25 O'Clock

Dan was moved to reach out to a seemingly anonymous person, based solely on liking his concert photography. And through that, Dan talks to Jersey Wall (or Eric, as he's known to some) for one of his first podcast appearances ever. Eric talks about growing up moving a lot, his dad's record collection, going to shows as a rite of passage into growing up, and his lifelong love of technology and innovation. Eric made his way to Philadelphia in 2009 and immediately found the music community to be not only full of great bands and shows, but also a great place to start delving into photography. Dan and Eric talk about the importance of comminity, of having something to offer, and how to ride the line between fan and contributor. Eric posts his photos on his Jersey Wall Instagram regularly, and recently did the promo photos for Philly band Soft Idiot (there's even a track from them at the end). Check out his IG where you can see his photos and contact him for future projects.

Dan traveled up to Newtown, PA to sit with Dirty Dollhouse front-woman Chelsea Mitchell in her shop, Newtown Book & Record Exchange, along with her bassist Josh Machiz. Chelsea talks about growing up in Newtown, being an anxious, book-obsessed kid, and how she found her way into music by playing in the church worship bands and choir (where, as a bonus, she received classical voice training). She also talks about the trajectory of Dirty Dollhouse, beginning as a trio of her, Amber Twait and Vanessa Winters singing country harmonies, and how it morphed into the full band that it is today with members like Josh, Eric Lawry and Pete Hall. Dan, Chelsea, and Josh reminisce about an era in the Philly folk and rock scene that they all inhabited around the same time, and give their kudos to people who have helped along the way. Dirty Dollhouse's new LP, 'The End', is out now and available wherever you get digital music. The band will play a release show at Johnny Brenda's on November 22nd with Dominy and Bren.

Also: Dan is getting ready to send the $$ from 'Want To Play A Song?: Live On 25 O'Clock Vol. 1' to Philly Music Fest (they're getting ready to announce their donation numbers very soon), so get yourself the comp exclusively on Bandcamp if you haven't already. All proceeds go to the charitable giving of PMF to music education charites in Philadlephia.

Dan and and Kat Rivers met over a Philly music Discord, and started doing Monday co-working sessions at an Olde City coffee shop with a rotating cast of musicians and creatives. Kat talks about growing up in Paduka, Kentucky, her many years in musical theater (including the Walnut Street Theater, which is what brought her to Philadelphia), and stepping away from theater to focus on performing music. She gets into the nuts and bolts of working the wedding and cover band gigs, as well as how she finally put together her own band for her songs, Kat Rivers and the Second Sight. To quote Kat's current mantra, "There are so many ways to be good." Kat Rivers and the Second Sight have shows coming up this fall, including November 23rd at Fat Lady Brewing in Manayunk with Maria Mirenzi, and December 12th at Tin Can Bar in Port Richmond.

Dan recovers from a week of Philly Music Fest with a playlist episode. Ten tracks of Philadlephia music goodness, including a couple from the 'Want To Play A Song?: Live On 25 O'Clock Vol. 1' compilation out now exclusivley via Bandcamp. Also, Dan shares some big news, so don't miss that! Clickable playlist is below, support that artists you love!

1. Aaron Parnell Brown- Always Everything

2. Kate Dressed Up- All the While Following Me

3. Needless Ghost- Berlin, 1982

4. Hermosa- Diamond

5. Barney Cortez- Totally Confused

6. Jodaki- Yr Memory

7. Maggie Mae- Ghost

8. Lito and the Shepherds- Last Call

9. Party Nerves- Toothpaste, NJ

10. The Tisburys- The Anniversaries

11. Eliza Hardy Jones- This Is the Year (demo)

Dan talks with Josh Ostrander, aka Mondo Cozmo, from his basement studio in Los Angeles. After mutually admiring each other's set-ups through their computer screens, Josh talks to Dan about growing up outside Philadelphia, all the ups and downs with his previous groups La Guardia and Eastern Conference Champions, and the hard decision to shift to a solo project back in 2016. Since then Josh has toured constantly, put out multiple releases, and written more songs than he could ever know what to do with. Josh details how touring with Spoon just before their last album, 'Lucifer On the Sofa', was a master class in how a band reinvents itself, and those lessons would inform his own work going forward. His latest LP, 'It's PRINCIPLE', is out now and available wherever you get your digital music. Mondo Cozmo is playing 10/26 at Underground Arts as part of Philly Music Fest, sharing a bill with Devon Gilfillian, The Tisburys, and Emily Drinker. 'Want To Play A Song?: Live On 25 O'Clock Vol. 1' is out now exclusively on Bandcamp, and is a compilation of 10 unique performances from the podcast over the last ten years. All the proceeds from the compilation go to support Philly Music Fest's charitable giving. Every year, PMF donates all the profits from the festival to music non-profits all over Philadelphia. Since their inception, they've donated over $500K to music and education charities throughout the region.

