The Mountain Goats

I've been to a lot of gigs over the year's but I don't think any of them have ever had as good an intro as The Mountain Goats tonight. A ten bell count echoed around Shepherd's Bush Empire before a 5-minute recording of an old school wrestling promo where 'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes “called out” 'The Nature Boy' Ric Flair. This is due to the Mountain Goats latest album being an homage to his years growing up watching professional wrestling. A strange idea for a concept album, maybe. But it's one that turns out to be incredibly poignant and the gig itself is testament to that fact.

'Southwestern Territory' kicks off the gig proper, its a playful little romp that sees Darnielle talking about the joys and lows of the road of being a professional wrestler around that time. Or on the 'Ballad of Bull Ramos' where he recounts his subjects post-retirement accident "And the doctor recognizes me/As the operating theatre grows dim/'Aren't you that old wrestler with the bull whip?'/'Yes sir, that's me. I'm him." 'Foreign Object' and 'Heel Turn 2' also get rousing renditions tonight and the album solidifies itself with a little more pomp after the live treatment.

But Darnielle has arrived in London with his band in tow and a back catalogue like few others and the fans really respond to the classics and rarities. The spellbinding heartbreak of 'You Were Cool' is performed solo by Darnielle, a track never recorded by the Mountain Goats but a firm favourite when playing live. A cover of the Extra Glens' 'Going to Marrakesh' also gets a warm reception having been buried deep in the vault of Darnielle from a long time ago.

But the encore section probably encapsulates the band as good as anything. Few other bands could finish with songs as strong as these, like the wrestlers he admired Darnielle knocks the crowd out with tales of heartbreak smattered in gorgeous melodies. He tells us a story of the only time they've been on MTV they were censored before blistering into 'This Year' which sees the front section get lairy and rightfully so. Darnielle smiles like a loon, dances like there was no tomorrow and thrives off the energy in the crowd. There is time for another sing-a-long with 'Up the Wolves' before the ultimate Mountain Goats staple 'No Children' as we all scream in unison the best anti-love track of recent times – "There is no sign of land. You are coming down with me. Hand in unlovable hand. And I hope you die I hope we both die." Cathartic, poignant and silly. That just about sums Darnielle and the gig up in one neat little package.