The Mountain Goats are led, as always, by singer, songwriter, and now - bestselling novelist, John Darnielle. Their latest record is Goths, recorded in a fancy Nashville studio via the console that Steely Dan used on Aja, insists on being "not-that-hardcore," yet absolutely is in its novel orchestration: there is not a single guitar on the record. However, the subject matter is a series of sympathetic and tongue-in-cheeky looks into the black hearts of those who grew up as part/are part of an adolescent (or adult) goth tribe, and those who don't plan on ever leaving it. 

The Mountain Goats have expanded to a quartet these days, but John and pianist and sax player Matt Douglas have a duo version that they like to trot out occasionally; this is one of those occasions.