Dan talks with Evan Thornburg, current leader of the GRP (Girls Rock Philly) board, and long time activist and public health advocate in Philadelphia. Evan talks about her path into activism and non-profits, years of AIDS activism through the mayor's office, youth advocacy at The Attic Youth Center, and how GRP came back into her life a decade after she first encountered them. From summer rock camp to working on a lengthy rebrand of the organization, Evan gets into how 2022 was a banner year for the non-profit. GRP is a youth centered organization building community through music, go to girlsrockphilly.com for more info on their mission, future programs, and how to donate.
Dan talks with The War On Drugs drummer Charlie Hall about his part in producing 'A Philly Special Christmas', an album of Christmas songs performed by Philadelphia Eagles' players Jason Kelce, Jordan Mailata, and Lane Johnson, as well as a giant cast of Philly musicians (Marshall Allen, Eric Bazillian, Lady Alma, and so many more). Charlie talks about how it all came together, the importance of being 'coachable', the amount of effort that the players put into making the record, and his own background in working with non-profit organizations in Philadelphia. 'A Philly Special Christmas' will be available on 12/23 on all digital music platforms, and all procedes, including the thrice-sold-out vinyl presale, will go to the Children's Crisis Treatment Center in Philadelphia.
Rock To The Future has come up many times on the show, but this is the first time it's founders have been on. Dan talks with Josh and Jessica Craft, who started RTTF twelve years ago, and have taken it places they never would have imagined. Josh and Jess talk about the growth of the non-profit over the years, how the pandemic made them able to serve even more students than before, the odd jobs they had during the first few years to keep everything afloat, and how music education is just the tip of what they offer to their students and their families. Donate now at their website and help RTTF continue to bring music programs to Philadlephia schools.
Dan and Sean have both been highlighting Philadelphia artists for years. Sean shares his story of travelling to the US from Dublin for a summer job at Appel Farm Arts and Music Center in the late 80s, and deciding to stick around (Sean calls it "the longest summer of my life"). From his days creating and booking the Appel Farm Arts and Music Festival to artist management and talent buying, to founding Addison Artists this year, Sean has also involved himself in Philly non-profits like PhillyCam, iCreate, and more. Dan and Sean talk about the importance of the community, or "ecosystem", as Sean calls it, and how you have to give back if you want to be part of it all.
Dan talks with West Philadelphia Orchestra founder/percussionist/activist/community leader Greg Mervine about the history of the Balkan brass group, living in Brasil, his "secret" solo album from 2018, fatherhood, punk rock ethos, jazz nights at Ortlieb's and Fiume, and his current collaboration with Michael Baker (aka Rumi Kitchen of Johnny Showcase, OOLALA) on their new 'Cosmic Trilogy' EP. The first single, "Cosmic Freak", is out now via The Giving Groove Records, with all proceeds going to Rock To The Future.
Dan talks with Sarah Dia Rue about her solo work, her band Twin Sines with her partner Justin King, the New Energy Music Collective non-profit they started, making her own video, how her solo music has changed over time, quitting the day job and going back to school for music, and much more. Sarah's latest single 'Say', featuring George 'Spanky' McCurdy and Nicholas Semrad, is available now wherever you get digital music, as is Twin Sines' 'Man Down' LP. The live version of 'Man Down', entitled 'Man Up @ World Cafe Live' is available to download free at Twin Sines' website.
Dan talks with Jason McGovern about his band, The Describers, and the newest LP, 'Ghosts In the Rearview'. They get into the process of making the record, coming out of your self-induced social hibernation, the balance of synths and acoustic instruments, playing keys for The Tisburys, and more. 'Ghosts In The Rearview' is out now, and available everywhere you get digital music, including at The Describers' Bandcamp.
Dan is back from vacation with another playlist episode, featuring great Philadelphia artists like Shannen Moser, Ron Gallo, Kate Dressed Up, Jackson Pines, and more. Head over to 25oclockpod.com for a clickable playlist of all the tracks and artists you hear, and go suport them!
Dan takes a moment to highlight a handful of great tracks from Philadelphia artists on this playlist episode. Featuring music from bands like Hauntress, gladie, The Describers, Unluck Mammals, and more. Head over to 25oclockpod.com and click on the episode post for a clickable playlist, linking you to every band played on the show.
Dan talks to Laura again (check out #182 for the first time she was on back in Fall 2020), and she's been up to a lot since they last chatted. They talk about her new album, 'Daughter Of The Sea', her work with the Almanac Dance Circus Theatre and Cannonball Festival, splitting her time between Philly and New York, her Bowie-inspired music video (directed by Matt Keppler), cultural identity, learning to love yourself, and the term Laura coins: "Lizzo-big-dress-energy". 'Daughter Of the Sea' is out now and available wherever you get digital music, including Laura's Bandcamp.
