Steering clear of strict categorization, the tenured musicians in Railroad Earth have managed to merge multiple genres with bluesy riffs, acoustic instrumentation and a mesmerizing live show. We caught up with mandolinist John Skehan while the group was laying down tracks in a private home studio on the western edge of New Jersey to learn a little bit about how the group manages to keep things exciting on stage by viewing their music as a conversation -- one that can go on all night long if you let it.

See also: - The 25 best concerts this winter/spring - Railroad Earth releasing acoustic set recorded at the Ogden Theatre - Photos: Railroad Earth at Red Rocks, 8/21/11