The IC Bureau of Concerts, along with the ubiquitous Dan Smalls, presents Mountain Goats tonight at 8 at Emerson Suites. Tickets cost something in advance, something more at the door (whaddya want from me, research?).

Here are five things you should probably know:

1. The name "Mountain Goats" remains plural whether or not core member John Darnielle is playing with a band or alone. One assumes this is because no one would pay good money to see "Mountain Goat," though it's also likely that Mr. Darnielle is continuing along the same American indie thread of names styled to befuddle audiences (Ted Leo/Pharmacists, Akron/Family, Al Roker Death Cult Wind Ensemble).

2. Mountain goats as we know them in the U.S. are called oreamnos americanus, and are unique to North America. They differ from the "true" goat species found elsewhere on the planet. The sort of real goat that might live on a mountain falls under capra aegagrus; in essence, wild goat. They live in packs of up to 500 and inhabit mountainous regions from southern Europe through central Asia and across the Indian subcontinent. Little is known about their taste in music.

3. John Darnielle at one time worked as a psychiatric nurse, which no doubt came in handy while on that Barenaked Ladies cruise ship gig a while back.

4. Mountain Goats love to create song cycles, the most robust of which is the "Going to" series of nearly 50 songs ("Going to Bangor," "Going to Bogota." etc.). Which I suppose kinda makes MG the Hope and Crosby of the musical underground.

5. Darnielle has written more English-language songs about the Mesoamerican deity Quetzalcoatal than anyone else ever has or will, unless Rush decide to crank up the concept album machine one last time.

 

Here's a clip of Mountain Goats doing "Woke Up New" -- enjoy the show!