Oh, it is a good day when I get to tell you that former Sunday vegetarian John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats is embarking on a solo tour. Not a good day - a great day. I mean. The Mountain Goats live is a wonderful experience. But I’ve heard that Darnielle solo shows are the height of amazing. Well, let’s take a look at a solo performance of his right now. How about an Ace of Base cover?

How could you not want to witness this? The tour, which kicks off March 18 in Asheville, North Carolina, will also feature John Vanderslice, who’s really good in his own right - I’ve seen him live, as well, and it’s a great show. So, the concept of the shows is not Vanderslice plays, and then Darnielle plays, and then we’re done. Oh, no. It’s not. Let’s let Darnielle tell us (via his website), about the show:

We are going to light out for the Territories in a van with two acoustic guitars, some notebooks, our soundman Brandon and a pouch full of charms against ill omen. We are going to get elemental. We are going to stomp our feet and hammer at the strings until we get what we want from them. We, a couple of guys named John, are going to tour, is what we’re going to do. We’re going to stand alone onstage and play our guitars and sing old songs & new, and then we’ll probably play together. We are going to sit side by side with our acoustic guitars like two out of the five guys on the Five Man Acoustical Jam album, only with fewer Tesla songs. Because the whole point of playing an acoustic guitar is not to unplug. It’s to get raw and draw blood.

That. Sounds. Awesome. In addition to that, Darnielle is auctioning off the chance to be put on the guest list (with a +1, of course), for ever single show on the tour. And, “to sweeten the pot,” as Darnielle puts it,

the winner will be able to attend a soundcheck. Maybe even two soundchecks, depending on how deep into his usual on-tour-psychotic-depression thing John D. gets this time around. But one soundcheck for sure!

The money raised in this auction will go to help Anna Ives, a 4-year old girl with a brain tumor, whose father is co-owner of Goner Records. So takepart and see what other items are up for bid to see if you can’t find something you’d like that will help Anna continue her treatment. And, to end on a happier note, go see John Darnielle, live, any of these following dates and times!

March
18 - Asheville, NC, the Grey Eagle
20 - Norfolk, VA, the Atticus Theatre
21 - Washington, DC, Sixth and I Synagogue
24 - Northampton, MA, Pearl Street
25 - Somerville, MA, the Sommerville Theatre
27 - New York, NY, the Society for Ethical Culture (part of the Wordless Music series)
29 - Gambier, OH, Kenyon College
30 - Oberlin, OH, Oberlin College
April
1 - Chicago, IL, Epiphany Episcopal (tickets here)
2 - Champaign, IL, Courtyard Café at University of Illinois
3 - Iowa City, IA, the Mill, Mission Creek Music Festival
4 - Richmond, IN, Earlham College
6 - Bloomington IN, Buskirk-Chumley Theater