When alt-J came in to The Current studio, little did they know it would feel like a reunion of sorts. Before their show at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium, Gus Unger-Hamilton and Joe Newman of alt-J stopped at The Current studio to play some songs -- and to meet and swap stories with Mark Wheat, a person with whom they share a lot of common background.

One of Minnesota’s most famous bands, the Replacements, currently sit atop the Billboard Vinyl Albums Sales chart. This is the first time the band have hit number one on the vinyl sales chart, coming just two weeks after the much-anticipated release of For Sale: Live at Maxwell’s 1986. The Replacements were close to topping this same…

Though 'Cardinal' was released back in Feb. 2016, Pinegrove are still selling out venues, like The Entry, in support of it. After some teasing of new music over this past summer, the promise of new music from Pinegrove is here. They stopped at The Current studio to share some of it.

On Saturday, Oct. 21, at Icehouse in Minneapolis, Jillian Rae is celebrating the release of her new EP, 'Wanderlust.' As the title suggests, the songs have a common theme about traveling. Jillian Rae stopped by the Radio Heartland studio to play some songs from the new recording and to share a few tales from the road.

Without knowing each other's selections, both Jill and Brian chose songs for today's Song War that feature issues with a father. And at age 68, Billy Joel is expecting his third child. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that mention fathers?

Three hours before Pinegrove were even set to take the 7th St Entry’s stage, there was a line of fans queued up outside stretching down past the Depot. Clumps of friends talked about the band’s active Twitter presence, the possible set list, and just how long they’ve all been waiting to finally see the band…

BdotCroc, “One Day” As the wind blows through BdotCroc‘s hair, she unleashes a gale-force rap song about growth, her story, and being “humble with an attitude.” VSZN‘s direction shines during the last minute of the video, when this true performer darts behind flame and firelight. Joey Van Phillips, “Sights On (feat. Cecil Otter and Jacob Mullis)”…

The iconic drummer, songwriter, and performer Sheila E. visited the studio recently to talk with Tom Weber of MPR News and Andrea Swensson of the Current about her new album, Iconic: Message 4 America, which features interpretations of songs by the Beatles, Sly and the Family Stone, and Stevie Wonder, her long professional and personal relationship…

Tom Petty was born; Elvis had a hit with a rework of an 1860s folk tune; 'Monster Mash' became a Halloween hit; the Police played their first live gig in America; and the Stones had their first No. 1 hit in the States with 'Angie', Today in Music History.

Today's top music news stories include a rare public performance by Tina Turner, Jonny Greenwood responding to Fox News criticism of Radiohead, and Beck possibly inspiring Pharrell's hat.