Dan talks to Marisa Dabice of Mannequin Pussy about growing up in suburban Connecticut, being a bad teen employee, Phish (just a little bit), the journey of the band over the last several years, late 90s/early 00s MTV, moving forward as a three-piece, Epitaph Records, and their upcoming Philly Music Fest performance at Undergroud Arts.
Dan talks to Sadie Dupuis (Speedy Ortiz/Sad 13) about as much as he can cram into an interview: fronting her bands, her new book of poetry 'Cry Perfume', juggling grad school and touring, her work with Union of Musicians and Allied Workers, advocacy for safe venues, and so much more. 'Cry Perfume' is out now via Black Ocean, available wherever you get books, and she's currently out on book tour with Michael DeForge. You can keep up with everything Sadie at sadiedupuis.com.
Dan talks to Evan Mader about his photo book, 'Sound of a City: Behind the Music of Philadelphia', which features interviews with engineers and producers, as well as great photos of studios around Philadelphia. Evan talks about growing up in Brookhaven, making beats as a teen, the Drexel University music industry program, his mentor Ryan Schwabe, and how the book came together. You can get the book on Amazon, and be sure to check out Evan's website and his Instagram.
Dan talks to Sug Daniels (aka Danielle Johnson) about growing up in Smyrna, DE (from cows and corn to housing developments), church music, the rise of her band Hoochi Coochi, going solo during the pandemic, knowing when you need someone to help, how the ukulele changed everything for her, and her recent move from Wilmington to Philadelphia. Sug's new single, 'Be Cool', is out now everywhere you get digital music, and she'll be playing at XPonential Music Fest as part of the Black Opry Revue. Join her mailing list to keep up with all things Sug!
Welcome back, we've enjoyed our August break! Right off the bat, it's a great talk with Jordan Caiola of Mo Lowda and the Humble. Dan and Jordan talk about their new EP, 'Lily Pads/Snowbird', life on the road, leaving space in the music, aging gracefully in indie rock, and more. 'Lily Pads/Snowbird' is out now, available everywhere you get digital music. Mo Lowda and the Humble are on tour all fall, check their dates and get tickets here.
Dan talks with Steven and Jay of the band Phantasm about their new LP, 'Shadow Work', their sizeable catalog and touring life, growing up in Chautauqua County in New York (where Dan spent his college years), how the pandmeic changed their work flow for the better, and our love of big riffs. 'Shadow Work' is out now and available wherever you get digital music.
Dan has compliled new music from some of Philly's greatest artists, plus sets featuring the Sweet Juice Fest, and some upcoming shows put on by 4333 Collective. Featuring Sug Daniels, Rid Of Me, Dear Forbidden, A Day Without Love, and more. Go to 25oclockpod.com and click on this episode's blog post for a clickable playlist.
Dan talks to Amelie Swann about her love of trip hop (and Dan's mutual love of trip hop) and being influenced by groups like Portishead, Massive Attack, and Moloko. Amelie goes into her decision to be a niche artist rather than trying to make a splash as a "pop" artist, working with Frank Cervantes at Moonrocket Records, and how she uses singing to overcome her stutter. The new video for her recent single 'Enough' out on YouTube now.
Dan talks with Out Of Service bassist Bryan Williams about the band's newest LP, 'The Ground Beneath Me', out now on Enjoy The Ride Records. Bryan goes deep, sharing the long process of making the record, working with engineer and musician Nathan Hussey (All Get Out, ATX Heat Studios), landing a guest appearance from John Nolan (Taking Back Sunday), being a new dad, and how to keep a band of older guys together and making great music.
Dan talks to Doug Keller, member of such killer Philly bands as The Tisburys and Riverby, about his project Duke Maroon and their newest LP, 'A Duke Reunion'. Doug discusses his long history in the Philly scene, how he keeps all the songs straight, and how lucky he feels to be involved with such great musicians. 'A Duke Reunion' is out now, get it at Duke Maroon's Bandcamp and wherever you get digital music.
Dan gets down to it with one of the busiest cats in the Philly music community. Charles D'Ardenne has been helming their own Comprador project for nearly a decade, plays in Best Bear and Humilitarian, and sits in with folk like Riverby and The Lunar Year when they get a chance. We talk songwriting, how to keep all your projects straight, Cincinatti, our love of Guided By Voices, and much more. Comprador's latest LP, 'Don't Worry About It', is out now everywhere you get digital music.
Kevin McCall has a lot going on: frontman of Andorra, artist manager, booker and promoter at the Grape Room, and so much more. Dan and Kevin talk new Andorra music (spoiler: they're all rockers), helping artists navigate the music biz, how to make a killer email, the Manayunk vibe, and more.
Dan gets all the details on saxophonist/songwriter/producer Max Swan's newest LP, 'Slow Jail', studying with Lenny Pickett (SNL, Tower of Power), his love of Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder, messing with genre, grief and how to deal with it, and his never ending search for his dining room table that he lost when his house flooded last year. 'Slow Jail' is out now and available anywhere you get digital music, pre-order the upcoming vinyl edition at Max's Bandcamp.