I just saw our friends rock this song in Chicago, and I noticed it on another recent set list as well. Is this a new song? I went looking for it on Mr. Nall's awesome song list and didn't see it. Help a brother out with some info.

It's an old Nothing Painted Blue song that John has been covering for years. It's from their Placeholders album. Franklin Bruno and Peter Hughes were members of NPB. If you check out the live Mountain Goats shows on archive.org you'll find lots of live versions of Houseguest.

Thanks a bundle!

I have talked to a couple of people about this and wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience:
John didn't play guitar during Houseguest so about halfway through he started grabbing on to people in the audience and singing directly to them.
Afterwards he said something along the lines of "Thanks for bearing with me."
I thought the whole thing was great.

Yeah, that happened in St. Louis.

What a strange, strange, man

My favorite part of this was during one line John was attempting to make eye contact with a fan. The fan apparently looked away, as John yelled, "Look at me!" in between lyrics. (If that somehow reads arrogant in print, trust me, it was all in fun.) Is 2008 the year John finally gets passed around the crowd while singing into a wireless mic? Chicago is ready!

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I just found this video of houseguest with wurster doing drums. does anyone have the full audio OR a full video version of houseguest with wurster? it doesn't have to be from this show, just one in general? i really would like to hear it... it sounds pretty rad.

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John
it was actually 2 7"s btw and the mastering date was 5/1, I cancelled it this a.m.

This is why you should be nice to everyone.

i exprerienced it live with wurster, at that exact same show. it was great.

Last night in Seattle he played Houseguest. Did the whole touching the audience's faces and stuff. He looked into my friend Camille's eyes and sang her a lyric, which is awesome because she's an exchange student from France who leaves in less than a month and this was her first concert.
"I've done things in your room you'd be ashamed of" fucking great.

HERE is a version from 2010 with wurster on drums.

Houseguest is my favorite non-tmg song. I'm patiently waiting for the day when they play it in Pittsburgh.