It's Philly Music Fest, and we wanted to highlight one more artist playing the fest this year. KulfiGirls are Abi, Joan, Adesole, and Stephanie, and they are all on the show. Nate Runkel of Yo That's My Jawn is sitting in the host chair this week, and he talks with KulfiGirls about it all: how they met, how they formed up as a band, all the work that went into their LP 'Divinity', the pain of mixing your own record (props to Joan on that one), and how they're constantly floored when people come up to tthe band and tell them how much their music means to them. It's a rare feat to get all members of a band on one conversation, and to have it flow so seamlessly. You'll have a love not only for their music, but for how they work together as a group.
KulfiGirls are playing Philly Music Fest on October 18th at Underground Arts with The Wonder Years and Caracara (who were guests way back on #230). Go to the PMF site for more info on that show and all the other shows this week at venues around Philadelphia. KulfiGirls will also be at Milkboy on November 19th, and in Brooklyn at The Meadows on December 13th. The album 'Divinity' is available now wherever you get your digital music.
In honor of Philly Music Fest, all sales of our compilation, 'Want To Play A Song?: Live On 25 O'Clock Vol.1', go to strengthen the charitable giving of the festival. If you can't make it to a show and still want to support the work of PMF and their contributions to the music charities of Philadlephia, you can buy a digital copy of the compilation at our Bandcamp.
John and Paige have a truly career spanning chat with Adam Shumski, drummer in Philadelphia bands like Planette Automatic (formerly The Lunar Year), and Brittany Ann Tranbaugh, as well as the newest addition to the New York based group Bodega. Adam talks about growing up influenced by his older brother's records, how studying jazz drumming made him ready to play anything, whether or not he'd ever be a "singing drummer", being encouraged to write more, and that he alway has time for "one more project". He also goes into detail about international touring life with Bodega, and working with Jim Eno (Spoon) on the new Planette Automatic LP.
Planette Automatic is playing Philly Music Fest on October 18th at The Fallser Club (their first yea as part of the fest) with Saide Gust, Chioke, and Catie Turner.
Photo by Paige Walter
September is almost gone, and autumn is nearly in full swing (at least in some places), and Philadlephia artists are putting out amazing music, as is to be expected. Dan presents you with 12 tracks from Philadlephia artists, so make sure you check out the clickable playlist below, and support the ones you love!
3. The Describers- I Ate The Sun and Sky
5. Emily Drinker- Turn Your Face To the Sun
6. Fawziyya Heart- All I See (w. Megatronic)
10. Red Desert Motel- Dancing At The Country Bar
12. Algernon Cadwallader- Attn MOVE
(Photo by Dan, Xponential Fest 2022)
John and Paige are back, and they're sitting down with Grace Koon of Grace Vonderkuhn. Grace talks about the music community in Wilmington, Delaware, and how being even just a little outside of the greater Philadlephia area can change the whole way you form and flourish as a band. She talks about her bandmates, Brian Bartling and DaveMcGrory, and how they've refined the sound of the band over ten years together. And she takes us all through the long process that it took to release their newest LP, 'In The Morning', out now wherever you get your digital music, and also available on vinyl from the band's website.
Grace is kind enough to play us an acoustic version of "Be Mine" from the new record. The band plays their release show on September 12th at Kelly's Logan House in Wilmington, and will head up to South Philadelphia on September 18th to play at Century.
Dan keeps you all up to speed with his life over in Hong Kong, and some of the upcoming shows he hopes to catch this year (Any of y'all ever heard of the Clockenflap?). Enjoy the beginnings of fall wherever you are. We'll be putting out a new playlist episode at the end of this month, so if you're a Philadelphia artists and have new material that you want to share, send it our way to dan.drago@25oclockpod.com.
Episode photo by Paige Walter
Back at it again with another playlist, featuring 11 tracks of new music from Philadelphia's finest artists. As always, check out the clickable playlist below, and go support the bands and artists you like.
