* all photos copyright Alex Myers 2005 *
The second night at the club (click here to see photos from the first night), but this time it was all ages. John Darnielle poured out his heart for these kids, making sure everyone in the club got a really special performance. Peter Hughes was even more rocking than the night before, if that's even possible. And John Vanderslice got up onstage several times, most amazingly, to blow us all away by teaching the cute cute drummer from the Double the beat to Palmcorder Yanja. That foursome proceeded to rock the sold out crowd harder than we could have ever dreamed. I'm still not sure how to isolate the night into words, but I think I'm in love. And now, some photos!
This is what I'm talking about. Perfection.
Early in the night, someone handed up a shot of alcohol. Peter leans down to inspect, sadly declaring it to be scotch.
John explains that he cannot sing the t-shirt song again. Really. Because it was improvised and thus not a song. Really.
Peter stands on the side and laughs.
Is John Vanderslice in the house?
Hell yeah, JV and JD. One microphone.
Linda Blair Was Born Innocent
John teared up during Game Shows Touch Our Lives but I couldn't
bring myself to take a picture
The mood becomes overwhelmingly happy as the boys gear up for Palmcorder Yanja
John Vanderslice ran over to the back of the stage to help the drummer
from The Double nail the beat on Palmcorder. It was literally the
first time they'd all played together.
Everyone was going nuts and I had no time to switch my camera settings.
But I love everything this shot and moment meant right then, JV grinning
and encouraging.
GO GO GO!
Possibly my favorite photo of JV. You can't fake this level of energy and love.
Yeah!
John Darnielle takes the stage during the encore and waits for Peter Hughes to join him.
Peter elegantly returns to the stage.
But then JD realized he needed a capo. And that was how "John Vanderslice
and His Magic Box of Gear" came to the rescue, one last time that night.
"This song is a song that I want you to remember when the time comes for you to say something horrible to somebody you used to love ..." -- introducing No Children
More information about the stunning and always surprising mountain goats can be found at http://mountain-goats.com/ and http://www.themountaingoats.net/
And if you'd like more information about John Vanderslice, I recommend http://johnvanderslice.com