Gone Primitive

Tonight John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats plays a solo show at the Duke Coffeehouse. John Vanderslice will open.

A Durham resident, Darnielle began playing under this alias in 1991, writing and recording on a boombox what would become his signature: brief, allusive lyrics played over acoustic guitar and piano. He has since released 16 full-length albums, the instrumentation and production values of which have grown considerably since his humble beginnings.

The band's lineup has been a revolving door of musicians, and performers at live shows vary from one concert to the next. However, the group has always centered around Darnielle and his lyrics, which are highly literate and filled with biblical references. Recently, his writing has tended to focus on personally emotional material, inspiring an even greater level of devotion from his already fervent fan base.

Opener John Vanderslice is a producer and singer-songwriter whose 2007 album Emerald City received critical acclaim. This is his second appearance at the Coffeehouse; he played a set last September. He has produced for the likes of Spoon and the Mountain Goats. His own music is rooted in acoustic guitar and augmented by electronic and synth flourishes, and his lyrics tackle politics and current events as well as more personal themes.