For anyone barely old enough to remember the release of The Rapture’s much-hyped label debut Echoes, the past few years have been brutal as we’re constantly reminded which of its dance-punk successors is now turning 20. In most cases, peers like The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem, and Interpol have been fairly consistent in releasing and touring their music since the dawn of the 21st century, but The Rapture are a unique case in that Luke Jenner quietly retired the band shortly after releasing their third album In the Grace of Your Love in 2011.
With that in mind, Jenner’s recent announcement of an imminent tour of the US, UK, and Europe (along with placement on the newly unveiled Coachella 2026 lineup) truly felt like a blast from the past. The band was set to make their return five years ago, but COVID had other plans; now, after stepping back from the scene in his mid-thirties, it’s quickly become apparent to the band leader that things aren’t quite how he remembers them. “Being on tour will make anyone who’s 50 feel old,” shares Jenner, who, after various ventures in solo recordings, side projects, and production work, has taken up a career outside of music as a professional life coach. “Rock and roll is a young man’s game.
Now wrapping up a string of US dates before taking The Rapture’s live show overseas, Jenner is sharing a playlist with us of tunes that help him feel young while prepping for these sets—whether it be through revisiting songs that he was drawn to in his own youth or newer ones introduced to him by his kid that “appeal to [his] potty self,” as he puts it. “You could also call the playlist ‘I Was So Much Older Then, I’m Younger Than That Now,’” he adds.
While there’s no Dylan to be found on the track list, we do get a bit of Joni. Check out each of his picks below, and find the band’s upcoming tour dates here.
Sister R. Mildred Barker, “I Hunger and Thirst”
I love this record. It’s on my list of songs to practice singing, too. Sometimes I sing it to myself in the shower. I like mantra-like songs.
The Zombies, “The Way I Feel Inside”
Here’s another one I sing to myself. One of the most real, raw, and moving pieces of music I’ve ever heard.
Roy Orbison, “Blue Angel”
This one reminds me of my mom. I could never save her. She tried to die so many times, and I was always like, “Don’t you cry” and all that. It just hits a chord.
Jamie MacDonald, “Desperate”
Sometimes I like to tool around in modern contemporary Christian tunes. Seems like no one else I know would do this. So it seems like a secret adventure. I like secret adventures.
Odd Man Who Sings About Poop, Puke and Pee “The Kate Poop Song”
My kid hipped me to this guy. I think this is, like, one of his best friends’ theme songs in college or something. Appeals to my potty self. I could listen to this on repeat for hours.
The Rapture
Built to Spill, “Carry the Zero”
My pal Jeremiah [Green] from Modest Mouse died, and this one always reminds me of him and that whole era of bands that was around before my band really worked and anyone cared about us. Pac-Northwest hardcore.
D.R.I., “I’d Rather Be Sleeping”
Someone put this on a mixtape for me when I was 14, along with a lot of other stuff I’d never heard before. Skate Texas punk purity. Let’s shred, brah.
Red C, “Pressure’s On”
I first heard this because Rocket From the Crypt covered it and I was paying close attention to what they were doing as a youth. They were sort of the benchmark for what to do with your band when I was growing up in San Diego.
Joni Mitchell, “River”
This is probably the most popular song on this list. But sometimes songs are popular for a reason. This song just nails so much about Xmas.
Three 6 Mafia, “Stay Fly”
I fell in love with hip-hop at a few different times in my life; one was this era when The Rapture first got popular and it felt like it was OK to sort of blend all the boundaries. Back then we were also hanging out with Timbaland and Justin Timberlake.
