The Hold Steady’s first album in five years, called Thrashing Through the Passion, is filled with the character studies the band is known for, with stories full of twists and turns. But how they’ve chosen to support the record is new territory; instead of a months-long tour across the U.S., they’re spending multiple nights in select cities – like Chicago, New York, and Seattle – and bringing a communal vibe to the proceedings. We’ll hear about the inspiration for the cast of characters in the new songs, and The Hold Steady perform live. On the next World Cafe.

World Cafe airs weekdays at 2:00 pm on KRCB-FM Radio 91 /  streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org  / Listen live on-the-go with the FREE KRCB Mobile App from the App Store & Google Play.

(Photo: The Hold Steady - Kelsey Stanger/WXPN)

Orville Peck may perform in disguise as a masked cowboy, but he also pushes at the boundaries of what country music can sound like. We talk about the mask, the songs he’s written, his pastiche of influences (like new wave, punk and gospel), and the response he’s received as a queer country musician. It’s Orville Peck on the next World Cafe.

World Cafe airs weekdays at 2:00 pm on KRCB-FM Radio 91 /  streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org  / Listen live on-the-go with the FREE KRCB Mobile App from the App Store & Google Play.

(Photo: VuHaus/via World Cafe)

The Bird and the Bee, made up of Greg Kurstin and Inara George, is an electronic jazz duo – But they happen to love Van Halen. So what happens when they re-imagine one of the greatest guitar rock bands of all time, without using guitars? Interpreting the Masters, Volume 2: A Tribute to Van Halen is a very different, but familiar, take on the hard rock icons. And it follows The Bird and the Bee’s first volume, covering Hall & Oates. We’ll hear how the Van Halen material presented different challenges, as well as opportunities, like taking the solos into the jazz piano world. Plus, The Bird and the Bee perform live. On the next World Cafe.

World Cafe airs weekdays at 2:00 pm on KRCB-FM Radio 91 /  streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org  / Listen live on-the-go with the FREE KRCB Mobile App from the App Store & Google Play.

(Photo: The Bird And The Bee - Courtesy of the artist)

Singer and guitarist of Vampire Weekend, Ezra Koenig stops by the Cafe! Their latest album, Father of the Bride, is the band’s first since founding member Rostam Batmanglij announced his departure from the group back in 2016. We’ll hear from Ezra about writing this new batch of songs – The soundtrack to the film Thin Red Line, and classic country duet partners, like George Jones and Tammy Wynette, were all inspirations for the new music. It’s Vampire Weekend, on the next World Cafe.

World Cafe airs weekdays at 2:00 pm on KRCB-FM Radio 91 /  streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org  / Listen live on-the-go with the FREE KRCB Mobile App from the App Store & Google Play.

(Photo: Vampire Weekend - Courtesy of the artist/via NPR)