2. Jared Feinman- Bleeding Orange
4. Brittany Ann Tranbaugh and Joe Plowman- See What Grows
5. Grace Vonderkuhn- Forever Loved
6. Planette Automatic- Wild Mountain Camp
Welcome our newest guest host, Judah Kim! Judah talks with Blue Barnett of Best Bear, and it's a very open and honest conversation about all the things that go into being an independent musician, a songwriter, and an anxious human. Blue talks about touring, both with Best Bear and as the touring bassist for Hit Like A Girl, and all the logistics and work that goes into making music on the road happen. Judah and Blue both discuss how they deal with being out of step with their peers and family when it comes to having such an unorthodox career in music.
The latest Best Bear album, 'When', is out now wherever you get your digital music. Judah Kim's latest single, "It's Less Dangerous" is also out now and available on all music platforms. Check out Judah's first appearance on the podcast back on #316 as a guest, it's an outstanding episode.
July brings us 10 new tracks from Philadelphia artists. Be sure to check out the clickable playlist below and support the ones you like. In the meantime, Dan will let you know about shows, upcoing events, and how he survived a T10 typhoon this last wekeend in Hong Kong (a typhoon is a hurricane in the Pacific). Enjoy the music!
1. The Bret Tobias Set- Happiness Writes White
2. Automatic Love- Heaven You Must Be
3. Erin and Fox and John Faye- Swing And A Miss
4. Caroline Quinn- Lost For Words
5. Nervous Nikki and the Chill Pills- Nerves Of Glass
6. Suzanne Sheer- Me and My Friends
7. Moonroof- Can’t Say No To You
8. Dominic Angelella- Smoking At The Lakehouse
9. Jackson Pines- Evergreen ft Julia DiGrazia
10. Maria Mirenzi- Let It Steep
Dan shares a conversation between The Flying Vees and Phillip Reese of Your Next Favorite Band. Originally airing back in April, the band members Brechyn Chase, Shannon Vasile, Caitlin Ramsey, and Hannah Taylor talk about how they all met and formed the band back in 2018. Even though they can go a while between times they see each other, they're able to dial in quickly when they get chance to rehearse and perform, and their harmonies and stage show are proof of how naturally this all comes to them.
The Flying Vees have a brand new EP coming out, and they'll be celebrating with a release show on Sunday, July 13th at the Philadelphia Ethical Soceity in Rittenhouse Square (an absolutely gorgeous space to see live music). Show starts at 5pm, so get there early to see the band that long-time Philadelphia music promoter Jesse Lundy prasies as "Cooler than G. G. Allin."
Special thanks to Phillip Reese and the team over at Your Next Favorite Band for graciously letting us give this interview an encore release. Check out Your Next Favorite Band to, appropriately, discover your next favorite band. If you're heading to Musikfest up in Bethlehem, PA this August, let YNFB take the guesswork out of who to go see with their daily coverage of the fest, as well as their Musikfest Exordium on July 29th to get you up to speed before the fest starts.
Here are another handful of new tracks from Philadelphia artists for your listening pleasure. As always, check out the clickable playlist below, and support the artists.
There's a set of tunes in there that are all bands playing the Jam For Josh at The Fallser Club on July 18th. Josh Craft is the co-founder (along with his wife Jess) of Rock To the Future, a non profit group that brings after school music programs into Philadelphia city schools free of charge to the students. Josh is recovering from multiple surgeries and procedures that were needed due to the sudden onset of pancreatic cancer, and this concert will donate all of its proceeds to Josh and his family. Check out the bands, and support the event.
Enjoy the playlist, and send me your tracks if you're a Philadelphia area musician!
