In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, a new month brings a new set of album anniversaries, including classics from The Miracles, Four Tops, L.L. Cool J and more.

Also, lots of new music from Brandi Carlile, Jalen Ngonda, Lucinda Williams with Brittney Spencer and Sloan!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for November 1, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “What Good” – Arkells
• “Call On Me” – Daniel Caesar
• “Keeper” – Courtney Marie Andrews
• “All About Me” – Jalen Ngonda
  
• “What It Is” – Will Sessions ft. Dames Brown
  
• “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” – LL Cool J (November 1985)
  
• “Something About You” – The Four Tops (November 1965)
• “You Sexy Thing” – Hot Chocolate (November 1985)
• “Unpopular Ideas” – The Mammals
  
• “k.i.s.s.” – keiyaA
• “The Bridge” – Mike Reid & Joe Henry (Acoustic Cafe preview)
• “Ain’t Nobody Making Me High” – Bartees Strange
  
• “Let It Bleed” – Rolling Stones (November 1995)

• “Unshielded Desire” – John Abercrombie, Dave Holland & Jack DeJohnette
  
• “Straight, No Chaser” – Bruce Hornsby, Christian McBride & Jack DeJohnette
• “If You Want Me” – The Womack Sisters
  
• “Chicken Wings” – Samm Henshaw
• “Back To The Land” – JR JR
• “Hey Lover” – LL Cool J ft. Boyz II Men (November 1995)
• “Good Day” – Tally Hall (November 2005)
• “Give Me One Reason” – Tracy Chapman (November 1995)
• “Witch Dance” – Florence & The Machine
• “Heathcliff” – Snocaps (Katie & Allison Crutchfield)
• “The World’s Gone Wrong” – Lucinda Williams ft. Brittney Spencer
  
• “Night In” – Brittney Spencer
• “shut up” – Royel Otis
• “Going To A Go-Go” – Smokey & The Miracles (November 1965)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, Brandi Carlile returns to self, and Cautious Clay returns with late night songs.

Also, tons of re-issues from Smashing Pumpkins, Elton John, Ringo Starr and more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for October 25, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “5th Floor (10 PM)” – Cautious Clay
• “Dracula” – Tame Impala
• “Dearborn” – Bahamas
• “Misled” – Kool & The Gang
  
• “The Day is Long” – The Whiskey Charmers
  
• “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” – Smashing Pumpkins
  
• “Tonight, Tonight” – Leslie Odum Jr.
• “Norwegian Wood” – Jacob Collier
  
• “Nothing More Lonely” – St. Paul & The Broken Bones
  
• “Church And State” – Brandi Carlile
• “Run It Back” – Madison McFerrin
• “Let’s Do It Again” – The Staple Singers
• “Tell Me When The Whistle Blows” – Elton John

• “Rubberband Man” – Mumford & Sons + Hozier
  
• “The Rubberband Man” – The Detroit Spinners
• “Way Out, Way Down” – Peter Litvin
• “Dans Un Moment D’errance” – The Midnight Hour
• “Thieves In The Temple” – Herbie Hancock
• “Thieves In The Temple” – Prince
• “Fatal Optimist” – Madi Diaz
• “Early 1970” – Ringo Starr
• “Snookeroo” – Ringo Starr
• “By the End Of The Night” – Amber Mark
• “Cruisin'” – D’Angelo

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, a fond farewell to D’Angelo, with cool Detroit connections.

Also, brand new St. Paul, Courtney Barnett, Oklou ft. FKA Twigs, Amber Mark, and lots more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for October 18, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “viscus” – Oklou ft. FKA Twigs
• “Tie You Down” – HAIM ft. Bon Iver
• “Get Back Again” – The Tragically Hip
• “Stay In Your Lane” – Courtney Barnett
  
• “Pleasure Zone” – Laura Rain & The Caesars
  
• “Lady” – D’Angelo
• “Be Here” – Raphael Saadiq ft. D’Angelo
• “Over” – Robert Glasper ft. Yebba
  
• “Close To Home” – Flock Of Dimes
• “Big Money” – Jon Batiste
• “So Far To Go” – J Dilla ft. Common, D’Angelo
  

• “Stars Above” – St. Paul & The Broken Bones
  
• “Doing Now” – Hannah Jagadu
• “6th Ward” – Trombone Shorty
• “You Won’t Dig My Grave” – Josh Ritter
• “Ain’t Hurtin’ Nobody” – John Prine (Acoustic Cafe performance, 1995)
  
