Listen to The Current’s Morning Show every weekday at 9 a.m. to hear news from around the world of music.
Friday, October 16
Zach Bryan Announces 2027 “Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs Tour” (Consequence)
Zach Bryan’s new album just dropped today. It’s called, Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs, and now he’s announced a tour in support of the record. The run of shows will kick off at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis with John Fogerty and folk singer Fey Fili also on the bill. The show will be on April 28.
The Beatles’ ‘Rubber Soul’ Reissue Drives Album to No. 1 on Top Rock Albums Chart (Billboard)
The Beatles’ Rubber Soul album is back on the charts! This is after a deluxe reissue of the album was released on October 2. It’s now at number one on the Top Rock Albums chart, the Top Album Sales chart, AND the Vinyl Albums Chart. Rubber Soul was originally released in 1965 and has the songs “Drive My Car,” “Nowhere Man,” and others on it. The reissue is available now.
Justice are behind the ‘Grand Theft Auto 6’ soundtrack (NME)
There has been a lot of buzz about the new Grand Theft Auto 6 game AND the soundtrack, and now it seems like the reason why has been revealed. It turns out that French electronic duo Justice composed the 34-track album, and the songs were specifically written for the game. Justice’s new song “Flower In A Hurricane” is featured in the new trailer for the game – it’s a collaboration with Tame Impala, SZA, and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. The full track list for the GTA6 soundtrack hasn’t been released yet, but nine of the songs have been revealed. It looks like Cardi B, Travis Scott, Morgan Wallen, and Keith Richards have all made the cut. Both the Grand Theft Auto 6 video game and soundtrack will be out on November 19.
Blondie Announce First Album in Nine Years (Pitchfork)
Blondie is back! The new wave pioneers have announced their first album in nine years, and they’re getting some help from Johnny Marr, Glen Matlock from Sex Pistols’, Zach Condon from Beirut, and more. The record is called High Noon, and Blondie gave a preview of it with a new song called, “Spectral Eyes” that was written by and features Johnny Marr. Debbie Harry said in a release that, “This album is classic Blondie—an amalgamation of all our different influences and eras into something new. This music feels grounded in the present, shaped by who we are and how we're living now.” The new album is produced by John Congelton and is the last with co-founding drummer Clem Burke, on it. He passed away at the age of 70 last year. High Noon will be out on February 26.
Thursday, October 15
Loretta Lynn’s Van Lear Rose Is Returning to Streaming (Pitchfork)
Loretta Lynn’s Van Lear Rose album will return to streaming after a five-year hiatus. The comeback album was released in 2004 and disappeared from streaming services in 2021. Lynn made the album with Jack White, and Third Man Records has announced that it will be getting a reissue on vinyl and CD, and along with that, it will also go back up on streaming services. You can watch for the reissue of Van Lear Rose to drop on November 13.
‘Hamilton’ Hits Milestone 500th Week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Cast Albums Chart (Billboard)
Fans of the musical Hamilton can rejoice because the original cast recording just hit a major milestone: Hamilton: An American Musical just marked its 500th week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Cast Albums chart! It’s the first, and only, time an album has done this. It first debuted at number one on the Cast Albums chart on Oct. 17, 2015, which is almost 11 years ago.
Big Thief Launch Free Concert Archive (Pitchfork)
Big Thief have launched a concert archive that is accessible to everyone. It’s called the Big Thief Live Archive, and fans can enjoy 10 fully mixed shows right now, though the band has plans to add new sets each month. The project was inspired by the Grateful Dead and their easily accessible slate of live albums. Big Thief is gearing up to release a triple album called Horsepower. It’s expected to be released in Spring.
Just 31, this Minnesota musician will play Turf Club gig before brain surgery (Star Tribune)
Jake Luppen from Hippocampus announced on Instagram yesterday that he will undergo a six-hour surgery to remove a lesion on his brain. He said in part, “About seven years ago, a migraine-prompted MRI revealed a 9 mm lesion on my brain, right near my basal ganglia. This past summer a routine scan showed some possible growth in this lesion, which prompted an EEG test - to my surprise, the panic symptoms I had been experiencing were actually focal seizures.” He went on to say that he couldn’t ask for a better surgical team to perform this surgery, which is scheduled for November 6th. The Star Tribune has reported that the band will play a sold-out show at the Turf Club on Monday and that the show sold out yesterday – the same day it was announced.
Wednesday, October 14
Joni Mitchell Becomes An American Citizen (Stereogum)
There’s a new American citizen in town, and it’s legendary singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell! Mitchell shared a post on Instagram yesterday of her at the ceremony and holding a small American flag with the caption “A journey that began 62 years ago.” Mitchell first moved to the U.S. from Canada in 1965, and now lives in California.
Michael Stipe’s Debut Solo Album Almost Has a Release Date (Pitchfork)
There has been a lot of talk about former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe’s debut, solo album. He first spoke about it in 2023 when he told New York Times Magazine that was in “no rush” to release it. Now, Stipe has revealed to the Los Angeles Times that the first single will drop on New Year’s Eve, and that the record will drop in May of 2027. The album still doesn’t have a name yet, but we’re getting closer! Stipe is working with Andrew Watt on the new project as well as Athens, Georgia songwriter, engineer, and producer Andy LeMaster, and others. One song has already been put into the world; Stipe performed a new song called “The Rest of Ever” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Matchbox Twenty Celebrate 30th Anniversary With North American Tour Dates: Full List (Billboard)
If you didn’t get to catch Matchbox Twenty at the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival last summer, then there’s good news: The band is headed back to the North Star State as part of its 30th anniversary tour! The celebration will stop at Mystic Lake Amphitheater in Shakopee on July 31. David Gray will also be on the bill.
