Founded by singer-songwriter Jason Friedman in 2000 in New York City, the Boggs originally featured instrumental aces Phil Roebuck (banjo) and Ezekiel Healy (slide guitar). Spurred by Friedman's obsessions with Harry Smith-style roots music (the band was named after old-time banjoist Dock Boggs), the group hitched Appalachian folk to a spry garage beat acting as America's answer to the Pogues--with particular success on their punchy debut, WE ARE THE BOGGS WE ARE. As the original lineup dissolved, Friedman moved to Berlin and reformed the Boggs with a less acoustic, more contemporary indie rock bent.