Dan and the ethereal duo Love? Said The Commander have been wanting to make this episode happen for quite some time, and it finally happened. Kate Hall and Chris Bishop talk about meeting on CraigsList (his first original band, her umpteenth), deciding to be a two-piece, sparse songwriting (they call it "maximal minimalism"), live performing, their excellent YouTube series 'Spaces', and why they choose to do nearly everything for the band (recording, videos, etc) in house. Their newest release is a 13 minute song suite called 'Breathing Room', which has also been released as an EP. 'Breathing Room', 'In The Kitchen', and the rest of their discopgraphy is available on their site and wherever you get your digital music.
Dan sits down with Kevin Hanson (The Fractals, Huffamoose) to talk songwriting (he's a songwriting professor at University of the Arts), the up-and-down ride that was Huffamoose in the 90s and early 00s (including a last minute gig on the Woodstock '94 mainstage), working with The Roots, Jay-Z, Jill Scott, Victor Wooten, and so many more as a session guitarist, famed Philly music club The Fire and then-promoter Derek Dorsey, and how The Fractals feel like they have "more juice" these days than ever before. The Fractals' latest single, "Christopher Walken", is out now and available wherever you get digital music, and don't forget to check out the video as well.
Also, Sweet Juice Fest is Saturday, July 22nd, 1:30pm to 9pm, at Rigby Mansion in Philadelphia. Artists include Shamir, American Trappist, Brittany Ann Tranbaugh, and more. Get your tix, it will sell out! Do not miss it, this fest grows better and better with each year.
Dan sits down with Phillip and David of Your Next Favorite Band, a podcast out of the Lehigh Valley in PA that's very much in the spirit of what 25 O'Clock is about: finding and discovering new music. Phil and Dave talk about how they met, starting the podcast only a year or so ago, and the wide variety of great music in the Lehigh Valley (with a lot of talk about Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA). They also brought along some music to play guest DJs, so look below for the clickable playlist. Your Next Favorite Band livestreams every Tuesday night at 6:30pm EST on YouTube, Twitch and Facebook, and the podcast version goes up Thursdays, available wherever you get your podcasts.
1) Tioga- Just My Body
2) Groove Merchants- Midnight Mountain Queen
3) Billy Bauer Band- So I Love
5) Corrinne Mammana- This & That
Dan talks to Ron Aikens, and his story is full of twists and turns. Originally part of Philly soul group United Image, they were signed to Stax Records and on their way up when Ron was suddenly sentenced to a term in Graterford Prison, where he joined the prison band Power Of Attorney (signed to Polydor Records). Dan and Ron talk about what it was like to be part of a touring and recording band while incarcerated, his ups and downs in the music biz when he got out, pressing the pause button and taking a city job, and being moved to sing on the street when he retired. Joined by Max Ochester, owner of Brewerytown Beats, Ron has put out his first music in over 40 years. Thanks to Max and his in-house record label, you can get the new Ron and the Hip Tones singles wherever you get digital music, with more on the way.