themountaingoats.bandcamp.com/track/see-america-right
