Khruangbin — Little Joe and Mary Ii (Live for The Current)
•February 24, 2026
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Why It Matters
The performance expands Khruangbin’s audience through public radio exposure and leverages the platform to disseminate vital emergency‑relief information.
Key Takeaways
- •Khruangbin performed "Little Joe and Mary ii" live on The Current
- •Band emphasized improvisational grooves and atmospheric instrumentation throughout set
- •Host thanked audience repeatedly, creating intimate, appreciative concert atmosphere
- •Brief public service message directed viewers to FEMA resources
- •Performance highlighted Khruangbin's evolving sound and fan engagement
Summary
Khruangbin took the stage on Minnesota Public Radio’s The Current to deliver a live rendition of “Little Joe and Mary ii,” a track from their latest album. The performance was streamed in real time, offering listeners a rare glimpse of the band’s on‑stage dynamics.
The set emphasized the group’s signature blend of funk‑laden grooves and ambient textures, with extended improvisational passages that highlighted each member’s instrumental prowess. Throughout the show, host remarks repeatedly thanked the audience, reinforcing an intimate, community‑focused atmosphere.
A brief interlude interrupted the music for a public‑service announcement, directing viewers to FEMA’s website for disaster‑relief information. The host’s repeated “Thank you” and a spoken note about “cleaning and healing” underscored the program’s dual purpose of entertainment and civic outreach.
The broadcast illustrates how live radio sessions can amplify an artist’s reach while simultaneously promoting public‑service resources, reinforcing The Current’s role as both cultural curator and community partner.
Original Description
Khruangbin perform "Little Joe and Mary ii" live in studio
Ten years ago, the Houston-based band Khruangbin gathered in a barn in rural Texas to record what became their debut album, "The Universe Smiles Upon You." A decade later, the band members reconvened in that same barn to revisit that music — sessions that resulted in a 10th-anniversary “revisited” edition of the album, which Khruangbin have dubbed "The Universe Smiles Upon You ii."
While on tour in support of the revisited album, Khruangbin were in the Twin Cities to play at First Avenue in Minneapolis. Before the show, they stopped at The Current to play selections from The Universe Smiles Upon You ii, creating a sound that The Current’s Jill Riley has described as “space twang.” Watch a performance of "Little Joe and Mary ii" above.
Musicians
Laura Lee – bass, vocals
Mark Speer – guitar, vocals
Donald DJ Johnson – drums, keys, vocals
Will Van Horn – pedal steel, synthesizer, auxiliary percussion
Credits
Guests – @Khruangbin
Host – Jill Riley
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video – Evan Clark
Audio – Eric Xu Romani
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Production – Luke Taylor
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