Brendan Johnson and Katie O'Donnell of Stella Ruze were the last people to sit down with Dan in the studio before the pandemic was declared. It was also an evening of massive equipment shenanigans, which does not diminish the conversation in any way, but rather makes for a better story. Brendan and Katie talk about the band's new record, 'The Greater Dog' (recorded at Miner Street Studios with Matt Poirier and Brian McTear), becoming a better live band, their very musical upbringings, and all the groups in Philly that they love. 

Upholstery members Jeremy Prouty and Kate Black-Regan came by to talk with Dan about the intersection of the Philly theater and music scenes, making their own puppets, costume changes, and the unique process they go through to make their very unique sound. 

In the gripping conclusion of Dan and Jesse Lundy's conversation (which starts with the sentence "Ok, so where were we?"), Jesse details the end of days for The Point, and the growing of Point Entertainment, and their relationship with venues like the Keswick Theater, Ardmore Music Hall, and Locks at SONA. Jesse even talks a bit about his musical project with Hannah Taylor, and how he doesn't like to use his job as a promoter to get special treatment as a musician (unless it's to open for Delbert McClinton).

Jesse Lundy (Point Entertainment) has been part of the Philadelphia scene for 25 plus years, promoting concerts, booking, running the late Ardmore venue The Point for 8 years, and helping grow Philly artists like John Francis and The Brakes. Dan and Jesse talk about how he got into concerts, guitar, the blues, and how the music business is both horrible and wonderful all at the same time. Enjoy Part 1, Part 2 comes your way next week.

Dan met Lauren Hawkins (who plays under the name Eleanor Two) at a house show last fall, and was instantly taken with how unique her playing, songwriting, and guitar tone were. Lauren came over to chat about her travels about the country, the many instruments she plays besides guitar, how she honed in on her sound, the newness of recording her material for the first time, and her early love of Stanley Clarke and musicals.

Making the trek from Lebanon, PA, Alex Stanilla talks with Dan about growing up with a guitar virtuoso dad (and overcoming a fear of touching peoples' guitars), making his own music and records at home, starting his podcast, Until I Have A Girlfriend, to keep him from becoming an antisocial hermit, and his collective record label, Try Less Club. They also try their best not to name check major corporations for free, and fail completely.

Dan sits down with Mark Brown and Rob Tait of Hambone Relay for a conversation about DIY touring, playing 2+ hour shows, how to "jams", and the things they don't teach you in music school. They have a Philly music-centric podcast, too, called 'Dude, Check This Out!'. Hambone Relay are a Philly based instrumental organ-led combo, with strong influences from bands like Soulive and Medeski, Martin, and Wood. They have a new LP out called 'Say Hi To Earl', available on their website and anywhere you get digital music.

Dan revisits some outstanding music from this year. From Philadelphia, and a few Philly-adjacent artists, it's a compilation of just a small sampling of some of the killer releases that have been put out this year. Enjoy, and Happy Holidays from 25 O'Clock. Here's to another great year. Complete track list with artists links are below.

1) The Extensions- Hollowed Out- Bellicose EP

2) Dave Cope and the Sass- Nine Lives- Dave Cope and the Sass

3) A Day Without Love w. Best Hit TV- Getting By- single

4) Marcelyn- Jealous Heart- This Is Women's Lib?

5) Elaine Rasnake- Anywhere (Live)- L...

Not only does Jeremiah come over to talk with Dan, he brings a couple of the guys in the Lore (his backing band): Ben Money and Tim Bostwick. The guys chat about their upbringing, about finally breaking out of their small hometown as musicians, and their incredibly unique approach to instrumentation that keeps them from being just another roots-folk band. They've got a new record out, 'From Bare Bones', available anywhere you get digital music.

Since both Interminable and Hardwork Movement have been on the show, it's entirely fitting that Dan and Marty Gottlieb-Hollis get a chance to talk. Marty is an accomplished trumpet player, writer, composer, and member of both the aforementioned bands, as well as many more. Dan and Marty talk about how Marty came to the trumpet, putting it on hold for years to pursue hockey, picking it back up and deciding that it was missing from his life the whole time. Marty has a solo project called Martronimous, and a new single out now called 'Incompleteness', available anywhere you get di...

Jesse Gimbel is an accomplished singer-songwriter, performer, and DIY producer and engineer. With a body of work that goes back more than a decade, Dan and Jesse have a lot to talk about: making music all by yourself, being really good at finishing things, taking on the creation of the videos for his songs, and how the "time" to be creative will never really be there unless you go and make it happen. Jesse has a new single out called 'Minds On Fire' (with a video he animated himself).

John Morrison is a DJ, producer, musician, writer, podcast host, and a general Philly Renaissance man. Dan and John talk about John growing up seeing hip-hop at a young age thanks to his brother's influence, learning how to make his own samples, his tips for crate-digging, and the solitude of being your own beat-maker. More talk includes: high school tribes, getting someone else to edit your podcast, and how no one actually wants to be Joe Rogan, including Joe Rogan sometimes. John is the host of Culture Cypher Radio, a new program on WXPN 88.5 FM, and cohosts the podcast 'Seri...

Katie and Dan go way back to a sidewalk show in 2009 that they both played, and have been friends ever since. Katie returns to the show (she was one of the first guests, way back on #14) to talk about her new record, 'Long Night Moon', her music being featured on Netflix in a pretty odd scene for a folk song, and some general songwriting catch-up for the two.

Dan and Dave talk about Dave's massive catalog of music, his long journey as a songwriter and performer, and how Debussy was right when he said that it's a great life to be a musician, but a crummy job. From his studies of South Indian Classical tradition to embracing the pop song in so many of it's forms, Dave Cope is a writer and musician who likes to break up his own patterns and see what shakes out. His newest LP, 'Dave Cope and the Sass', is out now everywhere you get music. 

Episode image by Hannah Taylor

Kristen Levine and Paige Walter are the brains and brawn and the everything behind Cherry-Veen Zine, a real, on-paper zine that spotlights Philly musicians and artists. Dan, Kristen, and Paige talk about how they started the magazine, the evolution of it's style, and the moments when it really feels like they're getting somewhere. With plenty of similarities between zines and podcasts, it's a spirited conversation about the work and the rewards of being scene supporters in Philadelphia music community.

Photo by John Vettese