2. The Indestructible Water Bear- Missing You
Jam For Josh Spotlight: July 19th at The Fallser Club
4. Plastic Soldiers- Borrowed Time
5. Roberta Faceplant- Big Dark Town
8. DelCobras- Untied (She’s The One)
9. Justin Kerecz- Don’t Forget The Porterman
10. t-minus- Sonder
Sweet Juice Fest has been featured on this show since its inception in 2022, and this is the first year we get an in depth look at not just some of the artists that are playing, but the foundation and philosophy of the festival itself. John and Paige sit down with Shona Carr and Mel Harris, two of the festival's founders, to talk about this year's fest, the growth over previous years, and how Sweet Juice seeks to build and strengthen community and create a more audience-focused approach to music and art festivals.
Dan takes a look at some of the artists playing this year's festival, check out the clickable playlist:
2) Little Hag- Show Me Your Head
3) KulfiGirls- Red Light
Full lineup includes: Speedy Ortiz, Little Hag, Kulfi Girls, Sovei, Kai Davis, Ollie Goss, Cyrus K Stratton, and line dancing featuring Fist City and the Sweet Juice Fest House Band.
Sweet Juice Fest is Saturday, June 28 at Awbury Arboretum in Germantown, and runs from 1:30pm to 9pm. Go to the festival's site for all information and ticketing, and be sure to follow them on IG for all the up-to-the-minute info.
As promised, here's the playlist episode for the month of May, just under the wire. Twelve new tunes from twelve Philadelphia artists, and you can go right to their sites and support them below on the clickable playlist.
We'll be doing these each month, so send your music submissions to us at dan.drago@25oclockpod.com. Please send DL links or attach an mp3, and don't forget to link your EPK or press info so we have something to say about you. Enjoy these tunes, and if you like em, share em.
John and Paige talk with photographer/tour manager/many-hat-wearer Ashley Gellman about life on the road and at home. Ashley has worked with artists like Bartees Strange, Jamie xx, Jonas Brothers, boygenius, and is currently on the road with Lucy Daucus. She's a larger-than-life personality, and she breaks down her life on the road, her upbringing as an independent kid doing her own thing, her relationships with the early artists she worked with, found family amidst her touring peers, and how to capture the best shot without being in the way. Amidst a whirlwind of travel and work, Ashley talks in depth about how she's grown to embrace being home, and how she balances the "all-in" touring lifestyle with the calmer vibes of being back in Philadelphia. If you can manage to pin her down, Ashley does do photo shoots for hire when she can, so follow her on IG.
On Sunday, May 18th, the 12th annual Brain Fest is happening at Fringe Bar in Philadelphia from 5pm to midnight. Brain Fest raises money and awareess for treatment of brain tumor, with all the proceeds going to the American Brain Tumor Association. Performers include Adventure Lost, The Lunar Year, Alright Junior, Trash Boy, Erin Fox and the Hounds, Annalise Curtim, and more. More info available at their event posting and at the ABTA donation site.
In Philadelphia, John and Paige talk with Sovei, an artists no matter what they choose to apply their talent to. Whether it's singing and songwriting, sound experiments, visual collage, poetry, fashion, Sovei brings their spirit and experimentation to it all. Sovei talks about singing from an early age, their original incarnation as Justmadnice, being one of the founders of the Sweet Juice Festival, and how they bring creativity to any artistic endeavor they're working on. They discuss their collaborations with poet/musician Moor Mother, their Philadelphia circle of musicians featuring folk like Martronimous and Erik Kramer, and even tease a song from their upcoming EP.
From his new apartment on Ma Wan Island in Hong Kong, Dan compiles a mini playlist of music that's coming out of Philadelphia now. Check out the clickable playlist below, and support the artists you love.
2) Polaroid Fade- Cotton Candy Skies
3) Penny Death- Cleaver Soul Spit
Note: 3 & 4 come from Impetus Records’ newest compilation of 14 bands from their Wilmington, DE based record label
5) Taylor Kelly- Take Me (remix) feat. Tennishu
6) Moor Mother- STORIES feat. Soviet
7) Sovei- Big World
25 O'Clock is produced by Dan Drago (currently living in Hong Kong), with John Vettese and Paige Walter in Philadelphia.
This episode marks a new chapter in the 25 O'Clock book: our first episode with collaborators, and our first episode of a new format going forward. While Dan is living in Hong Kong, he wanted to keep the show going, and with the help of his friends back in Philadelphia, Paige Walter and John Vettese (you might know them from their day jobs at WXPN), 25 O'Clock continues on with great conversations with artists, and of course, lots of Philadelphia music. And rest assured, Dan is still ever present, introducing the music and artists, bringing in his usual brand of commentary, and continuing to champion the music community.
