Dan talks with Jay about his new 'Unwind' release, his band, The Barrel Fires, and being creative as a dad. The two discuss their love of the Grateful Dead, breaking out of the Americana rut, and how his wife's love of REM helps him deliver his best work.

Savan DePaul has been making beats and rapping since high school, but they've really come into their own over the last few years with a slew of out-there, challenging hip-hop and electronic records. Dan talks with Savan about growing up in Royersford, PA, moving to West Philly, the influence of artists like Bjork and Sun Ra, the black autism community, being non-binary, and using their newest project, Ishtar Sr., to continue to challenge themselves and make new kinds of music.

Marcelyn (Marcelyn, the band) and Juliet Eve (Bad Sleeper) had an idea: they'd write a song and have their bands team up and collaborate on it. Then, we all went inside for a very long time. But amidst lockdown and distancing, both Marcelyn and Bad Sleeper managed to each make their own version, and that's what Dan talks to them about, along with what they're doing to keep working amidst the pandemic.

Dan talks with Michael Stanzo and Daniel Rice of The Dawn Drapes about their unique sound, getting started in Northern VA, the differences between recording in LA with brother Johnathan Rice, and here at home at The Headroom, and how to keep a lasting friendship while also being in a band together.

Dan has been meaning to talk to producer/engineer Michael Cumming (Rittenhouse Soundworks/Treacle Mine Recording) for quite some time now, and it's finally happening. Dan and Michael talk about his journey from London for Philadelphia in his early 20s, their shared experiences working in kitchens and the music world simultaneously, Trap Rabbit and Sophie Coran (obviously), and the importance of "the hang" in the studio. 

Lia comes from a background of musical theater and acting, but found that songwriting gave her the chance to be whatever she wanted to be. Dan and Lia talk about her life on stage from a young age, her transition into a singer-songwriter, her new EP 'I Am Kyros', and how she learned to stop letting the "journey of success' define her. The two discuss not taking every gig that pops up, acknowledging what about being a musician you don't like, and a love of gigs that end before 11pm.

Dan and Kirby get right down to it: their isolation, the crushing blow all their 2020 plans took, and Kirby's first solo album, 'Happy People Make Happy Things'. Kirby talks about making a record by hitting up against his own limitations, and how years of collaborating on other people's music gave him a big crowd to choose from when it came to finishing his own.

Rockabilly dynamo/graphic artist/avid reader Joe Castro talks to Dan about working with Brian McTear on his newest LP, 'Come On Angels' (with most of legendary Philly punk band Thorazine) and the many epiphanies that transpired. They also talk Love, Ted Hawkins, making music videos at home, Philly auteur Bob Sweeney, and how to play old-time rock n' roll without making it a museum piece.

Photo by Fear The Skull

Add Jefferson Berry to the list of people Dan has "met" but not really met, y'know? Great conversation about his new record, 'Double Deadbolt Logic', his California upbringing, working in radio in the 80s and 90s, and teaching government and economics to the students that the Philly school system has cast aside.

Dan talks to Avé, a Philly native and currently residing in London, about growing up in Mount Airy, their involvement and touring with the Philadelphia Boy's Choir, their upcoming novel and album (they go together), and navigating the world and family as both gay and non-binary. Avé's new singles are out on The Giving Groove, a Philly-centered non-profit record label. 

Nik was on back in 2016 (Ep#36), and quite a bit has changed for him. Dan talks to Nik about his band, The Operators, working for Ardmore Music Hall, using this time to himself to improve his mental health, and coming up with some great ideas of how to do shows during the pandemic while still keeping everyone safe (spoiler: they're outside). 

Dan has been getting so much great music in his inbox recently, it was time for another playlist episode. This one features mostly new music from the last month or so from Philly's best and brightest. Features artists like Lia Menaker, Jay Carlis, Vassal, Jeff Zeigler, and more. Go to 25oclockpod.com for the full playlist and artists links.

They used to be all boy/all girl, but after changing out half of their line-up right before a 2019 tour, Nick Rahn and Danielle Lovier decided to mark the new band with a new name. Dan talks to Nick and Danielle about getting halfway through their Ortlieb's residency before the pandemic, cancelling tours, having a lot of time on their hands, and trying their best to move through the day to day as positively as they can.

