Although he's from Chicago, Ezra Furman names a lot of Minnesota-bred talent among his influences, Bob Dylan chief among them. 'Bob Dylan opened a door in [my] brain,' Furman says. 'That's what we want records to do, right?' Check out the complete in-studio session, hosted by The Current's Mac Wilson.

'Sad songs can make you feel better.' That's how Frank Turner neatly sums up the inspiration and emotion behind his latest album, 'Positive Songs for Negative People.' In a recent in-studio session hosted by Jade, Turner performs songs from the album and vividly describes his deep 'obsession with rock 'n' roll and with songwriting as an art form.' Check out the complete session.

'People just download one or two songs rather than listening to an entire album,' laments Blitzen Trapper's Eric Menteer. Nevertheless, the Portland, Ore., outfit have persevered for 15 years and counting. Blitzen Trapper share their thoughts on the state of the music industry and play songs from their latest album, 'All Across This Land,' during a recent visit with The Current's Bill DeVille.

As a teen, CHVRCHES' Lauren Mayberry discovered emo and feels that CHVRCHES' recent album, 'Every Open Eye,' treads in similar ground. 'It just means music with emotional content,' she says. 'That's what I look for in the music I listen to.' Listen to CHVRCHES' in-studio session and interview with Mac Wilson.

Ever since he was 14 years old, Fraser A. Gorman has often heard he looks like Bob Dylan. 'If I had a dollar for every time,' Gorman says, 'damn, I'd have like, a thousand bucks.' Ten years on, Gorman sounds a bit like Dylan, too. He stopped by The Current's studio for a chat with Bill DeVille ahead of Gorman's show at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis.

Ahead of her show at the Varsity Theater, London's Lianne La Havas stopped by The Current to perform live in-studio and to chat with host Mark Wheat about her latest album Blood.

A rock opera is no small undertaking, but Titus Andronicus's front man Patrick Stickles was inspired by something deeply personal. 'It's an allegory for my own personal struggles,' Stickles says, '[but] I'm not unique in my experiences; people around the world feel the way I do.' Check out the full session.

Ahead of their show at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, Of Monsters and Men stopped in to The Current's studio to play some songs and to chat with Mac Wilson. They talk about their latest album, recorded in Reykjavik and Los Angeles, and they coyly mention an upcoming appearance on TV's 'Game of Thrones.'

Ahead of their gig on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at First Avenue in Minneapolis, Big Star's Third stopped in to The Current's studio for a live session hosted by Bill DeVille. The musical collective perform tracks from Big Star's legendary 'Third' album, and DeVille chats with Ken Stringfellow and Big Star original member Jody Stephens.

Following the release of their self-titled debut album, Carroll stopped by The Current to perform live in-studio and to chat with host David Campbell of The Local Show.