• “Feel Like Making Love” – D’Angelo
• “Sugah Daddy” – D’Angelo
• “I’ll Stay” – RH Factor ft. D’Angelo
• “The Highway Knows” – Molly Tuttle
• “Let Me Love You” – Amber Mark
• “She’s Always In My Hair” – D’Angelo

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, lots of interesting new pairings from Robert Plant to Robert Glasper, Oklou to Donny Hathaway…

Also, brand new Detroit music from Peter Litvin, Don Was, and lots more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for October 11, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Up” – Danger Mouse, Black Thought, Rag n’ Bone Man
• “Aquamarine” – Danger Mouse, Black Thought, Michael Kiwanuka
• “Everybody’s Song” – Robert Plant and Suzi Dian
• “Rock & Roll” – Langhorne Slim
  
• “Highway Tune” – Greta Van Fleet
• “Hold On To You” – Belle Canyon
• “Midnight Rider” – Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
• “I Just Don’t Want You” – The Womack Sisters
  
• “This Is My Country” – Don Was (Pan Detroit Ensemble)
  
• “Disarray” – Lianne La Havas
  
• “Break The Jaw” – Madison Cunningham
  
• “Where Is The Love” – Donny Hathaway, Roberta Flack
• “Leave The Door Open” – Silk Sonic (happy 40th birthday Bruno Mars!)
  

• “Collect Yourself” – Sloan
• “Fascination In The Dark” – Vance Joy
• “Lonestar” – Charley Crockett
• “Sand Into Stone” – Tuneyards
• “Not Over You” – Peter Litvin
  
• “Just For Pleasure” – Young Gun Silver Fox
• “We Are One” – Maze
• “You Need A Hero” – Pages
• “Yard Sale” – Priscilla Block
• “Pour The Wine” – Sons Of The East (next week at The Majestic)
• “Candle Of Life” – The Moody Blues (RIP John Lodge)
• “I’m Just A Singer In A Rock 7 Roll Band” – The Moody Blues (RIP John Lodge)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

Fresh selections from Destin Conrad (who is playing later this month at St. Andrew’s Hall), Cosmic Tones Research Trio, Simon Popp and Automatic, plus cracking open a musical time capsule celebrating a landmark Joy Division release and Janet Jackson’s way-ahead-of-its-time album “The Velvet Rope.”

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for October 7, 2025

• “The Time Curve Preludes: No. 2” – Katia & Marielle Labèque
• “Color of Autumn” – Nujabes
• “Unwind (feat. Melanie Charles)” – Butcher Brown
• “Drifting” – DESTIN CONRAD & Keyon Harrold
• “All Seeds” – Don Glori
• “Shadows (feat. Jordan Rakei)” – Bonobo
• “Dis & Dissolve” – Molinaro
• “Exile” – Swim Surreal & Zero 7
• “The Difference (Vocal Mix)” – Logic
• “The Smoke (Dennis Bovell RMX)” – The Smile
• “Oblique Fantasy” – Jane Weaver
• “Workin’ On It” – Brijean
• “Sankofa” – The Cosmic Tones Research Trio, Roman Norfleet, Harlan Silverman & Kennedy Verrett
• “Hain” – Simon Popp
• “Mi Mujer” – Nicolas Jaar
• “Saturday Night Special” – Jazzanova
• “Train Song (Columbia Single, 1966)” – Vashti Bunyan
• “My Love Mine All Mine” – Mitski
• “All Mirrors” – Angel Olsen
• “Transmission” – Joy Division
• “Black Box” – Automatic
• “Jouissance” – Harvey Sutherland
• “La Femme d’argent” – Air
• “The Rat” – The Walkmen
• “The Book Lovers” – Broadcast
• “Cherry Sunshine” – Somesurprises
• “Strange Powers” – Magnetic Fields
• “The Chills” – Peter Bjorn & John
• “Just Like Honey” – Jesus & Mary Chain
• “All I Wanna Do” – Beach Boys
• “Play The Game” – Beach House
• “It Might Have To Be You” – Vulfmon & Evangeline
• “Hurts To Be Alone” – Norah Jones
• “My Need” – Janet Jackson
• “Got ‘Til It’s Gone (feat. Q-Tip & Joni Mitchell) [Ummah Jay Dee’s Revenge Mix]” – Janet Jackson