As businesses reopen and the world tries to get back to some semblance of routine, the questions of safety and health are going to keep coming up. Dan talks with Jay Levin (general manager at Turtle Studios in Philadelphia) about new health and safety protocols that Turtle is getting ready to implement once they're permitted to reopen. Jay talks about communication, customization, honesty, and transparency as the key elements to working and creating safely from here on out. Turtle Studios strive to start the conversation, but hope others add and build onto their initial ideas as studios begin to ask: How are we keeping everyone safe?

Originally aired on WXPN on May 26th, 2020, Dan teams up with XPN's own John Vettese to share a playlist of music curated from the podcast. John turns the tables and interviews Dan about starting the podcast, where he comes from and what he's been up to, and Dan talks about all of the artists in his playlist. Thanks to WXPN for making this team up happen, you can check them out on 88.5 FM (Greater Philly Area) and at xpn.org.

Will Brown, forced to recently change his stage moniker due to his own name being simply too common to bear, talks with Dan about his new EP, 'Bedroom Prog'. An accomplished guitarist, drummer, and musical gun-for-hire, Will talks about the EP taking about 5 years of shaping, his work with groups like Deadfellow, Rylan Brooks, and Trap Rabbit, and his new 'indie-rock soul food' diet while in self-isolation.

(Photo by Katie Shea Walters)

This is one of the live stream radio shows Dan did back in April. It features, like all the playlist shows, a great lineup of Philly music. The show originally went out live on April 18th, and has been reconstructed for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!

Back in April, Dan did a handful of online live radio shows featuring tons of great Philly music. Unfortunately, two of those shows were lost to the ether after they happened. So Dan put them back together in the studio for your listening pleasure. Enjoy the playlist from April 8th, reassembled and better than ever. Go to 25oclockpod.com and click the blog post for the full playlist. 

In the conclusion, Dan and Katie finally get around to where Katie came from, how she got involved in the Philly music scene, and that she still gets nervous that she's going to forget the words to cover songs. She even turns it around and interviews Dan for a minute or so, and the two even share their takes on the night they met at Ardmore Music Hall for the Robert Hunter tribute. 

Amidst the isolation and distancing, Dan managed to connect with You Do You/Roberta Faceplant front-woman Katie Feeney via the internet, and man, were they happy to talk to each other! Part 1 includes talk about notebooks, missing playing shows, trolling Sly Fox Brewing for 8 years on Twitter, and going way in over your head when you're young and ambitious.

Bo and Mitch are one of Philly's music power couples. Both have extensive background in session playing, live bands, songwriting, producing, and mentoring. Bo has worked in NYC, Nashville, and beyond. Mitch is known in Philly for his part in Stereo League, BAM, and as a live bassist for Digable Planets. They've just launched Rebel Joy Music Educators, a service that brings high-end music lessons and coaching right to your computer. In a time of social distancing, Rebel Joy offers lessons, songwriting help, production skills, and one-on-one mentoring. It was a blast to talk to them, Mitch was one of the first guests on the show back in early 2015 (ep#9). 

At the end of February, Brett Kull and JD Beck of Rise Twain came over to talk and play. It was a great time then, and going back and listening in lieu of releasing it, it was a great time to just hear it again. Brett and JD talk about their new record, working together on and off for a decade or so, their particular approaches to writing and performing, and how they challenge and impress each other on a regular basis. 

Some of you were there, some of you missed it. So here's the live stream radio show Dan did on 4.4.20, live from the underground lair of 25 O'Clock. It features music from You Do You, King Pine, Martronimous, Forest Kids Collective, Dear Forbidden, John Morrison, and more. Also featured: all the fun and games of doing a live broadcast. Enjoy the show, it was a blast to do. Go to 25oclockpod.com for the full track list, and to sign up for the mailing list to find out about the next ones. 

Brendan Johnson and Katie O'Donnell of Stella Ruze were the last people to sit down with Dan in the studio before the pandemic was declared. It was also an evening of massive equipment shenanigans, which does not diminish the conversation in any way, but rather makes for a better story. Brendan and Katie talk about the band's new record, 'The Greater Dog' (recorded at Miner Street Studios with Matt Poirier and Brian McTear), becoming a better live band, their very musical upbringings, and all the groups in Philly that they love. 

Upholstery members Jeremy Prouty and Kate Black-Regan came by to talk with Dan about the intersection of the Philly theater and music scenes, making their own puppets, costume changes, and the unique process they go through to make their very unique sound.