In the angry “Black Molly,” a narrator makes a dramatic statement about a former love.

Track: “Black Molly”
Album: Bitter Melon Farm (1999)

“Black Molly” was recorded live in Virginia, most likely in 1996. The liner notes on Bitter Melon Farm confirm it was at Tokyo Rose, which means it’s probably this show. Right after, John Darnielle played “Waving at You,” which he’s called one of the angriest Mountain Goats songs. Later in the night, he delivered a 1-2-3 of “Nine Black Poppies,” “Going to Georgia,” and “Raja Vocative.” He opened with “Alpha Omega” and closed with “Cubs in Five.”

There’s a lot that makes this show compelling. Every song he played came out on an official album, which is rarely true these days, but there’s also a through line to the set list. They’re all about pain in relationships. True, a significant chunk of the catalog is, but this show really stands out. Even the songs where he steps off the gas like “Minnesota” and “The Recognition Scene” have dark connections. It’s important to remember that most of the catalog isn’t autobiographical, but it’s clear that on this night in September of 1996, John Darnielle wanted to talk about how things can take a turn.

Every version of “Black Molly” is great, but the crowd here adds a sense that this is a shared experience. A black molly is either a vicious fighting fish or a slang term for speed, depending on usage. Either one works for the furious narrator in “Black Molly.” The character rends their garments and breaks their stuff when they realize someone is in town and coming to visit them. “You were dragging me down again,” they say, as they fire bullets into reminders of their former love like a ringing phone and photographs. This person is unhinged, to be sure, but they’re at home emotionally among the other narrators on that night in 1996.