25 O'Clock
283 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 21 hours ago - ★★★★★ - 20 ratingsPhiladelphia's longest running music podcast (we think), with your host, Dan Drago. Conversations with artists and community, intimate musical performances, in-depth discussions on performing, touring, recording, and being alive.
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Episodes
120: Brian McTear (Part 1)
February 13, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour - 43.8 MBDan went to Miner Street Recordings to talk with owner/producer Brian McTear, and it went so well, it became a two-part episode. In Part 1, Dan and Brian talk about Brian’s early days in the Philly music scene, the rise and fall of trends/attitudes/bands/venues, opening his own studio, and forming the non-profit Weathervane Music in ‘09 amidst a failing economy. Enjoy an acceptable amount of name checking, nerding out on gear, and great stories about the people who were there at the right ti...
119: The Debut with Coleman Rigg
January 30, 2019 08:00 - 56 minutes - 51.8 MBWelcome to the first episode of a new format called The Debut. Periodically, Dan will sit down with an artist or group that has just released their first work out into the world. They'll focus on the path that led up to their debut release, and play and talk about some of the music. It's a unique chance to hear from an artist at a unique point in their career: the beginning. This episode of The Debut is with Coleman Rigg, originally from Central PA, and now a part of the thriving Philly ...
118. Brianna Judge
January 16, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour - 51.1 MBWith her new record out, 'Wide Eyes, Brianna and Dan talk about her love of the electric guitar, her musician father's positive influence on her playing, and her competitive streak that drives her to be the best she can be. They talk about her time in the Temple University musician event group MEISA, their mutual love of Philly musicians like Abi Reimold and Ross Bellenoit, as well as their love for Dire Straits.
117. 2018 Year End Music Compilation
December 31, 2018 08:00 - 56 minutes - 79 MBDan rounds out the year with a collection of 2018 music from past guests. Enjoy the tunes, and Happy New Year. Go to 25oclockpod.com for the complete links to all the artists featured on this episode.
116. Hemming
December 12, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 55.7 MBDan saw Hemming (Candice Martello) play on a killer bill recently, and had to have her on to talk about her music, her fascinating trajectory as a musician, and colds. Candice and Dan chat about songwriting, the anxiety and fear in performing, being on the road with Chris Cornell, Rachael Yamagata, and Cayetana, and how she sometimes still needs a push from others to get her moving.
115: Kate Dressed Up
November 28, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 52.7 MBIn the midst of working on her new full length LP, Kate Miller (aka Kate Dressed Up) sits down with Dan to talk about how she got here, how she writes, and how she wants to keep going further. Dan and Kate talk about their specific writing processes, Ani Difranco, Bright Eyes, having to do ‘everything’, collaborating with a couple of Ugandan musicians she met at a gig, and some mutual Asbury Park friends they didn’t realize they had until now.
114: Brian Erickson
November 14, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 56.1 MBNo stranger to the show, Brian finally gets his very own episode (he's been a guest on Ep50 and Ep71). Dan and Brian talk about Brian's band, The Paper Jets, their new record, and their upcoming farewell show in Asbury Park. From his start as a jazz fan and sax player, to college where he got a crash course in rock and pop, to his evolution as a songwriter, Brian is a sharp and prolific musical mind, and he talks about his past projects as well as the next one he's got in the works.
113: Fall Music Compilation
October 31, 2018 07:00 - 57 minutes - 81.3 MBTaking a break from the usual tried and true interview, Dan highlights 11 tracks from 11 Philadelphia area bands this week. Enjoy a mix of music from previous guests, as well as brand new folk that even Dan had never heard of until now. Check out the full track listing and artist links at 25oclockpod.com.
112: Trap Rabbit
October 17, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 41.6 MBLogan Roth and Arjun Dube of Trap Rabbit talk with Dan about forming a musical bond early on in college, of moving to Philadelphia with seemingly no plan, and playing in a basement for hours and hours, becoming what we now think of as a highly energetic, bombastic instrumental duo. The Philadelphia community, the pros and cons of virtuosity, and the soundtrack to Sonic the Hedgehog are all on the table in this very spirited conversation with two young but very experienced players. Check out ...
111: Rasan Allbritton
October 03, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 37.9 MBFrom the posts on the Philly DIY boards to the mic, Dan and Rasan talk about Rasan's return to songwriting and playing after a few years laying low. His band, Rasan In The Heyday (emphasis on "In"), are working hard, playing tons of shows, and working on new material as we speak. Dan and Rasan talk over Rasan's upbringing, his senior project of having his first rock band, and their mutual love of acts like Tegan and Sara, Fiona Apple, and Regina Spektor.
