Music

Kevin Morby's new album is unlike anything he's done before. Gone is the guitar (for the most part) from his earlier recordings. In its place are more droning instruments — sounds more suited for church than the concert hall, including a recurring, small choir. The subject for the album is God and our culture's relationship with God, from deep introspection to the trivial, everyday use of that ever-present expression "oh my God."

This story is part of American Anthem, a yearlong series on songs that rouse, unite, celebrate and call to action. Find more at NPR.org/Anthem.

We welcome back an influential and iconic musician to the punk and hardcore scene, Bob Mould. After blazing trails in the '80s with Hüsker Dü, and in the '90s with Sugar, Mould has had a successful solo career for the last 25 years.

WCBE is looking forward to the return of Bobby Long to perform Live From Studio A in advance of this show that night with Alex Barnes at the Rumba Cafe!

He's out on the road with a brand new release Sultans and we're happy he'll be making a stop in Columbus!

Rock fans fell in love with The Cranberries in the early '90s, thanks, in large part, to the haunting, Celtic-inspired voice of the Irish rock band's lead singer, Dolores O'Riordan. The Cranberries, made up of O'Riordan on lead vocal, guitarist Noel Hogan, bassist Mike Hogan and Fergal Lawler on drums, created an intoxicating juxtaposition of grunge and alternative pop, with O'Riordan's lilting lyrics searing through right in.

Slothrust will perform Live From Studio A in advance of their show that night at The Basement with Summer Cannibals!

Tune in for live music, conversation and a chance to win tickets to the show!

When Mikaela Straus, who records as King Princess, says "I've never been subtle. I don't think now is the time," she means it. Straus is a producer, multi-instrumentalist, writer and emerging gay icon with incredible confidence charisma and the musical chops to back it up.

WCBE is looking forward to hosting Charlie Hunter and Lucy Woodward Live From Studio A in advance of their show that night at Natalie's in Worthington!  They're out on the road together with a new album Music!Music!Music!

WCBE is looking forward to the return of Texas troubadour Dale Watson & The Lone Stars to peform Live From Studio A during the Global Village!

He's out on the road with his new release Call Me Lucky and we're happy they're making a stop in Columbus! You can catch them that night at Woodland's Tavern!

Instagram might have one believe that family life with young children involves vegetables carved to look like rocket ships in gluten-free lunchboxes, or that new mothers can prance around fields with newborn babies in pristine white linen dresses that are never covered in grass-stains or baby spit.

In 1986, Bruce Hornsby became famous for his single "The Way It Is." But since then, he has embraced the constant evolution of his musical style throughout his career, experimenting with jazz, classical and even country. Never the same kind of musician, Hornsby has jammed on the accordion with the Grateful Dead and composed movie soundtracks for Spike Lee.

It sort of stood to reason that after winning multiple Grammys this decade — including one for Album of the Year — Beck would retire to the cushy corners of modern alt-rock. As a testament to that, he even collaborated with Cage the Elephant earlier this year. But Beck, ever the disruptor of standards, took a pivot into left-field. He's announced a new album, Hyperspace, as well as a new single, "Saw Lightning" today. It's due out, according to a press release, "at an as yet undetermined point in the space time continuum."

We have less than two weeks left in this year's Tiny Desk Contest entry period, and we're seeing more and more entries (and desks) we love each day. So just as we've done for the last two weeks, we've rounded up a few of our favorites from the Contest so far.

We hope these songs inspire you to send us a song of your own if you haven't already — you've got until Sunday, April 14!

Quinn Christopherson, "Erase Me"

These days, a six-year gap between albums practically qualifies as a hiatus. In the case of Vampire Weekend, it's been enough time to experience a 2014 Grammy win, a significant departure (Rostam Batmanglij left in 2016), a major-label deal, years of touring and a long, deliberately paced lead-up to Father of the Bride, out May 3.

Cleveland's The Lighthouse And The Whaler will perform Live From Studio A in advance of their show that night at the Rumba Cafe with Cinders!

Karl Denson has one of the coolest side gigs in the world. In 2015, he took over for Bobby Keys as the saxophonist for The Rolling Stones. In his day job however, he's the leader of Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, a fusion of funk, jazz, soul, and rock.

Roger Charlery, best known as Ranking Roger, singer of the widely influential U.K. group The Beat — known as The English Beat in the U.S. — died Tuesday afternoon, at 56. The singer was diagnosed with brain tumors and lung cancer last year. His death was announced on the website of The Beat, and confirmed to NPR by the group's manager, Tarquin Gotch.

WCBE is looking forward to hosting Ben Dickey Live From Studio A in advance of the show that night with Hayes Carll at Stuart's Opera House in Nelsonville, OH!

He's out on the road with his brand new release A Glimmer On The Outskirts produced by Charlie Sexton. 

For the NPR Music team, the Tiny Desk Contest is an annual opportunity to learn about undiscovered artists we might not otherwise hear. We hear from artists in every imaginable genre from all across the country. We're still accepting entries for a few more weeks — until April 14 at 11:59 p.m. ET — but we've already started to see entries we love. Here are a few that caught our attention this week.

Four Play Clarinet, "Soulful"

WCBE is looking forward to the return of Trevor Hall to perform Live From Studio A in advance of his show that night at Columbus Athenaeum with Dirtwire and Will Evans!

The sibling act BAILEN will join us Live From Studio A in advance of their show that night at The Basement with The Rad Trads presented by WCBE!

WCBE is looking forward to hosting Samantha Fish with Jonathan Long Live From Studio A in advance of the sold out show that night at Natalie's Coal Fired Pizza & Live Music presented by Crazy Mama's Concerts and WCBE!

Tune in for a live acoustic session, conversation and a chance to win tickets to the show!

It's all waiting for you on 90.5FM Columbus, 106.3FM Newark and on line at www.wcbe.org!

Maggie Rose and her eight piece band will perform their blend of Rock/Soul/R&B Live From Studio A in advance of the show that night at A&R Music Bar with Them Vibes!

Tune in for live music, conversation and a chance to win tickets to the show!

 Got a song you want the world to hear? The 2019 Tiny Desk Contest is now open! If you're an unsigned musician, you could win a chance to play the Tiny Desk at NPR headquarters and tour the country with NPR Music!

WCBE is looking forward to hosting Van Hunt Live From Studio A in advance of his show that night at Natalie's Coal Fired Pizza & Live Music!

Tune in for live music, conversation and a chance to win tickets to the show!

It's all waiting for you on 90.5FM Columbus, 106.3FM  Newark and on line at www.wcbe.org!

Just when it seems the shadow of The Beatles can't get any longer and everything in rock has been done before, along come Sean Lennon and Les Claypool, asking the musical question: What if, instead of ducking The Beatles, you embraced the band's tricks — the galumphing marches, the sun-dazed harmonies — and then made them a little weird?