25 O'Clock

Sometimes the coolest folk aren't even in bands at all. Sometime they're in the Peace Corps. Dan talks to Melissa Eckstrom, who is currently stationed in Jamaica for two years of Peace Corps service. They talk about travel, service, endearing yourselves to the locals, and what you do once you actually get to where you're supposed to be. It ain't easy, it ain't always pretty, but it's great work and she's thrilled to be doing it. Also, music from Dann Pell at the end from his new album "Rose Blues".

Dan talks with singer-songwriter Matt Wheeler about the usual: origins, influences, songwriting process, etc. But they get into it deep as they explore why people need to label Christian music separately from other music, and what it means to weave your faith into songs that are meant for everyone to get something out of. Also, they both agree that marriage is hard, but also great. (Really edgy, guys.)

We're taking a quick break from our usual thing. This week, The Legendary Dobb's closed its doors for good. This comes right on the tail of the North Star Bar discontinuing live music as well. So Dan chats with a few of his Philly music colleagues about what they think about all this: Is the Philly scene in trouble? What did they think about Dobb's in general? How do we keep things happening? For Philly music folk, this is close to home. For anyone else, it's a unique glimpse into the Philly music scene. Hope you all enjoy!

Dan helps Drew celebrate his 30th birthday with a career spanning chat about this amazing jazz musician. From Drew's early obsessions with Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong, to getting schooled as a pianist and trumpeter, to working on an old-time steamboat, to managing his own career as the most in-demand Jazz-era bandleaders in the area, we cover it all. Plus, he plays the piano like a madman! Live on the show! How cool is that?

We're back from all the live show fun and games to the ol' standard "One Guest/One Show" order of business. Dan sits down with songwriter/performer Courtlyn Carr for an in-depth chat about her roots in rural Maryland, her time in Nashville, working yourself out of being pigeon-holed as one kind of singer, and the unique pace and vibe that is the Philadelphia music world. Also, Dan gives his Pope Weekend wrap-up. Spoiler: we all lived and everything was mostly fine.

Let's all head back to South Street for one more night of live 25 O'Clock! Featuring phenomenal chats with Drew Harris, Alec Stewart, and Dave Dehart. Same Bridgeset Sound! Mostly different audience! Dan keeps it together for two weeks of shows in a row! Enjoy another wonderful evening from Philly Podcast Festival.

Dan's been talking about this one for a while, and now it's here. Listen to conversations with songwriters Scott Ratinoff, Rachel Schain, and Ben Hughes (returning from Episode 12) in front of a live audience at Bridgeset Sound, right on South Street in Philadelphia. The laughter is real. The applause is real. The motorcycles are real. Enjoy Part 1 of a two-part series of live shows from Philly Podcast Festival!

Philly Music Lab co-founder/Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra member Alexandra Cutler-Fetkewicz sits down in the studio. We talk about her time at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY (Dan's hometown), working outside the orchestral world, and the near-fatal car crash that changed everything. Plus, the advantages of teaching young players not only how to play, but how to survive the grind of being a working musician.

There are a lot of firsts this week. It's the first time Dan has had two guests at once, and those guests are Edward Everett and Becca Todd, the two voices of Pilkington. Enjoy a frank conversation about what it's really like to be in a band, the fear of asking for things, and how Pilkington arose out of the ashes of the very ambitious Panic Years. Also, it's the first live performance in the new studio!

Philadelphia stand-up comic Randi Lawson sits down with Dan and talks about her Twitter fame, the instant gratification of telling jokes onstage, and why Philly is as good a place to make your name as anywhere.