Grace Gardner
25 O'Clock
hails from Texas, but has come to love their home in Philadelphia, and how Philadelphians express themselves. John talks with Grace about their love of their home state, the "New Orleans shaped hole" that will always be in their heart, and how their West Philadelphia neighbors are far kinder than anyone back home would have led them to believe. Grace goes in depth into the making of both their recent albums, 'Recovery Mile' and 'After Knowing', and their collaborative relationship with their guitarist and producer . We're thrilled that Grace chose to perform an unreleased song, "My Mistake",...
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Mike Vasilikos
25 O'Clock
During his trip home this summer, Dan knew he had to sit down with . Mike is the mid-day host at WXPN, as well as the host of Homegrown- The XPN Local Show, and a tireless champion of Philadelphia music. Dan and Mike get deep into Mike's upbringing on Long Island, his early love of Dave Matthews, and growing up with a cassette tape at the ready to record his favorite songs off the radio (a definitive elder millennial practice). A chance spotting of a flyer at Towson University for their college radio station got Mike on the air for the first time, and the rest was history. Mike extolls his...
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August 2026 Playlist
25 O'Clock
Summer continues to perpetuate itself, and with comes a new playlist. 12 new tracks from Philadelphia artists are on display here for listening enjoyment. As always, check out the clickable playlist below and support the artists that you love.
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Joe Makoviecki (Jackson Pines)
25 O'Clock
We're back from our brief but rejuvenating break. Dan is back in Hong Kong. But while he was in the USA this summer, he and John did a handful of interviews with Philadlephia music community people that we know you'll love. Joe Makoviecki fronts the band , a folk band originally from the Pine Barrens region of New Jersey. Joe has called Philadelphia home for the last decade, but he has always been deeply involved in the New Jersey music world. On top of their original music, Joe and the band have made multiple volumes of recordings of traditional New Jersey Pine Barrens folk music, going back...
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Clark Park Fest 2026
25 O'Clock
Here's the short version: Dan and John were supposed to do a live podcast event at The Grape in Manayunk, but due to circumstances out of everyone's control, the event had to be cancelled. So they looked around at what else was happening that day, and decided to head over to . They ended up recording interviews and performances with a handful of the bands at this year's fest, including folk like Erin Fox, Moustapha Noumbissi, Miss Olivia, Max Davey, and Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise. Dan brings festival organizer Ben Perkel on the show to chat a bit about the event and some of the behind the...
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June 2026 Playlist
25 O'Clock
The June playlist is here, and it is (as always) outstanding. Do check out the clickable playlist below, it has links to every artist included in this episode.
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Labrador (Pat King)
25 O'Clock
frontman Pat King sits down with John to talk about growing up in the rural Hudson Valley, being exposed to a lot of art and music through his father, and how countless family trips to New York City convinced him he was a city guy. Pat also talks about his bands, getting away from practicing them to death, and writing more like John Prine. He shares a performance of a new song, "Slow Down, King", from Labrador's new album. The new Labrador LP, is out June 5th on . The band will play on with Old Souls and Maxwell Stern and the Good Light Band. They'll also be down in with Death By...
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Reese Florence
25 O'Clock
John sits down with in her home to talk about songwriting, stillness, and how live recordings can make the best albums. Reese raves about her neighborhood of Germantown, and even graces us with a new song called "Laura Palmer" from her upcoming release. Dan is back in the USA! . It's free, it's from 1-4:30pm, and it will be a great time. RSVP at the link above. Do attend.
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May 2026 Playlist
25 O'Clock
We've got 12 new tracks from Philadelphia artists for your listening enjoyment. Highlights include new music from Keaton Thandi, Lovecartel, JULITH, Squiggler, and so much more. Check out the clickable playlist below, and support the artists you love! We're getting a jump on June's playlist, so if you're a Philadelphia artist, please send your track and press info to .
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Máty Rodriguez
25 O'Clock
John talks with about growing up in New Jersey, her early days playing DIY shows, embracing all styles of music, her love of Sza, and how playing "Patience" by Guns N Roses will bring the house down every time. Máty shares the process of making her newest EP, working with her producer Justin, and how to use social media to say real things about yourself. Máty's , is out now wherever you get your digital music. She'll be at , and supporting the .
info_outlineJohn and Paige are back, and they're sitting down with Grace Koon of Grace Vonderkuhn. 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 available on vinyl from the band's website.
Grace is kind enough to play us an acoustic version of "Be Mine" from the new record. The band plays their release show on September 12th at Kelly's Logan House in Wilmington, and will head up to South Philadelphia on September 18th to play at Century.
Dan keeps you all up to speed with his life over in Hong Kong, and some of the upcoming shows he hopes to catch this year (Any of y'all ever heard of the Clockenflap?). Enjoy the beginnings of fall wherever you are. We'll be putting out a new playlist episode at the end of this month, so if you're a Philadelphia artists and have new material that you want to share, send it our way to dan.drago@25oclockpod.com.
Episode photo by Paige Walter