The Mountain Goats and The Hold Steady

The Mountain Goats are led by prolific songwriter and novelist John Darnielle, who began the project in 1991. Known for literary, impressionistic character studies, they evolved from lo-fi cassettes like Nine Black Poppies to albums like The Sunset Tree and Beat the Champ.

Formed in New York in 2000 by ex-Lifter Puller members Craig Finn and Tad Kubler, the indie punk rock band the Hold Steady fused Replacements-style bar band vigor with Springsteen-esque musical backdrops. Known for literate, impassioned storytelling, they released their debut album, Almost Killed Me, in 2004, followed by acclaimed records including Boys and Girls in America and The Price of Progress.