The best and most influential band to emerge from Pawnee, Indiana, Mouse Rat's melodic alternative rock stylings made them heroes, at least in the eyes of the fictional characters on a popular TV sitcom. The brainchild of the sweet if impractical Andy Dwyer on the series Parks & Recreation, Mouse Rat were clearly influenced by the Dave Matthews Band and Hootie & the Blowfish in their amiable blend of upbeat melodies with a mix of acoustic and electric guitars. While Mouse Rat had a respectable career as a live band in the Parks & Recreation universe, they didn't release any music in the real world until the 2021 collection The Awesome Album.