Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
For decades, A Prairie Home Companion has been an American institution. The homey, folksy, and tenderly clever radio broadcast has enriched millions of people’s lives. The show was the brainchild of Garrison Keillor, and while he’s tried to step away from the show or rebrand it in the past, he officially let it go this year. Now it’s in the more-than-capable hands of Chris Thile — and you should really give this “new” Prairie Home Companion a listen.
The first thing you should know about Chris Thile is that he is something of a musical genius, literally. The mandolin player, singer, and songwriter was a 2012 MacArthur “Genius” Grant recipient and has been professionally performing since he was 8 years old. Over the years, he’s released solo projects and worked with internationally-acclaimed bluegrass bands like Nickel Creek and The Punch Brothers. Thile is particularly known for his ability to blend genres. Though his music has its roots in bluegrass and folk, it also has the precision of classical music and the soul of alt rock. It might not seem like Thile was an obvious choice to replace Keillor, but the musician has been a long-time mainstay on the show. He first appeared on a broadcast at the tender age of 15 back in 1996.
Thile has only been stewarding the show for a few months, but already it seems to have a new zip. Recent guests have included Paul Simon, Maria Bamford, Tig Notaro, Ben Folds, Ed Helms, and Aparna Nancherla. This weekend’s broadcast, to be recorded live from The Town Hall in New York City, will feature Marcus Mumford (of Mumford & Sons), Corinne Bailey Rae, and Trevor Noah. So, Thile is attracting a flashier, younger kind of guest to the program. However, my favorite part is the “Song of the Week.” You can’t download the show as a podcast due to music rights, but Thile is offering up his own original compositions and favorite highlights in podcast form after each show. For instance, “I Made This For You” is a glorious post-election anthem that I’d recommend to any American right now.
You can listen to the slightly revamped show the traditional way on the radio. (Click here for a list of public radio stations and schedules.) How to tune in if you aren’t the kind of person with a radio in your apartment? Well, you can livestream the broadcast from the official website, prairiehome.org. You can always listen to the audio from that site and you can watch the show if it’s being taped in either Saint Paul or New York City. And of course, find it in podcast form using iTunes, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, TuneIn, or RSS. You can watch video highlights on YouTube.