Dan has admired Chiara D'Anzieri's music (under the Santa Chiara moniker) for a while now, and has wanted to have her on the show ever since. Chiara talks about coming to the US in her 20s after meeting Philly musician Ron Gallo on a beach in Italy while he was on tour, and how the adjustment to life over here was an up-and-down journey. Trained as classical cellist, Chiara spent most of her young life traveling to play with orchestras and ensembles, and made the decision to pursue rock and pop music as she got older. We talk travel, touring in the US, and her latest album, 'IMPORTED', which is available on Kill Rock Stars and everywhere you get your digital music. Santa Chiara is playing at Ardmore Music Hall on 10/21 as part of the first night of Philly Music Fest with Hurry and Slaughter Beach, Dog. This episode features an exclusive, unreleased song from Chiara that was recorded live at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia earlier this year. 'Want To Play A Song?: Live On 25 O'Clock Vol. 1' is out now exclusively on Bandcamp, and is a compilation of 10 unique performances from the podcast over the last ten years. All the proceeds from the compilation go to support Philly Music Fest's charitable giving. Every year, PMF donates all the profits from the festival to music non-profits all over Philadelphia. Since their inception, they've donated over $500K to music and education charities throughout the region.

Dan talks to Chris Pires, drummer for Philly ska-punks Catbite, in lieu of their Philly Music Fest appearance. Chris talks about convncing his parents to let him have a drum kit, all the different acts he's played with, and how Catbite formed out of nowhere as a "thing to do". Chris also gets into the dynamics of a band relationship, and the importance of having real, adult conversations amongst bandmembers about what you want out of a band and out of life. Catbite are headlining the 10/25 Friday Philly Music Fest show at Milkboy with Reef The Lost Cauze, Kuf Knotz and Christine, and Queasy. Go to Philly Music Fest's site for tix. Catbite are currently on tour in Europe with The Slackers, with West Coast dates planned for the rest of 2024. 'Want To Play A Song?: Live On 25 O'Clock Vol. 1' is out now exclusively on Bandcamp. It features 10 original performances from the podcast's archives, and all the proceeds go to support Philly Music Fest's charitable giving.

Dan sits with Connor Byrne and Tim Fitzpatrick of Brackish to talk all things punk and emo. Connor and Tim have known each other since high school, and get into growing up in central New Jersey, each of their guitar playing dads, early days of the band, how they keep it challenging and fresh for themselves, and how it's not an "emo revival" lately because, to them, it never really went away. The guys even play TWO songs live in the studio. The newest Brackish EP, 'Rear View', is out now and available on all digital platforms.

'Want To Play A Song?: Love On 25 O'Clock Vol. 1' is out now! It's 10 unique performances from the show going back over the 10 years of 25 O'Clock. All the proceeds go to support the charitable giving of Philly Music Fest, who have donated over $500K since their inception to Philadlephia music charities and programs. Help PMF increase their giving to all the amazing organizations, and get a great compilation of performances by Philadlephia musicians as well. Available exclusively on Bandcamp.

Dominic Angelella is someone Dan has described as a "known quantity". He's helmed bands like DRGN KING and Lithuania, and put out his own solo work for years in Philadelphia. But in an attempt to have no fixed address, he's found himself living in Ireland for the past year or so. Dan talks to Dom about his earlier days in the Philadelphia music community via University of the Arts (RIP), getting touring opportunities with bands like mewithoutyou and Foxing, touring with Lucy Daucus and Natalie Prass, and all the while working on his own songs amidst tour dates, bus rides, and stolen moments in stairwells. His latest album, 'God Loves A Scammer', is out now on all digital platforms, and also available on vinyl through his Bandcamp. ALSO: 'Want To Play A Song?: Live On 25 O'Clock Vol. 1' is now available for pre-order. The compilation features 10 original live performances from artists on the podcast. All the money from the compilation will go to Philly Music Fest's charity department. Philly Music Fest is a multi-day, non-profit music festival that has given over $500K to Philadelphia music charities. The pre-order gets you access to two tracks off the compilation, and will be fully available on 9/30. Let the pre-ordering begin!

Dan has wanted to have Brittany Ann Tranbaugh on the show for a couple of years, and it's finally happening. Brittany talks about growing up in the Lehigh Valley, playing open mics and coffeehouse gigs as a teen, getting her songwriting to where she needed it to be, and her amazing band. Fresh off an outstanding show at Johnny Brenda's at the time of this interview, Brittany talks about all the ups and downs of being an independent artists, life on the road, finding community away from home, and fielding unsolicited opinions from Internet trolls. Her latest self-titled EP is out now wherever you get your digital music, as well as on vinyl through her website. She will be playing at WXPN's Xponential Music Fest on Sunday, September 22nd at 12pm.