Death Metal. Yes, Death Metal– but I don’t know what band, and I’m pretty sure the majority of their fans had no clue either. At just past ten on Tuesday, Dec. 1 The Mountain Goats took to the stage with a metal song supporting their grand entrance, a necessary prep for frontman John Darnielle’s ever-whiny but endearing voice as well as his soft piano keys, of course. What ensued, however, was nothing short of a fantastic folk show. “I like the idea of some things remaining intimate,” remarked Darnielle while discussing the new trend of recording every single one of a band’s performances. Their thoughtful, story-based songs were even further enhanced by Darnielle’s explanatory narratives of how the lyrics came to be; witty, yet relatable tales of his life experiences that kept everyone laughing. The music was spirited, and even when Darnielle switched between playing his guitar and keyboard he assured the audience that he “was still the same guy” and the show kept on rolling. For their last few songs and two encores (playing the crowd-favorite “This Year” during the first) the band included their opening act, violinist Owen Pallett from the band Final Fantasy, further creating a sense of intimacy within the venue. The Mountain Goats gave a few waves before concluding their set, but they left us hooked, craving infinitely more Mountain Goat.