25 O'Clock
John and Paige talk with photographer/tour manager/many-hat-wearer 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...
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In Philadelphia, John and Paige talk with , 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 , being one of the founders of the , 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...
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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 ), 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...
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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...
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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...
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Just a few days before he took off for Hong Kong, Dan talks to folk singer-songwriter 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". ...
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It's been a long time coming, but Dan finally sits down with , , 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...
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Dan took a trip out to Wayne, PA to sit down with rock n' roll lifer (, , ). 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...
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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 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 , 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...
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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,...
info_outlineDan sits down with old friends Jayson Verdibello and Eric Zrinsky to talk about their newest project, Small Graves. Formed out of the post-pandemic ashes of goodnight/good luck, Jay and Eric talk about how they eventually decided to start another band, scrapping all their unused songs to begin again, the ups and downs of being in a loud rock band in your mid to late 30s, marriage, fatherhood, and their love for the younger punk rock kids. Small Graves' newest single, "Jayson Sadman's Joyless Travel Agency" is out now wherever you get digital music, along with a music video. Their forthcoming EP, 'irregular' (recorded at The Headroom with Kyle Pulley) will be out later this year.