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

An artist spotlight on Julia Holter and J Dilla. New music from Stereolab, KeiyaA, Big Thief and Geese (who are in town next Monday at the Majestic Theatre). Fantasizing about being a Kingston, Jamaica concert featuring both Bob Marley and Stevie Wonder. Plus, we’re back to playing bizarro Detroit Tigers theme songs from friend of the show Sebastian.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for October 6, 2025

• “Takahashi Timing” – Yin Yin
• “Guess I’m Fallin In Love” – Spoon
• “Heartbeat” – Wire
• “That’s Entertainment” – The Jam
• “Fed Up With Your Job” – Stereolab
• “Sea Calls Me Home” – Julia Holter
• “Spinning” – Julia Holter
• “Don’t You Know” – Jan Hammer Group
• “Stupid Prizes” – KeiyaA
• “Fire” – Waxahatchee
• “Words” – Big Thief
• “Rice” – Young Fathers
• “100 Horses” – Geese
• “Got ‘Til It’s Gone (feat. Q-Tip & Joni Mitchell) [Ummah Jay Dee’s Revenge Mix]” – Janet Jackson
• “Find A Way” – A Tribe Called Quest
• “Sometimes (feat. Q-Tip) [Ummah Remix]” – Brand New Heavies
• “Love” – Erykah Badu
• “Tell Me Why” – Gotts Street Park & Olive Jones
• “Walk On By” – Isaac Hayes
• “O Telefone Tocou Novamente” – Jorge Ben Jor
• “All Of Your Life” – Shirley Nanette
• “Your Time” – Chiminyo
• “Detroit City Cats” – Costa & Chyps
• “Sáré Kon Kon” – Antibalas
• “Ice Breaker” – Bubaza
• “I Shot The Sheriff” – Bob Marley & the Wailers
• “Superstition” – Stevie Wonder
• “Soul Bright (Kon Rework)” – Saucy Lady
• “Mágica” – El Michels Affair & Rogê
• “Uno Punto Uno” – Women In Jazz & Rosa Brunello
• “Belong To You” – Cut Copy & Kate Bollinger
• “Tiger Thriller” – Family Portrait

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, a new month means a new look back in history with October releases from 1965-2005.

Also, brand new Detroit music from Peter Litvin, Masha Marjieh and Joe Jaber, plus TuneYards, Trombone Shorty’s deep dive into Second Line music, John Batiste (coming to The Fox on October 24) and tons more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for October 4, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Siren” – Tune Yards
• “Man On A Mission” – The Black Keys
• “Circle Of The Seasons” – Moonrisers (Acoustic Cafe preview)
• “Secret Island” – Jon Muq
  
• “Okay Alright” – Peter Litvin
  
• “Slave To The Rhythm” – Grace Jones (October 1985)
• “Mr DJ (5 For The DJ)” – Aretha Franklin (October 1975)
• “Don’t Look Back in Anger” – Oasis (October 1995)
• “Here We Go Again” – Sloan
  
• “Heartbreak” – IVY
• “Parting Gift” – Fiona Apple (October 2005)
• “Science Fiction/Double Feature” – Richard O’Brien, 50th Anniversary of Rocky Horror Picture Show
  

• “Street Music” – Trombone Shorty
  
• “Children Of The Baked Potato” – Thundercat
• “Get Down” – Masha Marjieh
• “Pinnacle” – Jon Batiste
• “I Found Home When I Found You” – Joe Jaber
  
• “If I Were You” – k.d. lang (October 1995)
• “All The Things She Said” – Simple Minds (October 1985)
• “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” – Paul Simon (October 1975)
• “Mack The Knife” – Rufus Wainright
• “I Believe In You” – Count Basie & Frank Sinatra
• “Better Broken” – Sarah McLachlan
• “Tonight Tonight” – Smashing Pumpkins (October 1995)
• “You Send Me” – Sam Cooke (October 1965)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, as a HUGE “thank you” to all who supported us during the fundraiser, we’re getting back to “normal” this week with SONGS… In fact, 2 hours of Songs About Songs (and songwriting)! From Aretha to Weezer, EWF to Shaboozey and lots more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for September 27, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Sing A Song” – Earth Wind & Fire
• “Rap Song” – Black Eyed Peas
• “Wrote A Song For Everyone” – John Fogerty
• “I Wrote This Song For You” – Willie Nelson
  
• “A Song” – Apropos
  
• “Life Is A Song Worth Singing” – Teddy Pendergrass
• “Sing A Simple Song” – Sly & The Family Stone
  
