"John Darnielle is a great performer. Of course he is funny and energetic and a gifted songwriter, but also he is not afraid to be weird, ugly, strident, hit a curdled note, make strange faces, double over, sweat, pull his glasses off and put them on again a second later. It’s good to remember: you have to be embarrassing and awkward in the service of art. It’s part of the process. It’s real."
