, Chris Thile continues to make the long-running and much-loved radio program very much his own. The October 22 edition of 

 featured the outstanding house band, the First Call Radio Players, along with singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell, Denver soulsters Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, and writer/comedian John Hodgman.

Sticking true to his promise of a new original song each week of the show, Thile rolled out a new tune, "Dates" — a song to celebrate the romantic side of autumn.

Sarah Jarosz, a member of the house band, performed a version of her original song, "Green Lights," from her most recent album 

And Thile rolled out the Punch Brothers' tune, "I Blew It Off," collaborating on the performance with the First Call Radio Players.

Rock the Garden alumni and headliners of The Current's upcoming holiday show at First Avenue, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, brought their signature style to 

 with performances of "Wasting Time" (video below) and "I've Been Failing You" from their self-titled debut album, while later rolling out their new song, "Out on the Weekend." And when the show went off air, Rateliff and company regaled the all-standing Fitzgerald Theater audience with a cover of The Band's "Ophelia."

New England singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell performed "Now You Know," from her 2014 album, 

, and she brought some world music to the stage and the airwaves with an Arabic lullaby, "El Helwa Di." Thile joined Mitchell for a performance of Mitchell's song, "Why We Build the Wall," from her 2010 concept album 

Not to be outdone, John Hodgman wrapped up a lively comedic story with an earnest solo ukulele cover of The Modern Lovers' "Roadrunner," encouraging a sing-along with an enthusiastically obliging Fitzgerald audience and eliciting a lot of love from listeners tuning in in Massachusetts (the music portion begins at 6:27 in the video).

Musical surprises from the evening included Chris Thile's mandolin versions of the John Williams' cantina music from 

. And a new segment of the show, tentatively titled "Stump the Band," resulted in Thile and the First Call Radio Players performing a requested cover of Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters," the theme song from the film of the same name.

Tune in or stream The Current on Sunday at 10 p.m. Central to hear the encore presentation of 

 with Chris Thile. The show will also air on Radio Heartland on Wednesday, Oct. 26, a 7 p.m. CDT.

A Prairie Home Companion with Chris Thile

Punch Brothers perform live in The Current studio

Sarah Jarosz performs in the Radio Heartland studio

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats perform in The Current studio

Digital Producer

Sara Fish for MPR

Luke Taylor

On his second show as host of 'A Prairie Home Companion,' Chris Thile, along with the First Call Radio Players and guests Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Anais Mitchell and John Hodgman rocked the Fitzgerald Theater and a listening audience with original music and with covers of the Modern Lovers, Ray Parker Jr., and John Williams. Watch some video highlights from the show, and hear the rebroadcast on The Current on Sunday at 10 p.m.


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