• “Sing My Song” – Langhorne Slim
  
• “Border Song” – Aretha Franklin
  
• “Radio Song” – Esperanza Spalding
  
• “Radio Song” – R.E.M.
• “Radio Songs” – Jack Spivey
• “Redemption Song” – Bob Marley & The Wailers
  
• “Love Song” – Lesley Duncan
  

• “A Great Idea For A Song” – Artichoke
• “Same Old Song” – The Lumineers
• “It’s The Same Old Song” – The Four Tops
• “Crappy Love Song” – Theo Katzman
• “Silly Love Songs” – Wings
  
• “Love You Like A Love Song” – Selena Gomez
• “Love Song For No One” – John Mayer
• “No More Love Songs” – Bette Smith
• “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey
• “Prison Song” – Graham Nash
• “A Song For You” – Merry Clayton
• “Look What They Done To My Song” – Ray Charles
• “All My Favorite Songs” – Weezer
• “I’ll Write A Song For You” – Earth Wind & Fire

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

I always get hung up on genres! I can’t help it—it’s just that they’re such an effective cue to describe, or at least set expectations, as to what a band sounds like, what their style is, etc. It’s kind of like the music journalist cheat-code. Anyway, I’m really stoked to introduce WDET listeners to MRKT this week on MI Local, a band that I attempted to describe as prog-punk-space-jazz-fusion. 

MRKT is comprised of Ben Van Camp on vocals and drums (and occasionally other instruments,) Nolan Tillis on Moog bass, electric piano, synthesizers, and Lowrey organ), and their newest member, Ben Green on an electric wind instrument, which is, basely-put, a synth that you play like a saxophone.

Now, when it comes to the experience of seeing MRKT live, we won’t mince words: it’s intense! It’s intense to behold them, as performers, and it’s quite a trip for your ears and your mind! But it’s also captivating, because in that sensibility of jazz, the trio seems to have an almost telepathic connection amidst furiously fast tempos, breakneck time-signature changeups, and detours into improvisational jams.

Tune in to the show this week to hear the band discuss their process, as well as premiere their brand new single, “Monotropia.” We also talk about just what genre, exactly, this band might fit into, if any at all!

You can see MRKT live this Saturday at Third Man Records.

We also heard new music from:

• Soul-pop singer/songwriter JonPaul Wallace, with “In Your Head,” a new single from his forthcoming EP, Lemon Days, with collaborator/producer Bryan Iglesias.
• New dreamy electro vibes from the super-melodic bedroom-pop songwriter known as Street Pattern, with “Sunshower.”
• The premiere of a new subdued ballad of heart-heavy confessionals from the pop-rock ensemble, The Ethan Marc Band, with “Familiar Hell.”
• A rocking cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Everybody Knows” from Detroit-based rock trio The Pandys, off their new EP.
• A stellar prog-rock track from the newly re-energized Detroit-based group known as Art In America, with “Running By.”
• We also double-dipped into the Marquette music scene, with experimental indie-sounds from Liquid Mike and adrenaline-pulsing pop-rock from Addicus.

Stream the show above, where you’ll hear my interview with MRKT, and find the full playlist below!

• “Sunshower” – Street Pattern
• “In My Head” – JonPaul Wallace
• “Everybody Knows” – The Pandys
• “Familiar Hell” – The Ethan Marc Band
• “A Better Day” – Tim Kish
• “Reach Me” – RAWHIDE GIRL FIGHT
• “Seeing Double” – C.A.D. & the Peacetime Consumers
• “Sorry! I Forgot Again” – Addicus
• “Crop Circles” – Liquid Mike
• “Running By” – Art in America
• “Monotropia” – MRKT
• “Ring Round with the Yellow Page” – MRKT
• “As the Matchsticks Fall” – MRKT

A couple musical milestones we revisit including releases from Funkadelic and Steely Dan, plus new music discovery from Billie Marten, Makaya McCraven, Cate Le Bon, Flock of Dimes and more.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for September 23, 2025

