The Mountain Goats

John Darnielle had a troubled childhood and adolescence in central California, spiraling into a period of drug abuse and addiction. As a young adult, he channeled that anger and confusion into finely crafted lyrical songs, forming the indie rock band the Mountain Goats. Sometimes consisting solely of Darnielle, and sometimes with collaborators, the Mountain Goats were prolific and persistent, releasing more than a dozen albums over the course of twenty years and becoming a beloved indie rock institution. Darnielle then moved into literature, getting nominated for the National Book Award for his first novel, Wolf in White Van.