110: all boy/all girl
September 19, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 39.8 MBNick Rahn and Danielle Lovier have a band and a life together. Back from a long stint in New York City and here to stay, they talk to Dan about the differences in the scenes, writing together, different ways to practice, too many dogs in Point Breeze, and their band, all boy/all girl.
109. RunHideFight
September 05, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 41.8 MBDan has two punk rock musicians from Philly's rough-and-tumble 90s scene: Geeta Simons (Rockula, Swisher) and Christine Weiser (Suffacox, Mae Pang), to talk about their newest project, RunHideFight. They talk guitars, growing up, the fun and challenges of making music now, of the ever-pressing "balance" of being moms that rock (both literally and figuratively), and how RunHideFight is something of a Philly super-group, featuring Brother JT (The Original Sins) and Jon Kois (Marah, Three 4 Ten...
108: Jeff Zeigler
August 29, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 39.5 MBDan sits down in the control room of Uniform Recording to talk to producer/engineer/musician Jeff Zeigler about the life he's made making records and his own music in Philadelphia for the last two decades. While you might not know Jeff by name, you'd definitely be familiar with some of the artists he's helped: War On Drugs, Kurt Vile, Steve Gunn, Frightened Rabbit, and Waxahatchee's Allison Crutchfield, to name a few. He has a remarkable project called Valley Exit (the debut record gets Dan'...
107. Hayden Sammak (#2)
August 22, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 36.2 MBReturning to the table, Hayden Sammak, aka Deadfellow, talks about his upcoming record, 'Millennials In Love (And Other Pre-Apocalyptic Standards)'. Recorded in Nashville with Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket) and Robert Crowell (ex-Deer Tick), and in Philadelphia with Phil Nicolo (Studio 4), the record is out 9/14. Hayden and Dan chat about working in the studio with your heroes, management changes, and the joys of being friends with some really high class musicians.
106. Camp Candle
August 15, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 46.7 MBHetepsa (Briana Mills) and Nu Ra (Mark Cave) chat with Dan about growing up in 'Uptown Philadelphia', going to a unique ag/tech high school and competing in farm competitions, and their path to forming Camp Candle and making their extraordinary music. They riff on old radio classics like 'Quiet Storm', talk about live shows, writing together, and the ever-changing city that is Philadelphia.
105: Sean Barna
August 01, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 37.3 MBWith his brand new release, 'Cissy', in tow, Sean and Dan delve into the deepest parts of that record. They also talk about Sean's journey from classical percussionist to 'slutty folk' musician, Bob Dylan, recording the record at a breakneck speed over a few days, and the chaos that is this modern landscape.
104. Emily And (Emilyann McKelvey)
July 25, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 41.9 MBOn her way through Philly on tour, Emily takes time out to talk to Dan about living in Buenos Aires, her love of words and languages, South American time management, and how the US looks these days to an ex-pat. Emily performs two amazing songs, one in Spanish, and is a voice you should acquaint yourself with right away.
103. Jacopo De Nicola
July 18, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 50.1 MBJacopo may be Italian born, but he's been all over the world and back, and it shows in his music. Part gypsy folk, part Balkan, part moody rock, all original, Dan and Jacopo talk about his many records and travels (including his 500 mile hike of the Camino de Santiago). Improvisation, touring Europe, the kazoo, and The Cure: it's all covered (and more) in this conversation.
102. Rocco Renzetti (Part 2)
July 04, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 36.7 MBIn Part 2 of this conversation, Dan and Rocco talk in detail about Rocco's project, New Speedway, and the new record, 'Total Babe', out on Time Castle Recordings. The nature of psychedelia, working with limitations, and what it all even means when it's done live: all this and more gets hashed out here.
101. Rocco Renzetti (Part 1)
June 27, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 35.3 MBRocco Renzetti was the first Philly musician Dan met when he moved to the city so many years ago. Dan and Rocco talk about Rocco's upbringing in the Philly during the years when the city wasn't the most desirable place to hang out, and what they think about it being a destination nowadays for music and more. Rocco details his former project, Elevator Parade, and how his following project, New Speedway, began to form out of it, as well as the many forms of psychedelia that have influenced him...
