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.
The last time Brendan Johnson of Stella Ruze was on the show, it was with his bandmate Katie O'Donnell, and it was less than a week before the world shutdown in March of 2020 (Dan didn't have another in-person guest for nearly a year and a half). It's been almost five years, but Brendan comes back to talk to Dan about the band, some line-up and life changes amidst them, and how embracing improvisation and extended instrumental sections gave them their latest LP, 'Origin'. Brendan and Dan get into their love of live improvisation, namely the band Phish, and the difference between proper "jamming" and just extended soloing. 'Origin' is available December 20th wherever you get your digital music, and on vinyl through the band's website. Stella Ruze will play an LP release show at Ardmore Music Hall on December 21st with Hezekiah Jones and Brittany Ann Tranbaugh.
Dan was moved to reach out to a seemingly anonymous person, based solely on liking his concert photography. And through that, Dan talks to Jersey Wall (or Eric, as he's known to some) for one of his first podcast appearances ever. Eric talks about growing up moving a lot, his dad's record collection, going to shows as a rite of passage into growing up, and his lifelong love of technology and innovation. Eric made his way to Philadelphia in 2009 and immediately found the music community to be not only full of great bands and shows, but also a great place to start delving into photography. Dan and Eric talk about the importance of comminity, of having something to offer, and how to ride the line between fan and contributor. Eric posts his photos on his Jersey Wall Instagram regularly, and recently did the promo photos for Philly band Soft Idiot (there's even a track from them at the end). Check out his IG where you can see his photos and contact him for future projects.
Dan traveled up to Newtown, PA to sit with Dirty Dollhouse front-woman Chelsea Mitchell in her shop, Newtown Book & Record Exchange, along with her bassist Josh Machiz. Chelsea talks about growing up in Newtown, being an anxious, book-obsessed kid, and how she found her way into music by playing in the church worship bands and choir (where, as a bonus, she received classical voice training). She also talks about the trajectory of Dirty Dollhouse, beginning as a trio of her, Amber Twait and Vanessa Winters singing country harmonies, and how it morphed into the full band that it is today with members like Josh, Eric Lawry and Pete Hall. Dan, Chelsea, and Josh reminisce about an era in the Philly folk and rock scene that they all inhabited around the same time, and give their kudos to people who have helped along the way.
Dirty Dollhouse's new LP, 'The End', is out now and available wherever you get digital music. The band will play a release show at Johnny Brenda's on November 22nd with Dominy and Bren.
Also: Dan is getting ready to send the $$ from 'Want To Play A Song?: Live On 25 O'Clock Vol. 1' to Philly Music Fest (they're getting ready to announce their donation numbers very soon), so get yourself the comp exclusively on Bandcamp if you haven't already. All proceeds go to the charitable giving of PMF to music education charites in Philadlephia.
Dan and and Kat Rivers met over a Philly music Discord, and started doing Monday co-working sessions at an Olde City coffee shop with a rotating cast of musicians and creatives. Kat talks about growing up in Paduka, Kentucky, her many years in musical theater (including the Walnut Street Theater, which is what brought her to Philadelphia), and stepping away from theater to focus on performing music. She gets into the nuts and bolts of working the wedding and cover band gigs, as well as how she finally put together her own band for her songs, Kat Rivers and the Second Sight. To quote Kat's current mantra, "There are so many ways to be good." Kat Rivers and the Second Sight have shows coming up this fall, including November 23rd at Fat Lady Brewing in Manayunk with Maria Mirenzi, and December 12th at Tin Can Bar in Port Richmond.
Dan recovers from a week of Philly Music Fest with a playlist episode. Ten tracks of Philadlephia music goodness, including a couple from the 'Want To Play A Song?: Live On 25 O'Clock Vol. 1' compilation out now exclusivley via Bandcamp. Also, Dan shares some big news, so don't miss that! Clickable playlist is below, support that artists you love!