Kristin Daelyn is a singer-songwriter from Philadelphia, and has been captivating audiences with her songs for years. John and Paige sat down with Kristin in Philadelphia to talk about what she thinks of as "seasons" for making music, her sweeping and fluid guitar playing, and how she wants to leave room in each of her songs for the listener to find space in. She's kind enough to grace us with an in-studio performance of one of her songs, "Patience Comes to the Bones". That song and others are on her brand new record, 'Beyond The Break', available on Orindal Records and wherever you get your digital music. She'll be playing a release show on March 14th at Harmonie Hall with Reese Florence and Adeline Hotel, get tickets here, or follow her on her Instagram.
In Part 2, longtime Philadelphia talent buyer/promoter/manager Derek Dorsey talks about everything he was up to during the 00s to now, including leaving The Fire (a club he booked for over 15 years), working in music publishing, managing bands, and continuing to book shows for Philadelphia venues like The Blockley, Underground Arts, and the Electric Factory. Derek also opens up about his current health and treatments, and the amazing benefit concerts that the We Live On foundation has been putting on. Dan tries his best to express to Derek just how much he means to the community, and how we will never stop supporting him and We Live On. Derek, among other things, tells two incredible stories about working in the concert industry: one involving a car chase with Shuggie Otis as a passenger, and one about a near brawl between him and his staff and DMX's Ruff Ryders. These simply can't be missed.
Derek was diagnosed with a very rare version of trigeminal neuralgia, a neurological disease that attacks the body with sharp, sudden bursts of pain. It has been treatable to varying degrees of success, but the illness is chronic and incurable. Derek and friends started a foundation called 'We Live On', which helps Derek and his family, as well as provides assistance and resources to others who are going through similar situations. They host benefit concerts, including two upcoming ones, both at Ardmore Music Hall: Sunday, March 30th with Mason Porter, Frog Holler and Travel Lanes, and on Saturday, May 3rd, We Live On presents The Soul Of Quincy Jones: York Street Hustle and Special Guests. Go to the AMH website for all your event and ticket information.
Dan sits down with Philadelphia music community icon and long-standing champion Derek Dorsey. He's booked and promoted thousands of shows at The Fire, Underground Arts, The Blockley, and Electric Factory, if you played in Philadelphia in the last 25 years, you worked with Derek at some point.
In Part 1, Derek reminisces about growing up in Overbrook, early concerts, his love of music, and his early career as a social worker working with at-risk youth in Philadelphia. In an attempt to raise money via a benefit concert, Derek got his first taste of being part of the business from behind the scenes, and the rest is history. Dan and Derek talk about the Philly music scene in the 90s and early 00s, the bands in Derek's orbit (Town Hall, June Rich, Huffamoose, etc), and how he made his career, even if (according to him) he had no idea what he was doing.
Derek was diagnosed with a very rare version of trigeminal neuralgia, a neurological disease that attacks the body with sharp, sudden bursts of pain. It has been treatable to varying degrees of success, but the illness is chronic and incurable. Derek and friends started a foundation called 'We Live On', which helps Derek and his family, as well as provides assistance and resources to others who are going through similar situations. They host benefit concerts, including two upcoming ones, both at Ardmore Music Hall: Sunday, March 30th with Mason Porter, Frog Holler and Travel Lanes, and on Saturday, May 3rd, We Live On presents The Soul Of Quincy Jones: York Street Hustle and Special Guests. Go to the AMH website for all your event and ticket information.