• “Clover” – Billie Marten
• “Guns of Brixton (feat. Camille)” – Nouvelle Vague
• “Paper Tiger” – Spoon
• “Downtown” – Destroyer
• “Away (feat. Jeff Parker)” – Makaya McCraven
• “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” – Kate Bush
• “About Time” – Cate Le Bon
• “Autumn Sweater” – Yo La Tengo
• “Don’t Be Cruel” – Billy Swan
• “Accidental Meetings” – Chaos in the CBD
• “stay (Scott Grooves Raw Silk Edit)” – Allysha Joy
• “Otis” – Durutti Column
• “Lifer” – Wye Oak
• “Long After Midnight” – Flock of Dimes
• “Hotel Yorba” – White Stripes
• “Little Room” – White Stripes
• “Sleeping Ute” – Grizzly Bear
• “Gone Clear” – William Tyler
• “Black Cow” – Steely Dan
• “Moonlight Mile” – Rolling Stones
• “The Wind Cries Mary” – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
• “Bad Bad News” – Leon Bridges
• “Maybe I Got It Wrong” – Ruti
• “Last Forever” – Patchwork Inc. & Wyatt Waddell
• “Nancy From Now On” – Father John Misty
• “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (feat. Black Thought)” – Brian Jackson & Masters At Work
• “One Nation Under A Groove” – Funkadelic
• “24/7” – Kyle Dion
• “Burning Down the House (Live)” – Talking Heads
• “From A Lover” – Yazmin Lacey
• “Slow Down” – Skip Marley & H.E.R.
• “Skindo Le-Le (S.U.M.O. Rebounce)” – A Bossa Elétrica
• “Next To You” – Erykah Badu & The Alchemist
• “I Couldn’t Love You More (Jam Master’s Deep Rework)” – Sade
• “So Easy” – Röyksopp

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

If you’re looking for an R&B artist who represents the spirit and sound of Detroit, look no further than Charity Ward. Her sound, sculpted from her upbringing as a preacher’s kid, inspired her debut album in 2020, “Tended Headed.”

After years as a part-time musician, and after a major collaboration with rapper Snoop Dogg on her single “Cruel,” she entered 2025 on a mission to commit to music full-time.

She joined The Metro during our fall fundraiser and shared how transformative her dedication to music has been and what listeners can expect from her upcoming album.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

Major new releases from Detroit and beyond, starting in the greatest music city in the world… I’m very in love with this “raw silk edit” by Scott Grooves of Allysha Joy’s “stay.” What a reconstruction of an already beautiful track!

Plus, new releases from Georgie Sweet, Nightbus, Cut Copy, Antibalas, Celeste and more.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for September 22, 2025

• “The Ones We Loved” – Georgie Sweet
• “Angles Mortz” – Nightbus
• “Belong To You” – Cut Copy & Kate Bollinger
• “Bloodlines” – Franc Moody
• “Girl I Love You” – Massive Attack
• “Diego” – Gotts Street Park
• “Drifting” – Omar Apollo
• “Da Du Dah” – Kokoroko
• “You Got It” – Thandii
• “Free” – Sault
• “La Ceiba” – Antibalas
• “Dub Je Je” – Antibalas
• “VW Blue” – Dora Morelenbaum
• “VIBRAÇĀO (Kaidi Tatham Remix)” – Alexander Flood & Kaidi Tatham
• “Skating” – Vince Guaraldi Trio
• “100 years of Bill & Lil” – Joe Webb
• “First Kalimba” – Lars Bartkuhn
• “Plastic 100°C” – Sampha
• “They Came in Peace” – Tranquility Bass
• “Pain” – The War On Drugs
• “We Can Be Friends Though” – Brown Penny
• “Nobody” – Mitski
• “Woman Of Faces” – Celeste
• “Labor Of Love” – CARRTOONS & Haile Supreme
• “Law of Nature” – Gab Ferreira
• “Crossfire / So Into You” – Nai Palm
• “Doo Wop (That Thing)” – Lauryn Hill
• “A Sua Diversão” – Ana Frango Elétrico
• “Ámame” – Bardo
• “stay (Scott Grooves Raw Silk Edit)” – Allysha Joy
• “Radio Cure” – Wilco
• “Pink Moon” – Nick Drake
• “Are You With Me Now?” – Cate Le Bon
• “Manhattan” – Cat Power
• “Oh Baby” – LCD Soundsystem

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, some cool September albums released from 1965-1995. Also, new tunes from Spoon, Trombone Shorty, David Byrne, Fall Out Boy and much more.

