Music like john darnielle

John Darnielle ( dar-NEEL; born March 16, 1967) is an American musician and novelist best known as the primary (and often solitary) member of the American band the Mountain Goats, for which he is the writer, composer, guitarist, pianist, and vocalist.

Born in Bloomington, Indiana, Darnielle grew up in San Luis Obispo, California with an abusive stepfather (as referenced frequently in The Sunset Tree).

Darnelle often attended professional wrestling matches with his stepfather at the Grand Olympic Auditorium. Here, he developed a passion for the sport and local wrestlers like Chavo Guerrero Sr. His childhood history with wrestling would go on to inspire the Mountain Goats' 15th album, Beat the Champ.