1. Aaron Parnell Brown- Always Everything
2. Kate Dressed Up- All the While Following Me
3. Needless Ghost- Berlin, 1982
5. Barney Cortez- Totally Confused
8. Lito and the Shepherds- Last Call
9. Party Nerves- Toothpaste, NJ
10. The Tisburys- The Anniversaries
11. Eliza Hardy Jones- This Is the Year (demo)
Dan talks with Josh Ostrander, aka Mondo Cozmo, from his basement studio in Los Angeles. After mutually admiring each other's set-ups through their computer screens, Josh talks to Dan about growing up outside Philadelphia, all the ups and downs with his previous groups La Guardia and Eastern Conference Champions, and the hard decision to shift to a solo project back in 2016. Since then Josh has toured constantly, put out multiple releases, and written more songs than he could ever know what to do with. Josh details how touring with Spoon just before their last album, 'Lucifer On the Sofa', was a master class in how a band reinvents itself, and those lessons would inform his own work going forward. His latest LP, 'It's PRINCIPLE', is out now and available wherever you get your digital music. Mondo Cozmo is playing 10/26 at Underground Arts as part of Philly Music Fest, sharing a bill with Devon Gilfillian, The Tisburys, and Emily Drinker.
'Want To Play A Song?: Live On 25 O'Clock Vol. 1' is out now exclusively on Bandcamp, and is a compilation of 10 unique performances from the podcast over the last ten years. All the proceeds from the compilation go to support Philly Music Fest's charitable giving. Every year, PMF donates all the profits from the festival to music non-profits all over Philadelphia. Since their inception, they've donated over $500K to music and education charities throughout the region.
Dan has admired Chiara D'Anzieri's music (under the Santa Chiara moniker) for a while now, and has wanted to have her on the show ever since. Chiara talks about coming to the US in her 20s after meeting Philly musician Ron Gallo on a beach in Italy while he was on tour, and how the adjustment to life over here was an up-and-down journey. Trained as classical cellist, Chiara spent most of her young life traveling to play with orchestras and ensembles, and made the decision to pursue rock and pop music as she got older. We talk travel, touring in the US, and her latest album, 'IMPORTED', which is available on Kill Rock Stars and everywhere you get your digital music. Santa Chiara is playing at Ardmore Music Hall on 10/21 as part of the first night of Philly Music Fest with Hurry and Slaughter Beach, Dog. This episode features an exclusive, unreleased song from Chiara that was recorded live at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia earlier this year.
'Want To Play A Song?: Live On 25 O'Clock Vol. 1' is out now exclusively on Bandcamp, and is a compilation of 10 unique performances from the podcast over the last ten years. All the proceeds from the compilation go to support Philly Music Fest's charitable giving. Every year, PMF donates all the profits from the festival to music non-profits all over Philadelphia. Since their inception, they've donated over $500K to music and education charities throughout the region.
Dan talks to Chris Pires, drummer for Philly ska-punks Catbite, in lieu of their Philly Music Fest appearance. Chris talks about convncing his parents to let him have a drum kit, all the different acts he's played with, and how Catbite formed out of nowhere as a "thing to do". Chris also gets into the dynamics of a band relationship, and the importance of having real, adult conversations amongst bandmembers about what you want out of a band and out of life. Catbite are headlining the 10/25 Friday Philly Music Fest show at Milkboy with Reef The Lost Cauze, Kuf Knotz and Christine, and Queasy. Go to Philly Music Fest's site for tix. Catbite are currently on tour in Europe with The Slackers, with West Coast dates planned for the rest of 2024.
'Want To Play A Song?: Live On 25 O'Clock Vol. 1' is out now exclusively on Bandcamp. It features 10 original performances from the podcast's archives, and all the proceeds go to support Philly Music Fest's charitable giving.
Dan sits with Connor Byrne and Tim Fitzpatrick of Brackish to talk all things punk and emo. Connor and Tim have known each other since high school, and get into growing up in central New Jersey, each of their guitar playing dads, early days of the band, how they keep it challenging and fresh for themselves, and how it's not an "emo revival" lately because, to them, it never really went away. The guys even play TWO songs live in the studio. The newest Brackish EP, 'Rear View', is out now and available on all digital platforms.
'Want To Play A Song?: Love On 25 O'Clock Vol. 1' is out now! It's 10 unique performances from the show going back over the 10 years of 25 O'Clock. All the proceeds go to support the charitable giving of Philly Music Fest, who have donated over $500K since their inception to Philadlephia music charities and programs. Help PMF increase their giving to all the amazing organizations, and get a great compilation of performances by Philadlephia musicians as well. Available exclusively on Bandcamp.