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for September 6, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Guess I’m Fallin’ In Love” – Spoon
• “Soak Up The Sun” – Sheryl Crow w/Surf Mesa
• “The Power” – Curtis Harding
• “What Is The Reason For It” – David Byrne w/Hayley Williams
  
• “Say Yes” – Apropos
  
• “Respect” – Otis Redding (released September 1965)
• “Part Time Lover” – Stevie Wonder (released September 1985)
• “Lakeside Park” – Rush (released September 1975)
• “Asshole” – The Lumineers
• “Believe” – Kashus Culpepper
• “Another Life” – Alabama Shakes
• “FLA” – Kathleen Edwards
• “Ben Franklin’s Song” – The Decemberists
  

• “Meeting Across The River” – Bruce Springsteen
• “Born In The U.S.A. (Electric Nebraska)” – Bruce Springsteen
• “Rock The Boat” – Trombone Shorty
• “Rock The Boat” – Aaliyah
• “Wild And Clear And Blue” – I’m With Her (Acoustic Cafe preview)
  
• “I Hate U” – Prince (released September 1995)
• “Oh Sheila” – Ready For The World (released September 1985)
• “Tracks Of My Tears” – Linda Ronstadt (released September 1975)
• “Ho Hey” – The Lumineers
• “Start Today” – Fall Out Boy
• “Horses Through A Rainstorm” – Graham Nash
• “Live Life” – Terry Reid (RIP, 8/4/25)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, we’re honoring Jazz Fest by revisiting an Acoustic Cafe interview from 2024 with festival performer Keyon Harrold and his Detroiter filled band!

Also, lots more jazz from Robert Glasper, Trombone Shorty, Brad Mehldau, plus some other music of interest this final week of Summer ’25!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for August 30, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Don’t Lie” – Keyon Harrold (at Big Sky Studio, Ann Arbor, March 2024)
• “Beautiful Day” – Keyon Harrold (at Big Sky Studio, Ann Arbor, March 2024)
• “The End Of Our Road” – Gladys Knight & The Pips
• “Dandelions” – Whitney
  
• “Petrichor” – Jon Batiste
  
• “Same Old Song” – The Lumineers (coming to Comerica Park, 9/13)
  
• “Between The Bars” – Brad Mehldau
  
• “Love On Your Side” – Adam Plomaritas
  
• “Listen To The Music” – The Isley Brothers
  

• “The Intellectual” – Keyon Harrold (at Big Sky Studio, Ann Arbor, March 2024)
• “Foreverland” – Keyon Harrold (at Big Sky Studio, Ann Arbor, March 2024)
• “Travelin’ Band” – John Fogerty
• “I Just Want To Celebrate” – Marshall Crenshaw
• “Rm 112” – Robert Glasper (flipped by Karriem Riggins)
  
• “Optimistic” – August Greene
• “Thirteen” – Brad Mehldau
• “The Stuff” – Rachael & Vilray
  
• “Earth” – Stratos (w/Santino Jones)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, some cool music from and around the 50th anniversary of Springsteen’s “Born To Run” album. It turns 50 on Monday, August 25.

Also, Chance the Rapper with Jazmine Sullivan, The City Lines with new Motor City Music, Jack White punches back hard and more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for August 23, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Finest Worksong” – R.E.M.
  
• “Daria” – Toro y Moi
  
• “Everybody Scream” – Florence & The Machine
• “‘Running Boy” – Mon Rovia (at The Ark 11/19)
• “That’s How I Feel'” – Jack White
• “Born To Run” – Bruce Springsteen
  
• “Thunder Road” – Matt Nathanson
  
• “So Young And In Love” – Bruce Springsteen
• “Moody” – Royel Otis
• “Sushi & Coca Cola” – St. Paul & The Broken Bones
• “Found A Friend” – Southern Avenue (at The Leon Loft, Ann Arbor)
• “Gethsemane” – Ian Gillan (turned 80 this week)
  

• “Lisztomania” – Phoenix
  
• “Old Me, New Wig” – Molly Tuttle (9/11 at Masonic)
• “Speed Of Love” – Chance The Rapper w/Jazmine Sullivan
• “People” – Patrick Adams
• “Do It All” – The City Lines
• “Janey Needs A Shooter” – Bruce Springsteen
• “Jeannie Needs A Shooter” – Warren Zevon
  
• “You Were Wrong” – Roomful Of Blues
• “Walking The Dog” – Rufus Thomas
• “Watch Me Go” – Lord Huron
• “She’s The One” – Bruce Springsteen

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, more fond farewells this week for musical-comic genius Tom Lehrer and Tex-Mex legend Flaco Jimenez.

