2025 Year End Episode
25 O'Clock
2025 is closing out, and we're taking a look at music that we loved from the year, as well as sharing holiday and year-end messages from some of our contributors. Big thanks to Nate Runkel, Drew Harris, Phillip reese, and John Vettese for sending messages this year, and thanks to all the contributors at 25 O'Clock in 2025. We couldn't make this happen without everyone involved. Enjoy the ever-standard clickable playlist below, and have great holiday and a happy new year.
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The Maks
25 O'Clock
are a trio of veteran Philadelphia musicians who were just starting to maybe think about being a band when they ended up as the opener on a sold out show, and everything just took off from there. Long standing supporter of the podcast Maggie Poulos (and founder of ) talks with all three Maks: Melissa Menago, Angelique Zuppo, and Karina Patricelli, as well as their manager, . The band talks about things moving fast, how they write, produce and perform, and what they want to see happen for them in the next year. They break down how they wrote their song, “The Boulder”, for the WXPN 24...
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Larry Magid
25 O'Clock
Philadelphia music has a rich and long history, spanning every style imaginable, from jazz and soul to art rock to opera to doo wop and everything else. And who better to helm a book about the city's extensive music offerings than Electric Factory founder, Live Aid/Live 8 co-creator and Cobb's Creek native . Dan gets back in the interviewer seat for the first time in a while to talk with Larry about the thing that drives them both: the ever expanding Philadelphia music story. Larry tells Dan about growing up in West Philly, dances, the Uptown, and early American Bandstand (before it went...
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November 2025 Playlist
25 O'Clock
After a few weeks break, we're back with another playlist episode. Enjoy these new tracks from Philadelphia artists, and remember to check out the clickable playlist below. Go support the bands and artists you love!
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KulfiGirls
25 O'Clock
It's Philly Music Fest, and we wanted to highlight one more artist playing the fest this year. are Abi, Joan, Adesole, and Stephanie, and they are all on the show. 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...
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Adam Shumski
25 O'Clock
John and Paige have a truly career spanning chat with , drummer in Philadelphia bands like (formerly The Lunar Year), and , as well as the newest addition to the New York based group . 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. ...
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September 2025 Playlist
25 O'Clock
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! (Photo by Dan, Xponential Fest 2022)
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Grace Vonderkuhn
25 O'Clock
John and Paige are back, and they're sitting down with Grace Koon of . 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 . Grace is kind enough to play us...
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August 2025 Playlist
25 O'Clock
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.
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Blue Barnett (w. Judah Kim)
25 O'Clock
Welcome our newest guest host, ! Judah talks with , 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 , 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, wherever you get your digital music. Judah Kim's is...
info_outlineIn 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.