Dominic Angelella is someone Dan has described as a "known quantity". He's helmed bands like DRGN KING and Lithuania, and put out his own solo work for years in Philadelphia. But in an attempt to have no fixed address, he's found himself living in Ireland for the past year or so. Dan talks to Dom about his earlier days in the Philadelphia music community via University of the Arts (RIP), getting touring opportunities with bands like mewithoutyou and Foxing, touring with Lucy Daucus and Natalie Prass, and all the while working on his own songs amidst tour dates, bus rides, and stolen moments in stairwells. His latest album, 'God Loves A Scammer', is out now on all digital platforms, and also available on vinyl through his Bandcamp.
ALSO: 'Want To Play A Song?: Live On 25 O'Clock Vol. 1' is now available for pre-order. The compilation features 10 original live performances from artists on the podcast. All the money from the compilation will go to Philly Music Fest's charity department. Philly Music Fest is a multi-day, non-profit music festival that has given over $500K to Philadelphia music charities. The pre-order gets you access to two tracks off the compilation, and will be fully available on 9/30. Let the pre-ordering begin!
Dan has wanted to have Brittany Ann Tranbaugh on the show for a couple of years, and it’s finally happening. Brittany talks about growing up in the Lehigh Valley, playing open mics and coffeehouse gigs as a teen, getting her songwriting to where she needed it to be, and her amazing band. Fresh off an outstanding show at Johnny Brenda’s at the time of this interview, Brittany talks about all the ups and downs of being an independent artists, life on the road, finding community away from home, and fielding unsolicited opinions from Internet trolls. Her latest self-titled EP is out now wherever you get your digital music, as well as on vinyl through her website. She will be playing at WXPN’s Xponential Music Fest on Sunday, September 22nd at 12pm.
Dan met Justin Kerecz a little while ago, and the two hit it off immediately, sharing their love of the oft-debated-genre of power pop, as well as a general love of songwriting and home recording. Justin talks about growing up going to musicals in NYC with his grandparents, navigating his way through various bands, and realizing eventually that he'd rather just play everything and record it himself. From his early days using iPhones, tablets, GarageBand, and the evolution of his songs and records, Justin has been putting out songs since 2017. His latest EP, 'Nobody Man', is out now wherever you get your digital music. Follow him on IG, and YouTube (he makes very entertaining videos to go with his music).
We're back from summer break! And we're getitng it all back on track the right way with Dylan Gallimore, frontman and songwriter of The Lower Aetna. Dan and Dylan get into Dylan's roots in Medford Lakes, NJ, his path into songwriting as a ficiton writer, the loneliness of a millennial queer kid growing up in the Pine Barrens, the kids you grew up with that you don't think about anymore, the bond between him and childhood best friend/band member Kayla Rae Molocznik, creating strong characters to drive a song, Craig Finn and Bruce Springsteen, and much more. 'Pine' is the newest LP from The Lower Aetna, and is out now and available wherever you get your digital music.
Dan sits down with Ryan Wells, frontman and songwriter for Red Means Run (you betcha that's a Neil Young nod). Ryan talks about growing up in Manasas, getting turned onto music by bands like U2 and REM, both of whom were still proving themselves to the world as he was a teen. He recalls his first band Radio Ghost Town while he was living in NYC, moving to Philly and casting around for a new group of folk to play with, and putting together Red Means Run. Ryan also goes into how producer Derek Chafin (BarnSound) helped shape their newest LP, 'Things You Hold True', from Ryan's usual alt-country leanings into something broader and fuller, borrowing from as much Tom Petty as Uncle Tupelo. 'Things You Hold True' is out now and available wherever you get your digital music.
Just a reminder: we're taking off the month of August to do summer stuff, go down the shore, all that. See you back here in September for a fall season full of great bands, shows, records, conversations, and intimate performances. Check out the archives in the meantime, lots of great artists to discover! See you in September!
