Check out photos from the Corner here

In a career spanning almost twenty years, The Mountain Goats have done their impressive utmost to treat Australian fans. Following the release of their latest LP, The Life Of The World To Come, the three-piece returned to the Corner Hotel in their fifth nationwide tour. It was clear that the novelty had not worn off as, entering the venue, the support for the trio was palpable, punters amassing across each corner of the band room long before the first act of the evening.

The support would be local band Crayon Fields, mainstays of the Melbourne music scene. They’re a band that specializes in a kind of mid-paced indie optimism. The set rarely strayed from a formula they’ve undoubtedly nailed: front man Geoff O’Connor’s reserved lilt drifted gently alongside dreamy landscapes forged by a tight ensemble of strumming guitars and tidal keys. They look and sound like a bunch of musicians who are familiar with each other, a group that has played together for as long as they have, such is the precision of their well-rehearsed repertoire. Their music straddles a variety of genres, from pop to folk, to lo fi, often blending each together across the duration of their performance. The result is not one which hits you square between the eyes, rather, Crayon Fields prefer to wash over you calmly. But from this observation, there’s much to expand upon. Whilst pleasant enough, Crayon Fields could yet be swept aside by those listeners longing for that offensive, engaging spark. It seems only natural to applaud them – they are, after all, good at what they do – but a stretch, perhaps, in a general sense, to feel any great excitement. When Crayon Fields profess in a style that compels you to sit up and take notice, you can bet they’ll be enormous.

The Corner was well and truly packed out for The Mountain Goats sold-out appearance, punters chatting and murmuring as psychadelic projections swamed over the screens side of stage. The curtains opened and 1 Samuel 15:23, the first song of the night, was a slice of brooding, ominous rock that became a brilliant introduction. As expected, their configuration was typically minimalist; only acoustic and bass guitars, as well as a drum kit to be found. It’s this sparse combination that, with front man John Darnielle, proves so successful: his distinct vocal talent, each line delivered with clarity and charisma, sentiments drenched in wit and intrigue. As important as the instrumentation is to The Mountain Goats, or indeed any band, on this particular evening, it took a back seat, as Darnielle’s poetry ultimately stole the show. Lion’s Teeth followed as the second song of their set, and whilst it may have missed an all-important string section, it only worked to further showcase the trio’s respective talents.

Fans were keen to hear their favourites – a bemused and exasperated Darnielle musing “No Children third in the set? What kind of a show is that?!” – as requests came thick and fast between songs. The crowd were happy to accept almost anything The Mountain Goats had to offer, though, including the folk-inspired, recurring lament of Woke Up New, as well as the emphatic, barnstorming vows of This Year. Darnielle is a natural, friendly performer, embracing a dialogue with his audience wherever possible, his amusing anecdotes and insights into his craft drawn upon at each interval. It’s this kind of humanity and warmth that really lingers on afterwards as a staple of the show, as much as the music itself.

Sure enough, an encore ensued, and the wish of No Children would finally be granted to The Mountain Goats’ many longing fans. A cover of Nothing Painted Blue’s Houseguest also featured, and the band effortlessly made it their own, as Darnielle got amongst the adoring crowd. Much to the surprise of the Corner – as many had already started leaving as the lights dimmed once more – a second encore was on the cards. For those that stuck around, it was a real treat, and worked to affirm The Mountain Goats’ continuing and professed love for Melbourne.

I guess realistically, there’s not much to expect from The Mountain Goats live show that you mightn’t already imagine whilst listening to their records. But that’s a substantial part of the appeal here. It’s all so well done. The songs are recreated faithfully and expertly, the favourites and obscurities are played, and everything in between is one hell of a bonus. This was an engaging, intimate show that was superbly on par with, if not better than the band’s previous appearances Down Under.