Also, new music from Detroit’s Carmel Liburdi and Ryan Allen, August album anniversaries, some Yacht Rock vinyl, and lots more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for August 2, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “New Math” – Tom Lehrer
  
• “Fresh” – Kool & The Gang + Prince Hakim
  
• “So Far Down” – Sloan
• “’92 Subaru” – Fountains Of Wayne
• “Company’s Eyes” – Ryan Allen & His Extra Arms
• “Elegantly Wasted” – Hermanos Gutierrez w/Leon Bridges
• “Elegantly Wasted” – INXS
  
• “Crush” – Indigo De Souza
  
• “Watch Me Go” – Lord Huron
• “Dime” – Silvana Estrada
• “Mind Loaded” – Blood Orange
• “Treason” – Nilufer Yanya
  
• “Carmelita” – Flaco Jimenez w/Dwight Yoakam

• “Miami 2017” – Billy Joel
  
• “Vienna” – Billy Joel
• “Big Money” – Jon Batiste
• “Can’t Get Enough (Detroit Funk Mix)” – Nick Behnan
  
• “Stupid Girl'” – Garbage (released August 1995)
  
• “R-O-C-K In The USA” – John Mellencamp (released August 1985)
• “L-O-V-E” – Al Green (released August 1975)
• “I Keep Forgetting” – Michael McDonald
  
• “If Not For Love” – Durand Jones & The Indications
• “69” – Carmel Liburdi
• “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming” – Alex Williams
• “Who’s Next” – Tom Lehrer

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

That dazzling photo above features local folk/world musician, dancer and choreographer, Samuel Nalangira. Deep into this week’s MI Local, you’ll hear a live recording of one of his transcendent songs, “Zagyenda.” While Nalangira’s track doesn’t kick off the show, I’m mentioning it first and foremost because he’s performing in WDET’s Sounds Like Detroit showcase on Aug. 14 at Batch Brewing Company!

Nalangira will be one of four featured performers at that event, along with R&B artist Beth, indie-folk-pop singer/songwriter Corazon Szell, and neo-soul group Tariq Gardner & Evening Star. You can find more information about Sounds Like Detroit and get your tickets at wdet.org/events. 

Grabbing a ticket for Sounds Like Detroit is just one way to show your support for WDET. Some local musicians are showing their support in other ways too, like Hamtramck-based singer/songwriter John Salvage, who is donating all proceeds from purchased downloads of his new single to NPR! Here on MI Local, we premiered Salvage’s brand new single, “Break The Wall.” You can see Salvage perform live on Sunday, Aug. 3, at the Polka Dot Bar. 

As a solo artist, Salvage’s music resides within the folk and indie-Americana genres, which is also the stylistic domain of Ypsilanti-based post-folk five-piece outfit Little Traps, who have a new album out this week titled Regular Love. We heard the title track from that record, which has its release party on Friday, Aug. 1 in Dexter. 

Meanwhile, we kicked off the show with some potent psychedelic-witchy rock from WICCANS, which transitioned nicely into a spooky and groovily-sludgy track from Ypsilanti-based rock group The Velvet Snakes. Both have just recently released new albums, the latter of which has a release party this Thursday night at Ziggy’s.

See the playlist below and listen to the episode on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

MI Local Playlist for July 22, 2025

• “Possessed” – WICCANS
• “Shake Your Bones” – The Velvet Snakes
• “Regular Love” – Little Traps
• “Tiny Galaxies” – Tanager
• “Temptation Rag” – Aaron Jonah Lewis
• “Break The Wall” – John Salvage
• “Loving Strangers” – Mike Leslie
• “What Was The Question?” – Eddie Logix
• “Hastings Street (live)” – Allen Dennard
• “Zagyenda” – Samuel Nalangira
• “Too Fast (feat. The Accidentals)” – Mark Jewett
• “I Need A Ghost” – Tom Alter
• “Left Behind” – Conor Lynch
• “I Can’t Let Go” – The Blueflowers

A tribute to the late great Ozzy Osbourne. An artist spotlight on Lars Bartkuhn and his excellent 2024 album “Nomad.”