Dan first talked to Katie Feeney, aka Roberta Faceplant, back in April of 2020 as one of his first virtual guests at the start of the pandemic. It was a different time then. Katie came over to the studio in person this time, and the gab starts right off the bat (Dan and Katie are both self-admitted gabbers). Katie talks about the birth of the Roberta Faceplant project and persona, the forming of the current lineup, which features her former You Do You bandmates Drew Parker and Aaron Boczkowski, as well as Nick Anastasi (Honey Butter, Southwork, Fat City Reprise) and Mykk Hoffman (The Funky T, Emily Drinker). The band's newest EP, 'Yee Haw Stuff', is out July 26th wherever you get digitial music.
A quick primer on names and places (lotta names come up in this one):
John Faye- former frontman of The Caulfields, Ike, John and Brittany, singer-songwriter, author, and elder statesman of the Philadelphia music community
Dave Kiss- Philadelphia promoter going way back, owner of Dave Kiss Presents
Ang Bocca- powerhouse Philadelphia singer and songwriter
Kara Koser- also powerhouse Philadelphia singer and songwriter, frontwoman of Koser
Crystal Engel- co-owner of Moon Rose Vintage, founder of Mamamoon Vintage
Brittany Ann Tranbaugh- Philadelphia singer songwriter, touring artist, community leader
Todd Mecaughey- engineer and producer at Cambridge Sound Studios, member of Secret American, formerly of the New Connection
MilkBoy South Street (formerly Lickety Split)- two-floor venue on South Street in Philadelphia, home of Katie's open mic
Dan first heard of Brendan McGeehan back when he interviewed Aaron Parnell Brown about their band, The Right Fiction. Brendan talks about growing up on coastal Maryland, gravitating towards the bass at a young age, his journey as a record producer, and his first time solo-outing Peace Fortress. With the foundation of the tracks recorded largely in one long session, Brendan pieced together a stellar instrumental LP called 'New Moon', featuring players like Adrian Harpham, Logan Roth, and Will Brown, as well as countless guests. 'New Moon' is out July 18th wherever you get digital music (as well as a vinyl pre-order), and the band will play a record release show at The Fallser Club the same night in Philadelphia.
As promised, here's another set of Philadelphia music for the summer! Use the clickable playlist below to link up with the artists you love, see them play, check out their records, all of it. There's so much great music coming out this summer, sometime we have to take a sec to take it in. Enjoy!
It's playlist time again! So many Philly artists are putitng out new music this summer, so here's just a small selection of what's on offer. See the clickable playlist below for direct links to all the artists you'll hear on this episode. And, as you can imagine, Vol. 1 implies another set coming next week. Dan was sent so much great music, he had to make two whole episodes to hold it all. This week features a set of music from Sweet Juice Fest artists, don't miss the fest this year at Awbury Arboretum in Germantown.
10. Ross Bellenoit- The Language Of Dreaming- Signals
Dan has known of Quincy Stallworth for years, especially for Quincy's job running SoFar Sounds concerts in Philadelphia since around 2018. Quincy sits down to talk about his musical upbringing in the Baptist churches of Southwest and North Philadelphia, his early bands, and how he always excelled at the "business" side of being in a group as much as the musical side. Quincy and many others were all abruptly terminated from SoFar last winter, but Quincy already has his next thing going: Mill Street Music, an intimate listening room over the bridge in Mount Holly, NJ. Dan and Quincy get into a lot: Bowie, cocaine albums, how to keep something from getting too big, the ups and downs of his SoFar journey, and how you'll always find yourself drawn to driven, creative people no matter what. Check out Mill Street Music's calendar, as well as Quincy's photography, and his podcast, Quince Questions.
James Haro came from Los Angeles (San Gabriel to be exact) over 15 years ago and made his home here in Philly. He talks with Dan about growing up in an old mission town, being a "secret songwriter" from age 6, early bands and projects (mostly lost to the depths of MySpace), coming to Drexel for college, and why he never wanted to leave. James began his current project, James Haro In Storage, during the early pandemic times, writing and recording out of (you guessed it) a storage unit. He's since released singles, put on a one-man show for Fringe/Canonball Fest in 2023, and continues to be active in the community with a quarterly open mic at Plays and Players' upstairs bar and music room. James' newest EP, 'Go Ahead', is out on June 20th and available wherever you get digital music.