Interview with Mandolin Orange January 30, 2020 In town for a show at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul, Mandolin Orange's Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz visited The Current for a conversation with Mike Pengra about what proved to be a meteoric year for the band, some of their side projects, the music of Bob Dylan, and what might be next for the Chapel Hill, N.C., outfit.
The Current's Guitar Collection: G. Love, Gretsch Rancher Falcon acoustic guitars January 30, 2020 When G. Love visited The Current studio for a solo session hosted by Mac Wilson, we were struck by his Gretsch guitars with their shimmering white finish. We got a chance to talk to G. Love about those guitars and more.
Raised in rock, Marcus King releases first solo album, 'El Dorado' January 18, 2020 NPR's Scott Simon talks with the 23-year-old guitarist about the tragic event that inspired him to start writing songs and what it was like to collaborate with The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach.
Taylor James Donskey peels back the layers on 'Paper Over It' January 14, 2020 Taylor James Donskey is celebrating the release of his album, 'Paper Over It,' with a show at Icehouse in Minneapolis on Thursday, Jan. 16. Before the show, Donskey stopped at Radio Heartland to talk to Mike Pengra and to spin some tracks from the album.
#Current15: Craig Minowa of Cloud Cult reflects on Rock the Garden 2008 January 9, 2020 Craig Minowa is the frontman of Cloud Cult, who played Rock the Garden in 2008, a year that saw the popular concert series at Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden return from a four-year dormancy. Minowa shares some memories from that first Rock the Garden of the modern era.
Prince: The Story of 1999 bonus feature: Dr. Fink, 'When Prince sang live, he was just impeccable' January 3, 2020 Matt Fink - aka Dr. Fink - was one of Prince's first keyboard players and is a member of the Revolution. In conversation with Andrea Swensson, Dr. Fink reflects on performing, recording and touring with Prince. 'He was always transforming himself into something different with every record,' Fink says. 'There was always something new and original and exploratory.'
Prince: The Story of 1999 bonus feature: Fred Armisen, 'I could talk about Prince endlessly' January 3, 2020 Actor, comedian and musician Fred Armisen ('Saturday Night Live'; 'Portlandia'; 'Late Night with Seth Meyers') discovered Prince shortly after the release of '1999.' In a conversation with Andrea Swensson, Armisen talks about how he first heard Prince and became a fan for life. 'Prince really became my favorite artist,' Armisen says. 'I really soaked up every lyric, every little drumbeat, everything about him.' Listen to Andrea's full conversation with Fred Armisen.
Prince: The Story of 1999 bonus feature: LeRoy Bennett, 'Prince was beyond anybody' January 2, 2020 Production/lighting designer LeRoy Bennett began working with Prince in 1980 and continued working with him until 1994. 'I was blessed that I started my life and this career with him,' says Bennett, who has gone on to work with such artists as Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande. 'Prince pushed you knowing that you were giving all that you could.' Listen to Andrea Swensson's full conversation with Bennett.
Prince: The Story of 1999 bonus feature: Jellybean Johnson, 'Prince knew we had something special here in Minneapolis' January 2, 2020 While making the documentary series 'Prince: The Story of 1999,' Andrea Swensson spoke to drummer and guitarist Jellybean Johnson, a legend of the Minneapolis Sound and a founding member of The Time. Andrea spoke to Johnson about what it was like coming up in music with Prince, and how Prince helped shape the sound and the look of The Time, the Revolution and more.
Prince: The Story of 1999 bonus feature: Bobby Z, 'Prince went from a caterpillar to a butterfly in that one purple trench coat' December 20, 2019 Bobby Rivkin - better known as Bobby Z - first met Prince in the mid-1970s and went on to become drummer for the Revolution. While making 'Prince: The Story of 1999,' Andrea Swensson spoke to Bobby Z about his many memories working with Prince, including Bobby's theory about Prince's famous purple trench coat. Listen to Andrea's full conversation with Bobby Z.