Just a few days before he took off for Hong Kong, Dan talks to folk singer-songwriter Andrea Nardello at her kitchen table in Philadelphia. Andrea talks about growing up the tomboy sister of older brothers just over the bridge in New Jersey, coming out of her shell to perform in college, and getting her start on the road while living in Atlanta at the beginning of her career. They discuss touring life, the grind of producing content, the ups and downs of booking even in your own hometown, their mutual love of Ani Difranco and the Indigo Girls, and Andrea's biggest aspiration: to be a "legacy opener".
Andrea Nardello's newest EP, 'Rise', is out now wherever you get your digital music, and on CD via her website. Follow her on IG to stay up to date with upcoming shows and releases.
In the opening, I talk about an event happening this weekend in Bethlehem, PA and in the Philly suburbs. Listen To the Dissonance is an annual concert series put on by Your Next Favorite Band (our sister podcast up in the Lehigh Valley), focusing on intimate performances from songwriters speaking about mental health awareness. This year, there are two opportunities to see it: 2/28 in Bethlehem at the Icehouse, and 3/1 in Wayne at 118 North. Both shows will feature performances from Jon Worthy, Brittany Ann Tranbaugh, A Day Without Love, and Cass Noelle. Come and be a part of this movement to de-stigmatize and promote mental health awareness through the universal language of music. Tickets are available, and you can get more information at Your Next Favorite Band's website.
It's been a long time coming, but Dan finally sits down with Bruce Warren, recently retired program director from WXPN, Philadelphia's non-commercial radio station. Bruce talks about growing up in Northeast Philly, getting turned on by Philly soul, Motown, The Beatles, etc, starting a music zine to get into shows for free, and taking a random late night DJ shift at a burgeoning college radio station would change his entire life. Dan and Bruce share their experiences in the restaurant industry (Bruce's gig before he found a life in radio), the changes at WXPN over his 35 years, the amazing people he gets to call colleagues, and what he plans to do with his time now that he's retiring. But don't worry: guys like Bruce don't sit still, even in retirement.
Bruce still has the Saturday shift on WXPN from 1Oam to 2pm EST ('The Post Sleepy Hollow Experience'), and teaches social media and business at University of Pennsylvania and Temple University.
Dan took a trip out to Wayne, PA to sit down with rock n' roll lifer Paul Keen (Pawnshop Roses, Dead Flowers, Wolf & Vixen). Paul talks about growing up loving the classic rock of his parents, especially The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Faces, and The Who, and finding a home in the Manayunk music scene at The Grape Room and Dawson Street Pub. Dan and Paul discuss the finer points of being two aging music guys who are trying hard not to be cranky nostalgists, the merits of dive bars and clubs, and how a life of playing out at bars has to be handled just right so as not to make your life a never-ending party.
Paul's newest project is a duo with his partner, author C.C. Lane, Wolf & Vixen. they have a new single out now called "Everyone's On Drugs", available wherever you get your digital music.
Dan's note: This is the last episode I'll be producing while residing in Philadelphia for a while. Next you hear from me, I'll likely be balancing a Zoom H6 on my lap while holding a mic in a small apartment in the North Point neighborhood of Hong Kong. There are a handful of interviews I conducted while still in Philadelphia, and I'll be putting those out over the next weeks. Philadelphia will always be part of me, and I'll be back to visit, and eventually to live again. I'll miss each and every one of you. Be well.
We're back from January break, and in the home stretch before Dan heads off to Hong Kong. We're getting the year started off right with a great conversation with singer-songwriter Maria Mirenzi. Maria talks to Dan right at her dining room table about growing up in Mountain Top, PA, playing saxophone, being a "jazz kid", Temple music school, living in France, her first project Brother Martin, growing into being a solo artist, and playing more guitar. Dan and Maria also get very sidetracked (Dan's fault) talking about the perceived spirt life of inanimate objects, and how songwriting is the closest thing to magic that they can explain rationally.
Maria's newest single, "Suburban Nightmare", is available wherever you get digital music. She's playing at Anchor Rock Club in Atlantic City on February 22nd with Teen Idle, Nylon Ghost and Those Looks.
