I used to work with a guy who prided himself in visiting as many countries and destinations as possible, and then tell everyone all about it. It wouldn’t have been so bad, except he had an annoying habit of using the word “did” to describe his experience. Instead of talking about his experiences in Kenya, he would summarise it by saying, “we did Kenya, then did Johannesberg afterwards”. I realised it was more important to him to say he had been to the country, than it was to actually go there and see things. He was a man who liked to tick boxes off. Last week I ticked a box of my own off – only I hope not as superficially as my old Mobil comrade. There are a handful of bands which I have sufficient longstanding obsessional interest in to say that if I see them, my life is somehow more complete. In the past,these have been Radio Birdman, The Tactics, The Clean, Cheap Trick, The Pixies, Bob Mould and Pere Ubu. Now, John Darnielle has joined my list. I heard his “band” The Mountain Goats in the mid-1990’s on 3RRR and thought they were great – the sort of nasally American voice which turns a lot of Australians away, yet a passionate, desperate man, with lovely poetic lyrics and the balls to talk about relationships how they really are. I went out and bought his Nothing For Juice CD the next week and loved it. Over the years I’ve bought plenty more, and each time he brings out a new one, I think I’m over him, yet there’s always a couple of songs which hook me. He played at the Northcote Social Club (- where else!) last Sunday night to a full house, accompanied by another chap who looked remarkably similar. I was thrilled to find his between-song banter engaging and his facial ticks quite evident. He slugged down a yellow Coopers Stout and made statements about how much he loved it. I looked down at mine and knew we were meant for each other (in the most civilised platonic way of course!). The only band left on my list is The Fall, and that’s going to take a UK trip oneday. The singer is in his mid fifties and is in poorish health. Not much time left! 
John and Peter sing their tunes.