100. Dave Drago
June 13, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 61.5 MBFor the 100th episode, Dan sits down with his brother, Dave, to talk about what it is to be a producer, a musician, and a creative person. Taped at Dave's studio in Western New York (1809 Studios), the two brothers talk about how each of them have helped shape each other's path, and clue each other in on things they might now have already known. Thanks to all the listeners over these 100 episodes, it's been a blast, and there are plenty more to come.
99. A Look Back On 25 O'Clock
May 28, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 59.9 MBThink of this episode as a sort of 'night before'. With the 100th episode nearly upon us, Dan put together a look at some of the highlights of the last three and a half years of the show. Listen to selections from conversations from Joe Reinhart, Kyle Pulley, Marley McNamara, John Vettese, and more. Musical highlights, too! Enjoy a look at just a few of the many great episodes over the years.
98. Brian Blaker
May 16, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 55.1 MBOn the eve of his departure for Portugal, Brian and Dan talk about Brian's jazz training, love of the saxophone, his time with Swift Technique, and his album under the name 'Bison’s Big Bang’. Brian recounts his early days as a music student in Philly, and how studying the dynamic of different kinds of jazz groups helped inform his own record, 'Pure Imagination’.
97. Valentina Raffaelli
May 02, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 52.9 MBGrowing up on a beach resort in Italy, loving opera and Motown, and having a very healthy obsession with good food, Valentina talks on all these things and more. From her former band, Sunshine Superman, to her newer solo work and her work with her folk band, Sparkle Pony, Dan and Valentina cover a lot of ground, and still manage to geek out about food, too. Photo by Lisa Schaffer
96. Luke Shefski
April 18, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 50.8 MBDan met Luke pretty recently at a Philly DIY gathering about press and promo, and was impressed by his knowledge of how to get your band out there. After listening to Luke's band, Port Arthur, it was a no-brainer to get him on the show. Dan and Luke talk Luke's classical training, his knack for arrangement, his record label Hickory Lane, and their impressions of Philly and the music and art therein.
95. goodnight/goodluck
April 04, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 50 MBSarah Puleo and Eric Zrinsky of goodnight/goodluck sit down with Dan to talk about their new EP, 'Missing', working with Joe Reinhart (Hop Along) at The Headroom, and how letting go of careerist expectations can result in a much more satisfying experience as a band.
94. MH The Verb (#2)
March 21, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 49.7 MBMH the Verb, aka Marcus Harris, comes back for an hour full of great conversation and insight. Afro-futurism, touring, Oakland and the Bay area, A Tribe Called Quest, the tumultuous year that was 2016, and the making of his new record, ‘Afronaut’, are all on the table as Dan and MH catch up. They try their best not to be cranky old dudes, and are mostly successful.
93. Ellen Siberian Tiger
March 07, 2018 08:30 - 1 hour - 48.3 MBFrom her upbringing in State College to her time at Berklee to her arrival in Philadelphia, Ellen Tiberio-Shultz has been building an impressive body of music. Dan and Ellen talk about playing house shows as a teen, the trappings of "authenticity", her complicated feelings about her music education (being one of the only women studying guitar amidst a "sea of dudes"), and the amazing people she's met along the way who have helped her become the musician she is now.
92. Shadowplay
February 21, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 43.3 MBIt's great to check back in with a past guest and see what's been going on. Andrew Corkery was on back in the summer of 2016, and this time, he's brought along bandmate Ed Flynn to talk about what they're up to. Touring, covers, and growing up in New Jersey are all talked about, and we check out a track from their album, 'Almost Lifelike'.
91. Andrew Chalfen
February 07, 2018 08:30 - 1 hour - 53.7 MBAndrew Chalfen fronts the post-punk instrumental band I Think Like Midnight, and plays one mean guitar. With a new record, 'This Land Is Your Mind' (produced by Brian McTear), out in the world, Dan and Andrew talk Andrew's upbringing outside Boston, their love of the late Tommy Keane, and still being on the hunt for new music that wows them. Stick around to the end for a preview of the new record with the track 'Daychord'.
90. Andrew Harris
January 22, 2018 00:47 - 1 hour - 52 MBAndrew Harris fronts The Naked Sun, a folk-rock band that's releasing it's third record, 'War With Shadows'. Dan and Drew talk about the band working with producer Brian McTear (War On Drugs, Kurt Vile), the writing process, the importance of singing together, and the age old battle with squirrels in your garden.