Tuesday, October 13
Art Garfunkel has postponed a run of shows in the U.K. tour due to being diagnosed with a respiratory infection. The 84-year-old singer’s What a Wonderful World tour was supposed to kick off tonight in Watford, England. Garfunkel said in a statement that he almost didn’t go to the doctor due to rehearsals, but his wife, Kim, insisted that he keep it. Now, he’s under doctor’s orders to get some rest and recover. The shows are expected to be rescheduled.
The Raconteurs Reunite for First Performance in Seven Years (Consequence)
You really never know what you’re going to get at a Jack White show. Fans at his show in Nashville were treated to a reunion from The Raconteurs during the encore at his show last Saturday night! It was the first time in seven years that the group has shared the same stage, and they played a five song set that included “Steady, as She Goes,” “Hands,” “Level,” “Broken Boy Soldier,” and “Carolina Drama.” The reunion was teased on social media earlier in the day. The last time the band played together was in 2019 after the release of their third album, Help Us Stranger. The Raconteurs debut record, Broken Boy Soldiers, is getting a special release from White’s Third Man Records’ Vault series to celebrate it’s 20th anniversary.
Zach Bryan Announces New Project Featuring Song With Lana Del Rey: Here’s When It Arrives (Billboard)
Zach Bryan has announced a new album! It has eight songs on it and is called, Young Manhood & Other Donatable Organs. The record has a couple of special features on it – most notably from Lana Del Rey on the song “Lies” and Turnpike Troubadours on a song called, “Plainsman.” You don’t have to wait too long for the new project to drop; it’ll be out on Friday.
Taylor Kraemer Splits With VIAL (Stereogum)
Big news from Minneapolis punk outfit VIAL. Bandmember Taylor Kraemer announced on social media that she is leaving the band. She said on Instagram “'I’ve recently made the massive (and equally scary) decision to take a step back from VIAL. After 7.5 years as a founder of the band, co-lead vocalist, one of the lead songwriters, bassist, keytarist, social media manager, and wearer of many other hats, this comes as much of a shock to me as I'm sure it does to you. Ultimately, I had to do what was right for me and my wellbeing. I need to be spending more time focusing on my health, family, friends, cats, community, and, as of recent, obtaining my MBA.” She went on to thank fans and her bandmates and said that she doesn’t plan to stop making music and will be in the studio soon. Vial are currently on the road as the openers for L7 on the Last Hurrah tour; the group’s fifth studio album, Hellhound, came out earlier this year.
Monday, October 12
Remi Wolf Announces 2027 Tour, Releases New Album Mud: Stream (Consequence)
Remi Wolf has announced a tour in support of her new record, Mud. She’ll be stopping at The Armory on March 12.
Grand Theft Auto VI Radio Stations to Feature Bad Bunny, Robyn, and Lana Del Rey Alongside Her Husband (Consequence)
The new Grand Theft Auto video game will have some special guest voices to help set the mood. Bad Bunny; Lana Del Rey and her husband, Jeremy Dufrene; Robyn; Slayer’s Kerry King and Tom Araya; Burna Boy; Trick Daddy; and Morgan Wallen have all been announced as hosts on the in-game radio stations. There will also be in-demand podcasts for each main character in the game. GTA6 drops November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The game also has a soundtrack that will be release the same day and has a whopping 34 tracks on it from artists like Travis Scott, Morgan Wallen, Keith Richards, PinkPantheress, Fred again, and more.
Cher Continues Her Story in Part 2 of Bestselling Memoir: Shop the New Book Here (Billboard)
Cher released the first part of her memoir back in 2024 and announced back then that there would be a second part. Now, Cher: Part Two: The Memoir is officially available for preorder. The first book took us through her childhood and marriage to Sonny Bono, and ended around 1980, which is where part two will pick up. It will be released on April 20, 2027.
City of Los Angeles to Declare “Billy Idol Day” on November 13th (Consequence)
Billy Idol is set to get a whole day of recognition. The City of Los Angeles has announced that November 13 will officially be “Billy Idol Day.” The honor will fall just one day before Idol is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The proclamation will be made by Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez who will present both Idol and guitarist Steve Stevens with the honor before they give an acoustic performance. They’re also set to appear at Aerosmith’s comeback show at The Hollywood Bowl on October 29.
Billy Bragg and Wilco to Release Expanded Box Set of Woody Guthrie Project Mermaid Avenue (Consequence)
Billy Bragg and Wilco teamed up to record unpublished songs that were written by Woody Guthrie back in 1998 for what was eventually released as Mermaid Avenue, and in 2000, Mermaid Avenue Vol. II. Now, an expanded edition has been announced. Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions features the three original volumes of the project, as well as alternate versions, live cuts, and demos. You can expect the updated version to be released on December 11.
