Pitchfork

Mountain Goats fans who live in sunny, warm places (and the Pacific Northwest) can rejoice, as John Darnielle is headed to Australia (where it's summertime) with John Vanderslice in late December and early January. Then, come March, the Goats will make their way down the West Coast.

In other Mountain Goats news, Darnielle recently contributed a postcard to Pretty Panicks Press, a small company that, according to its MySpace, "prints rock and roll compositions, articles, and artwork material." The postcard is part of PPP's first large project, in which rock artists are instructed to decorate the front of a postcard and provide a brief statement or bio on its backside. Darnielle's offering is the second in the series, following one from Sharon Cheslow. On it, viewers will find the first page of the first draft of "Moon Over Goldsboro". Scope it out here and here.

And I never thought I'd say this, but John Darnielle and AOL seem to be friends. The company's Sarah Schaefer-hosted Internet video show The DL is currently streaming an interview and series of songs from Darnielle. (But what really gets us is the series of actual goat footage linked under Darnielle's performances. Ah, we do love funny animals over here.)

In the interview, Darnielle and Schaefer discuss Darnielle's Gothic history, a "very controversial" emo haircut, and more. Then, between annoying 30-second ads from AOL's sponsors, viewers can catch Darnielle playing "Song for an Old Friend", "Woke Up New", and "Maybe Sprout Wings".

Dates:

12-30 Marion Bay, Australia - Falls Festival
12-31 Marion Bay, Australia - Falls Festival
01-02 Perth, Australia - Club Capitol *
01-03 Adelaide, Australia - Fowler's Live *
01-05 Melbourne, Australia - Corner Hotel *
01-06 Sydney, Australia - Century Theatre *
01-07 Brisbane, Australia - Zoo *
03-01 Seattle, WA - Neumos
03-02 Seattle, WA - Tripe Door
03-03 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
03-04 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
03-07 San Francisco, CA - Independent
03-08 San Francisco, CA - Independent
03-09 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
03-11 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey

* with John Vanderslice