89. John Faye
January 10, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 55 MBDan and John Faye have been trying to sit down together for nearly two years, and it is well worth the wait. John talks about his long rollercoaster of a music career, from signing to a major label in the mid 90s (The Caulfields) to releasing nearly a dozen independent releases since. Taking the next year off from his usually non-stop performance schedule, John talks about focusing on his memoir, '1-Way To Avalon', and how it's shaping up to be anything but the typical rock n' roll bio.
88. Paul Marchesani, aka Forest Kids Collective
December 27, 2017 01:18 - 1 hour - 45.9 MBDan talks to Paul, a young and incredibly accomplished electronic musician, about his massive body of work and the unique way he's chosen to string it all together. Paul makes music under more than a dozen different project names, and they all intertwine in some way. It's a bit of a head trip, and thankfully Paul has it all jotted down in a notebook to keep it straight. It's a spirited conversation about making music, having visual elements play a role, and the joy of losing yourself in the ...
87. Brian Fitzy
December 13, 2017 01:33 - 1 hour - 54 MBBrian is a multi-genre, one-man entertainment machine. Dan and Brian talk about the perils and triumphs of on-stage looping, the advantages of peaking early in middle school (neither of them seemed to have mastered that), and the love of two dudes for Steely Dan and Genesis. From his travels to his live show to building his own gear out of necessity, Brian takes you through the life of a solo artist trying to make a larger-than-life show. Check him out at brianfitzy.com.
86. Chris Ward (Part 2)
December 06, 2017 01:05 - 39 minutes - 27.6 MBConcluding their conversation, Dan and Chris talk about how Chris got into the behind-the-scenes world of a music venue, and how it helped inform his understanding of how the music scene works.
85. Chris Ward (Part 1)
November 29, 2017 01:51 - 53 minutes - 37.3 MBDan talks with former Pattern Is Movement drummer/current talent buyer at Johnny Brenda’s Chris Ward, and it is epic. In Part 1, Chris takes us through his days touring in PIM, his relationship with bandmate Andrew Thiboldeaux, backing up St Vincent early in her career, and how he evolved his understanding of arrangement, songwriting, and production to help the group achieve their adventurous and experimental spirit.
84: Alex Santilli
November 15, 2017 02:31 - 1 hour - 53.6 MBDan takes a field trip to Spice House Sound to talk to house engineer Alex Santilli about being a incessantly questioning child, the joy of taking things apart (and mostly putting them back together), and the drive to create a studio space where bands can do their best work. They chat driving in Connecticut, their mutual love of electronic music, and how to stay relevant as a studio these days. Check out spicehousesound.com to see their amazing studio.
83. Shane Weller
October 31, 2017 23:52 - 1 hour - 51 MB"One of the bands I interviewed came back and said 'So, do I have to pay you?' I [said] 'What? Look, if anybody tells you that you have to pay to be interviewed, run!'" -Shane Weller Shane is the creator and host of Know Love Philly, a podcast about Philadelphia artists, musicians, and creators. Sound familiar? Shane and Dan dive right in, talking podcast gear, interviewing, their love of the Philly DIY Collaborative, and the joy of being the captain of your own ship (the ships being our r...
82. Canyon Ride
October 17, 2017 23:39 - 1 hour - 51.6 MB"[W]e've written songs and we're like 'Oh shit! We have our bridges, everything makes sense!' It falls into place because [our] glue has finally dried." - Kelly Derrig, on Canyon Ride's new line up and songwriting process Canyon Ride are Kelly Derrig, Ryan Kosinski, Chris DeSaye, and Cam Clark (who you might remember from Ep79) are a country-rock group that's gone through a lot of changes over the last couple of years. They were gracious enough to let me interview all of them at once as a...
Episode 81: Jonathan Colman
October 04, 2017 00:30 - 1 hour - 56.6 MBThe show is back! Welcome back! Dan talks with bassist and all out charming son-of-a-gun Jonathan Colman about his work in the face-melting dance band Muscle Tough, his many day jobs (eg. "Lunch Lady Man"), and his approach to creating, practicing, and how the next gig is the always the best gig.
Episode 80: Kyle Pulley
August 16, 2017 00:17 - 1 hour - 54.7 MB"[There's] no such thing as a bad piece of gear. There's a right piece of gear. And a really nice piece of gear can do a lot of things well, but even the worst piece of gear can do one thing really well. And you just gotta find what that is." -Kyle Pulley on recording Kyle and Dan sit down and get right to it, talking about the need for editing, bass playing tips (Kyle plays bass for Thin Lips, a stellar Philly band), forming The Head Room with friend Joe Reinhart (Hop Along), and how he...
