Who knew Claremont was a breeding ground for super-talented songwriters? Indie band the Mountain Goats hail from the front porch of the inland empire, but listening to their jams, you'd never know it. Driven by the creative efforts of songwriter John Darnielle, the Mountain Goats somehow managed to snag the attention of The New Yorker Magazine, who said Darnielle was America's best non-hip-hop lyricist. The hallowed snob rag might be on to something. And though many of the songs are sung in a minimalist, low-key, piano-accompanied format, her voice is a tad reminiscent of the trebly warble of analog crusader Steve Albini. Think of the Mountain Goats as Shellac on a couple of Xanax.
Tue., June 21, 9 p.m., 2011
