Dinner with the Band Season 2 Episode 3 The Mountain Goats

Dinner with the Band is a cooking show with a twist- each episode features a different musical guest, who not only cooks with the host Sam Mason, but also performs live music throughout the episode. In season 2 episode 3, we are treated to a visit from indie rock stalwarts The Mountain Goats.

As the episode opens, we see Mason preparing a dish of roasted chicken with roasted carrots and parsnips, which he notes will complement the goat-heavy diet of The Mountain Goats' frontman, John Darnielle. Mason is still cooking when Darnielle arrives, accompanied by his bandmates Peter Hughes and Jon Wurster. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, with Darnielle commenting on Mason's impressive gelato-making skills and Wurster joking about his love of boxed mac and cheese.

After a brief chat, the band gets to work on their first song, "The Legend of Chavo Guerrero." As they play, Mason continues to cook, carefully monitoring the temperature of his chicken. When the song is over, Darnielle takes a moment to explain the inspiration behind it- the legendary Lucha Libre wrestler Chavo Guerrero, who Darnielle sees as a kind of hero figure.

With the first song out of the way, Mason and Darnielle move on to the night's main course, a goat curry. Darnielle is clearly excited about the prospect of finally being able to cook with goat, which he says is a cornerstone of his diet. As they chop vegetables and brown the goat meat, Darnielle talks about his childhood in southern California and his early musical inspirations.

After some more cooking and some good-natured ribbing between bandmates, The Mountain Goats perform another song, "Andrew Eldritch Is Moving Back to Leeds." This one is a bit more somber than the first, with its haunting melody and lyrics about a tortured artist returning to his hometown. Despite the dark subject matter, the band's performance is impressive and intense.

As the curry simmers on the stove, Darnielle takes a break from cooking to talk to Mason about his songwriting process. He explains that he writes most of his songs on a cheap Yamaha keyboard and records them on a primitive tape recorder, which gives them a raw, unpolished feel. Mason is visibly impressed by Darnielle's DIY ethos and dedication to the craft of songwriting.

The cooking portion of the episode wraps up with Mason and Darnielle putting the finishing touches on the goat curry, which looks and smells amazing. The bandmates gather around the table to dig in, with Darnielle declaring it "the best curry I've ever had." As they eat, they discuss their upcoming tour and remind viewers to always support independent music.

The final performance of the episode is a rendition of "This Year," perhaps The Mountain Goats' most famous song. It's an upbeat and anthemic tune, with Darnielle delivering the lyrics with the passion and conviction of someone who has lived through some tough times. By the end of the song, Mason and the band are all clapping and singing along, clearly having a great time.

Overall, Dinner with the Band season 2 episode 3 is a satisfying and entertaining episode, showcasing the considerable musical and culinary talents of The Mountain Goats and their gracious host Sam Mason. The combination of cooking and music is a novel one, and it's clear that all involved are having a blast. Fans of indie rock and cooking shows should definitely give this episode a watch.