Jill Riley co-hosts Oake and Riley in the Morning on The Current with Brian Oake, 6-10 a.m. She joined The Current when the station launched in 2005, fresh from her college radio station, KVSC-FM, Saint Cloud State University. She has hosted a variety of DJ timeslots on The Current, from overnights to Saturday night's "Radio Free Current" show.
The day after playing a solo show at the Turf Club in St. Paul, Ty Segall stopped at The Current to record a solo acoustic session for Oake and Riley in the Morning. 'It's really scary and really challenging,' Segall says of doing a solo acoustic tour. 'I'm kind of obsessed with trying to do stuff that either I shouldn't do or that's hard for me or that's frightening or just super fun.'
Judd Apatow has been a writer, director or producer (or all of the above) on so many iconic TV shows and films -- from 'Freaks and Geeks' to 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin' to 'Bridesmaids' to 'May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers' -- but Apatow has been returning to his roots in standup comedy. Ahead of his Nov. 7 engagement at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis, Apatow spoke to Brian Oake and Jill Riley about his work.
Minnesota band Now Now stopped at the MPR booth at the Minnesota State Fair to perform a live set as part of Oake and Riley in the Afternoon. Between songs, the band members talked about their upcoming tour plans and bonded with Brian Oake over their shared roots in the Twin Cities area's northern suburbs.
Before opening Saturday's Music On-a-Stick concert at the Minnesota State Fair grandstand, singer-songwriter Lissie stopped at the MPR booth to perform two songs and to chat with The Current's Brian Oake and Jill Riley. Watch video of the performance and interview.
In an interview with The Current's Jill Riley, recording artist and former Journey frontman Steve Perry announces new music and a forthcoming album, expected this fall. Perry explains his deeply personal motivation to return from isolation, and he also shares a story about Prince that is pretty mind blowing.
Having released one of the most acclaimed albums of 2017, 'The Nashville Sound,' Jason Isbell, along with Amanda Shires and Sadler Vaden of the 400 Unit, stopped at The Current for a session performed before a live audience in the Forum at MPR.
St. Paul native Louie Anderson is so busy -- with his hit series 'Baskets' on FX, with a new book, a new comedy special and a string of standup shows -- but he still found time to stop by Oake & Riley in the Morning to share some stories with Brian and Jill. 'It's a magnificent love and responsibility to make people laugh,' Anderson says.
Neko Case returns with her seventh studio album 'Hell-On', out now on Anti- Records.
On Tuesday, June 12, all eyes turned toward a determined and confused raccoon just outside of Minnesota Public Radio's headquarters. The #MPRraccoon scaled the side of the UBS tower in downtown St. Paul. Overnight, the #MPRraccoon safely made it to the roof and was successfully live trapped. So for today's Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear for the #MPRraccoon? Send your requests.
Arctic Monkeys are back with their sixth studio album, 'Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino' out now on Domino Records.
David Byrne talks with Brian Oake and Jill Riley about his creative process, love of biking, and upcoming Minneapolis shows.
On Friday, May 11, Mason Jennings releases his new album, 'Songs From When We Met,' which was recorded in the woods near Eau Claire, Wis. Jennings, who describes it as an album about love and healing, stopped by The Current to talk to Brian Oake and Jill Riley about what inspired this output of new music.
Comprising band members from England, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, Superorganism are a musical collective now based in the East End of London. 'I was actually surprised that people find it surprising that we're an internet band,' says Superorganism lead vocalist Orono Noguchi. Superorganism recently visited The Current for a session hosted by Oake & Riley.
This Friday, March 2, Moby releases his latest album, 'Everything Was Beautiful, And Nothing Hurt.' In the run-up to the album's release, Moby spoke to Oake & Riley about what influenced the album and its themes, which emerge from Moby's reflections on 'who we are as a species.' Listen to the complete interview.
Ahead of his sold-out show at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis with his band, the Sensational Space Shifters, Robert Plant took some time to talk with The Current's Jill Riley about his latest record, his admiration of Duluth's Low and even a few thoughts on Led Zeppelin's 50th anniversary.
Touring in support of his 2017 album, 'Half Light,' Rostam, along with his touring string quartet and percussionist, visited The Current studio to chat with Oake & Riley and to perform songs from his album, as well as a cover of a beloved tune by Nick Drake.
As Jill Riley was prepping for an interview with Amy Shark, suddenly, it clicked. She felt so connected to the music that she became absolutely smitten with Shark's songwriting.
The Rural Alberta Advantage wrapped up a massive tour with a show at First Avenue in Minneapolis, followed by a visit to Oake and Riley in the Morning before jetting back to Toronto. 'We always enjoy coming back to Minneapolis,' says front man Nils Edenloff. 'It was really good. It was probably the best way to kind of end our U.S. tour.' Hear more from the band as they look back on their tour and play songs from their latest album, 'The Wild.'
Oake and Riley's Jill Riley shares her top songs of 2017.
Before his sold-out show in the First Avenue Mainroom on Monday, Nov. 20, Liam Gallagher took some time to talk with Jill Riley and Brian Oake. 'I don't see myself as an artist,' Gallagher says. 'I see myself as just a rock and roll singer who writes a tune every now and again.' Listen to the full interview and read highlights from the conversation.