Since its inception in the late nineties, American Mars has been a musical anomaly in their hometown of Detroit. In a town often passed over by touring Americana acts and dominated by garage and punk, the band has persevered for over a decade with its unique brand of atmospheric roots-influenced rock. The band’s latest full-length release, Western Sides (2008), was released on Gangplank Records (Blanche, Friendly Foes, LaSalle).

American Mars’ 2003 release, No City Fun, combined indie-rock e...