To get you in the mood for what will surely be a special evening, Conor Oberst stopped by The Current studios on the afternoon before his Fitzgerald Theater performance squeeze in a few bonus songs omitted from his set tonight.

"How Do You Like Me Now?" is the title of The Heavy's smash-hit single that has been featured in movies, television shows and commercials since 2009. And the world's answer to their question is increasingly: "A whole lot!"

Brother Ali is a local hip-hop icon who's been in the game for over a decade. He stopped by The Current studio to chat with Barb Abney about his new album and play a few songs.

The Valdons were one of the most popular funk and soul groups of the late '60s and early '70s in the Twin Cities. After disbanding, the quartet never dropped their passion for music, continuing to perform with other bands and as solo artists. So Minnesotans and the rest of the world are getting a rare treat: the modern day reincarnation of The Valdons courtesy of Secret Stash Records.

The sprawling Brooklyn-based group Antibalas has a core of eleven members but frequently incorporates other musicians, with each collaboration adding unique wrinkles to the band's funk and jazz-inflected Afrobeat sound.

The musical chemistry between Liam Benzvi and Francis Jimenez is immediately apparent on the layered electro-jams that fill their first studio EP.

On May 18, 2012, indie soul singer and producer Mayer Hawthorne stopped by First Avenue in Minneapolis for a show, and The Current has the full audio for your listening pleasure.

Many of you saw them open the magical evening that was Minnesota Music On-A-Stick, but for any unlucky fans who may have missed their Grandstand-worthy performance, the band decided to stop by the MPR booth again and play ANOTHER set of music for State Fair fans.

Bomba De Luz only just put out their debut record "What A Heavy Weight," but the high-school band are already darlings in the local music community. With a CD release show that featured too many opening acts to count such as Brian Laidlaw, Twinkie Jiggles Broken Orchestra, Ill Chemistry and Guante, the young group is quickly finding their sound and finessing their craft.

Koo Koo crashed the MPR booth to kick it with Jill Riley and Steve Seel and bring the boogie to the onlooking crowd.