25 O'Clock

Dan celebrates his 200th episode with a very special guest: Helen Leicht of WXPN and Philly music champion of many, many years. Helen got her start at KYW news, worked at WIOQ, and came to XPN in the early 90s where she featured Philly artists and helped strengthen the growing music community. Dan and Helen talk about helping break Tom Petty at WIOQ, hearing folk like Amos Lee and Melody Gardot for the first time, her love of The Beatles, and so much more. 

On the eve of the 200th episode, Dan takes yet another opportunity to highlight some great Philly music. Featuring new tunes from Dave Cope and the Sass, Emily Drinker, Ali Awan, Sophie Coran, Erin Fox, and more. Check out the clickable playlist at 25oclockpod.com with all the artists links.

Dan talks to Niyonu about growing up in Newark during the 60s and the Civil Rights Movement, coming from a musical household, how her activism grew, teaching, Quaker Meetings, community engagement, her past singing group Tribe 1, touring as a means to learning about the rest of the country, and so much more. She has a new single out now called 'Kiss Me (Bobbi's Song)', available wherever you get digital music. 

Dan talks with Bel (Isabel Furman) about regional Connecticut highways, her parents' Grateful Dead cover band, the music they've been listening to over the last year, studios vs non studio spaces, School of Rock (the actual school, not the movie), and her new single, 'Amelia", available everywhere you get digital music. 

Photo by Julia Leiby

Brett Talley has been a part of the Philadelphia music community since he was old enough to go to open mics. Brett and Dan talk about his growing up in Mayfair, the Coffee Connection and the open mic scene, joining Ike and The Caulfields (and how he and Caulfields frontman John Faye are inseparable now), his love of Rush and Bowie, 80s and 90s power pop, producing in his studio, and his new record, 'Nonlinear', available now anywhere you get digital music.

Barney and Dan talk The Kinks, honesty in songwriting, Barney's days in the band Nicos Gun, the joys of demoing at home, and getting outside more. Barney has a new single out called "Playboys In Hell", available anywhere you get digital music. 

This past year was quite a boon for music releases, and 2021 is already gearing up to be no exception. Dan highlights a handful of Philly artists like Bel, Rob'n Delaine, Roberta Faceplant, Bad Sleeper, Riverby, and more. Special highlight of the new Philly Loves You compilation, featuring over two dozen love songs, and all in support of famed Philly small venue Ortlieb's.

Jared's been releasing singles all summer and fall, and his new album, 'Love Is An Obstacle' is finally out. Dan and Jared talk about how the record came together, his sudden life change from business school to Berklee, playing cabaret sets, and his non-profit, loveandbefree.org. 

Emily created Philly Live, a music blog that features Philly bands, as well as writes for WXPN's The Key, works with Will Yip's Memory Music record label, and does PR for No Earbuds PR. Dan and Emily talk about how to keep your work life from swallowing you whole, how she got her first jobs as a music writer, and all the amazing women she's become close with through the Philly music community.

Erin Fox talks with Dan about growing up playing in her mom's cover band, writing songs and playing with her drummer sister (and the joys of working with your sibling), getting nervous before everything, and her new single 'Pictures' and the forthcoming release ('Fuzzy Logic'). Features two acoustic performances from Erin, as well as a quick meet and greet with her dogs, Rudy and Peach.