Mountain Goats electrify folk-rock fans

For a brief period of time Tuesday, fans who’d come to see folk-rockers The Mountain Goats at… For a brief period of time Tuesday, fans who’d come to see folk-rockers The Mountain Goats at Mr. Small’s Funhouse were transported to the warm southern air of North Carolina.

The Durham, N.C.,-based folk-rock band took the stage at the appropriately atmospheric Mr. Small’s as part of its ongoing tour. Also featured was Megafaun, a group based out of the same state.

As the opening act, Megafaun wasted no time utilizing the resonating acoustics of Mr. Small’s, starting its set with powerful guitar riffs that were, among other things, loud.

Audience engagement was a staple of Megafaun’s set: Bassist Brad Cook often leaned out beyond the stage, nearly touching people in the middle of the crowd. The near-capacity audience also acted as back-up vocalist for the band’s final two songs: “Woo woos” and “mmm mmms” emanated from the fans as the members of the band nodded in apparent approval.

By the end of Megafaun’s time on stage, the anticipation had risen considerably. Murmurs in the crowd could be heard speculating what song The Mountain Goats might start with.

“All I know is if they play ‘No Children,’ I’ll seriously cry,” one audience member said.

Suddenly, the stage went dark, and a death metal ballad began emanating from the speakers. Confused audiences cheered and whistled as the members of the long-awaited Mountain Goats emerged onstage.

The band started the show with songs from its new album, All Eternals Deck, such as “Damn These Vampires” and “For Charles Bronson.” Around the middle of the set, lead singer John Darnielle asked the audience for song suggestions. A wave of screams and shouts emerged from the audience.

Darnielle responded: “To be completely honest, I can’t understand a word you guys are saying.”

As things quieted down, one request could be heard clearly: “Best Ever Death Metal Band In Denton.” Darnielle obliged the fan and began the song. By the end, the audience, tired from chants of “Hail Satan,” was taken by complete surprise when the band abruptly began the classic, tear-inducing track “No Children,” eliciting cries of “Oh my God, yes!”

The band then left the stage in what appeared to be the end of the show. The fans didn’t buy it: Raucous applause and clamoring ensued, and soon after the band emerged to play two more songs from its new album.

Then something amazing happened: another encore. This time, the members of the opening act Megafaun joined The Mountain Goats onstage for an intense five minutes of what can only be described as a good ol’ time.

All the musicians exchanged smiles, and a few lucky audience members in the front row got hugs from Darnielle.

“Mind equals blown,” one crowd member said at the end of the show. Indeed, that’s really the only way to describe The Mountain Goats’ performance.