Episode 79: Cam Clark (Midwestern Exposure)
August 09, 2017 23:47 - 1 hour - 55.5 MB"I just like how [the blues are] open to interpretation. I'm terrible at playing songs like they're supposed to be played. I just kind of learn them and just start doing my own thing." -Cam Clark The first thing Dan and Cam start talking about is the Rolling Stones, so you know they're in good company together. Cam hails from the great state of Minnesota, spent some time in Boston, and has been part of the Philly scene for quite a few years now. He talks about his many albums with Midwe...
Episode 78: Alec Stewart
August 02, 2017 00:03 - 1 hour - 57.1 MB"I think performance is a muscle on some level. I was really, really bad at it when I started out. I would shake, my hands would shake, and I'd have a complete nervous breakdown and still manage to do it. [...] And now, that's not a thing. Mostly." -Alec Stewart Last time Dan and Alec talked, it was Ep25 as part of the first live show ever. Two years later, they finally get back to it. A more casual, careening episode than most, Dan and Alec converse about music both in and outside of Ph...
Episode 77: Live at Philly Podcast Fest 2017
July 26, 2017 00:45 - 1 hour - 42.5 MBDan does the show in front of a crowd at Bridgeset Sound as part of the 5th Annual Philly Podcast Fest. On deck is Drew Mercadante, electronic musician, composer, producer, and all out schmoozer. Following Drew is Bruno Catrambone of Former Belle and Cruisr, talking about his new music, his touring, and the ever-present struggle of being onstage. Huge thanks to the Philly Podcast Fest organizers, Bridgeset Sound, the guests, and the outstanding audience.
Episode 76: Hawk Tubley (aka George Mostoller)
July 11, 2017 23:34 - 1 hour - 52.7 MB"I have three band rules for our band, and one is 'Failure to rock is not an option.'" - Hawk Tubley Dan and Hawk talk about Hawk's amazing journey through the world of music, which took him from California to Montana to New York City to Alabama to Philadelphia, where he resides today. Along the way, Hawk (also called George) played with bands like the Freeloaders, Partial to Mabel, and his own group, Hawk Tubley and the Ozymandians. Hawk explains the difference between free jazz and free...
Episode 75: Sophie Coran
July 05, 2017 00:42 - 1 hour - 51.8 MBSophie Coran is a smart, witty songwriter with a big ol' voice and things to say with it. Dan and Sophie talk about her travels in Europe, where she wrote and released her last EP, her year in a songwriting 'boot camp' in London, her return to her home in Philadelphia, and how she went about making her upcoming EP with the Philly band Darla. Go to sophiecoran.com to get all things Sophie.
Episode 74: Madame Jones
June 28, 2017 00:21 - 1 hour - 52.8 MBDan sits down with three (of four) members of the band Madame Jones: Steve Gudelunas, Maura and Tyler Blanchard. They all talk about the dynamics of being in a band, writing together, and the joy of the live show. A truly delightful conversation, and a soulful, roots-rock band. Go to madamejonesband.com to check out their EP.
Episode 73: The Dove and the Wolf
June 21, 2017 01:47 - 1 hour - 47.2 MBPaloma Gil and Louise Hayat-Camard are The Dove and the Wolf, a couple of Parisian musicians who have found a home in Philadelphia over the last few years. Dan, Lou and Paloma talk about their different upbringings, Paris as the place that formed them, their differing (but complimenting) personalities, and how their friendship has been the core of everything they've done. They have an EP out on Fat Possum Records, 'I Don't Know What To Feel'.
Episode 72: Hayden Sammak
June 14, 2017 01:11 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBHayden had to come twice to the studio, but in the end, it was all worth it for a great conversation with the man behind the Deadfellow personae. Dan and Hayden talk about his antics going to school in Florida (disclaimer: no animals were harmed), his need to create a body of work that meant something to him, and how the current immediacy in our culture makes it hard to have a proper reaction to anything. The newest Deadfellow record, 'Mescalifornia: A California Dream' is out on 6/23, go to...
Episode 71: The Great Albums Podcast
June 07, 2017 01:09 - 1 hour - 61.3 MBBill Lambusta and Brian Erick join Dan for a long overdue visit to the table to talk about their very successful podcast, 'The Great Albums'. Having known each other since college, playing in bands together, it makes perfect sense that these two music aficionados have a show like this, and stick to the maxim "Fans, Not Critics". The three talk about their favorite records, how they got into podcasting, and what the importance of music is to them all these years later.