And like that, the end of another year. Whether 2024 was a slog, a joyful ride, or something in between, we can all agree that if you measure a year by its music, it looks a whole lot better. Dan shares a playlist of tracks from Philadelphia artists from 2024. Some have been on the show, some he's only just discovering, and all of it is top notch. Check out the clickable playlist below, and have a happy new year!
We're going to take a couple of weeks off in January. There's still a few conversations I'm meaning to get on tape before I depart, and those will get released as I settle in to Hong Kong life. So keep posted via the socials, email list, etc. The show sure isn't ending, just changing. More to come, more fun to be had. Thank you all for a great year, you've made my 10th year the greatest. Here's to more and more.
Dan brings Ross Bellenoit back for another conversation, his last one was fall of 2016. A lot has been going on: Ross has continued to release music as a solo artist, as part of the face-melting jam band Muscle Tough, and as part of Don McCloskey's live band. On top of it all, he continues to produce records at Turtle Studios, and teach guitar to all ages and levels. Ross talks about growing up in Western Massachusetts (a fact we sort of skipped over last time), his mom's outstanding record collection, playing jazz at a young age, moving to Philadelphia to go to UArts, and staying ever since. Ross' latest LP is a brilliant instrumental jazz album called 'Signals', available wherever you get digital music, as well as on vinyl via his website.
Dan sits down with pianist/composer/producer Corey Bernhard (currently a member of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert house band) about his journey from Boston to Philadelphia, and all the points in between. Steeped in the jazz and experimental scenes in Boston and New York, Corey landed in Philadelphia and founded Killiam Shakespeare, a beloved Philly insturmental hip-hop group. he's played with acts like Bilal, Snarky Puppy, Ed Sheeran, Ariana grande, Bootsy Collins, and so many more. Corey also gets into his upcoming LP, 'A Blessed Leap into Eternity', available January 24th (check out the pre-release singles), and how working with Michael Cummings (Trap Rabbit, Sun Ra Arkestra, Sophie Coran) was an amazing collaboration of creativity, experimentation, and patience.
Dan has talked to John Faye on the show before (twice, actually), but this time they're doing it live. On December 4th, 2024, John held a vinyl listening party for his new LP, 'The Long Game', at 48 Record Bar in the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia. He asked Dan to come interview him live on stage in front of an audience, they recorded it, and decided it was cool enough to share with the world. Big thanks to all the staff at 48 Record Bar for making a wonderful evening, everyone who came and shared the night with us, and special thanks to producer and Philadelphia music OG Phil Nicolo (Studio 4, The Butcher Brothers) for sitting front and center and engaging in just a bit of good natured heckling. Also included in this episode is an excerpt from John's autobiography,' The Yin And Yang Of It All', available wherever you get books.
'The Long Game' is out now wherever you get your digital music, and available on vinyl via In The Pocket Productions on John's website.
Dan has a full house this week with Sexton Sideshow founders Paula and Jim Minacci. As the sextons (or caretakers) of Old Swedes' Church in Philadelphia since 2000, they started having events featuring Philadelphia artists like Deadfellow, Low Cut Connie, and EJ Simpson's long running one-man 'Jesus Christ Superstar' production. Paula and Jim talk with Dan about how they got into doing shows, being inspired by their son Dylan's journey into the music business, offering up their home to travelling artists from all over, and this month's big event: a musical tribute to 'O Brother Where Art Thou', now in it's 7th year. They even bring Philadelphia singer-songwriter (and past 25 O'Clock guest) Emily Drinker to talk about the show and all that goes into making it happen (the show features almost two dozen Philadelphia area performers and artists).
Sexton Sideshow Presents: 'O Brother Where Art Thou' is December 13th and 14th at Old Swedes' Church at Christan St and Columbus Blvd in Philadelphia. Tickets are available at the church's website and on the the Sexton Sideshow Instagram.