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Live From The Current Studio

White Reaper bring their unwavering rock sound to The Current

Tony Esposito (foreground) and Ryan Hater of White Reaper performing in The Current studio.
Tony Esposito (foreground) and Ryan Hater of White Reaper performing in The Current studio.Helen Teague | MPR
  Play Now [18:18]

by Sean McPherson

October 13, 2019

White Reaper - Might Be Right (Live at The Current)
by MPR
White Reaper - Raw (Live at The Current)
by MPR
White Reaper - 1F (Live at The Current)
by MPR

When White Reaper first visited The Current in 2017, frontman Tony Esposito told host Bill DeVille that being in rock band is "pretty easy and fun, and honestly, I recommend this to anyone in the world."

Now, White Reaper are back, they've signed to major label Elektra Records, and they're releasing their next album, You Deserve Love, on Oct. 18. A five-piece from Louisville, Ky., White Reaper returned to The Current studio ahead of a Saturday-night show at the Amsterdam Bar & Hall, just a couple streets over from The Current. On this visit, host Sean McPherson wants to know — even though being in a band is fun — how did White Reaper make their new record sound fun, too?

"I think it was easy because we already knew the songs and we did most of them live, so it was kind of like we were just having a practice," Esposito explains. "Everybody was busy the whole time."

You Deserve Love was recorded in Nashville, Tenn., with producer Jay Joyce. Esposito and the rest of the band are quick to credit Joyce for the album's live, fun sound. "The whole time in the studio, his whole m.o. was making sure we stayed sounding like a rock band," Esposito says. "And there were a lot of times where we wanted to go and redo tracks and do other things, and he was just like, 'Nah, keep it simple, stupid.' He kept us in check."

Use the audio player above to listen to the complete session with White Reaper.

More Video

Songs Performed


"Might Be Right"
"Raw"
"1F"
All songs from White Reaper's album, You Deserve Love, releasing Oct. 18, 2019, on Elektra Records.

Hosted by Sean McPherson
Produced by Jesse Wiza
Engineered by Michael DeMark
Visuals by Helen Teague
Web feature by Luke Taylor

White Reaper - official site