Plus, new music discovery from The Marias, Ian Lampel, Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange, Domenique Dumont, Sam Prekop and more.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for July 23, 2025

• “First Kalimba” – Lars Bartkuhn
• “Nobody New” – The Marias
• “Sexy Boy (Vegyn Version)” – Air
• “Babystar” – Matthew Herbert & Momoko Gill
• “Parque Rodó Thugs” – Ian Lampel
• “Con Altura” – Orquesta Akokán
• “Selenge” – Céline Dessberg
• “Mercy (feat. Dianne Reeves)” – Lakecia Benjamin
• “Baby Its U” – Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange
• “Amants Ennemis” – Domenique Dumont
• “Around The World” – Daft Punk
• “Roll Your Daddy Right” – John Lee Hooker
• “Nimerudi (Malcolm Catto / The Heliocentrics Remix)” – GOAT, MC Yallah
• “Living For The City” – Stevie Wonder
• “African Skies” – Lars Bartkuhn
• “Light Shadow” – Sam Prekop
• “Exile” – Swim Surreal & Zero 7
• “How Can We Mend a Broken Heart” – Kahil El’Zabar
• “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City (feat. Kameron Whalum)” – Zeshan B
• “Song for My Father” – Tenderlonious
• “Song For You (Mansionair Remix)” – Rhye
• “Baby Forgive Me (Young Marco Remix)” – Robyn
• “BACK ON” – SBTRKT
• “Because I’m Me” – The Avalanches
• “Never Lost” – Kokoroko
• “War Pigs” – Black Sabbath
• “Changes (Live Version)” – Charles Bradley
• “Planet Caravan (feat. David Jimenez)” – Brownout & Brown Sabbath

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

This week, Detroit-based singer-songwriter Mike Ward joined me in-studio to discuss his new album, “The Time That Remains.” We listened to a few songs from the record and Ward treated WDET listeners to a special live on-air performance.

Ward has been performing with and under the moniker of Psychosongs for years; his first studio album came out in 2018. Particularly since his 2020 album, “Darkness and the Light,” Ward has been exploring themes around hope and empathy during troubling times, along with the benefits that can come with sustaining said hope. Tapping into the classic vein of singer-songwriters like Bruce Springsteen, John Prine, Bob Dylan and Neil Young, Ward’s songs are also specifically never pollyannish, even if they’re defiant in their reach for positivity.

Ward is performing a couple of shows this weekend in Muskegon and Norton Shores, before returning to metro Detroit for a CD release show, celebrating “The Time That Remains” at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3, hosted at the outdoor Ferndale venue known as the Gazebo.

On this week’s show, we heard two songs from Ward’s new album, including “Why Not?” and “Paycheck.” Ward also performed a live rendition of another new song, “Instrument for Good,” live in-studio.

Along with our chat with Ward, we premiered a lot of new music by local artists, including the new single from Ann Arbor power-pop trio The City Lines. Their new album, “Prescribed Fires,” comes out in September! We recently premiered The City Lines new music video for this single (read more here).

The Armed are a Detroit-based post-hardcore punk outfit that tends to remain mostly anonymous, as far as its membership, even while still performing live shows and creating visual content (like music videos); you can hear their cinematic and beautifully ominous trip of a new single titled “Sharp Teeth” on this week’s MI Local. We also heard the latest from Kalamazoo-based emo/punk trio saturdays at your place, and Detroit-based indie-rockers The Microplastics!

We checked-in on shows happening around the region, including the three-day music festival happening at The Outer Limits Lounge this weekend, known as their annual Stroh Down event. We heard from Zastava, a shoegaze-adjacent rock quartet (and former guests of MI Local) set to perform at the event. We also looked ahead to mid-August, when The Bling Pig hosts the annual Fuzz Fest, put on by longtime rocker Chris Taylor; we heard from the surfy-punk quartet known as Virga!

Don’t forget that WDET’s Sounds Like Detroit Showcase is coming up on August 14, hosted at Batch Brewing! Local R&B/neo-soul icon Beth is one of the featured performers, and we heard a song by her on this week’s show titled “Free.” Get your tickets for Sounds Like Detroit, here!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

MI Local Playlist for July 22, 2025

• “Blood & Smoke” – The City Lines
• “Kid, You’re Wrong” – The Recital
• “Waste Away” – saturdays at your place
• “Sharp Teeth” – The Armed
• “Break Your Heart” – The Microplastics
• “Amy” – Ben Piper
• “Your Old Key” – Ethan Daniel Davidson
• “Station” – Zastava
• “Bierstadt” – Virga
• “Free” – Beth
• “Critical Violets” – Fred Thomas
• “Why Not?” – Mike Ward
• “Instrument for Good” – Mike Ward (live in WDET Studios)
• “Paycheck” – Mike Ward