25 O'Clock Daniel Drago

Dan gets Jonathan Miller and Ed Olson of Fire In The Radio on the line to talk about how the band came together, took a break, came back together even stronger, and their upcoming return home to a Philadelphia stage at Sing Us Home Fest in Manayunk. Jon and Ed talked about growing up in the Philly punk and hardcore scene, being influenced by Dave Hause both as a musician and as a friend, growing your songwriting over the years, the trials that come with keeping a band of adults with lives and families together across the country, and how the punk spirit of youth ends up defining how you see the world going forward.

Photo by Jessica Flynn

Dan talks with lifelong Philadlephia musician Eliza Hardy Jones about everything: early days in Buried Beds with Brandon Beaver, touring and playing with mewithoutyou, Grace Potter, Iron and Wine, and her newest gig as a touring member of The War On Drugs. Eliza tells great stories about DIY touring life, vocal coaching the Philadelphia Eagles, quilting, and how she channeled her grief from a lost pregnancy into her latest LP, 'Pickpocket'. 'Pickpocket' is available wherever you get your digital music, and also as a limited edition vinyl LP from her website. The War on Drugs return to play in Philadelphia on 9/17 at The Mann with The National and Lucius.

Dan talks with Nicole Bauza, songwriter and frontwoman of Nervous Nikki and the Chill Pills. Nicole talks about growing up as a BMX biker, getting drums at an early age, the quiet joys of farming and gardening, herbs as medicine, her tea farm in Schwenksville, and the ups and downs of keeping a band going amidst family life and general day to day shenanigans. The newest Nervous Nikki LP, 'St Anthony's Fire', is available at their Bandcamp and wherever you get digital music. 

Dan just met Alex Wash of Granddogs a month or so ago, and he's already got him on the mic telling his life story. Alex talks about growing up in Lititz, PA (home of Rock Lititz), learning piano via the Suzuki method, living in Nashville and San Antonio in pursuit of the musician life, finding a job at Howl At the Moon as a piano player, and turning that into his steady day gig. Alex created Granddogs as a way to share his original songwriting, and the band has a new single dropping on 4/14 called "When You Call", available on all digital platforms. 

Don't miss Inside Hustle, a Philadelphia music industry and networking event this Saturday, 4/13 at REC Philly, brought to you by the Philly Music Fest and WXPN FM. The event features a panel moderated by World Cafe's Raina Douris, and an open house with folk from radio, studios, booking, artist management, record labels and more. The event is free, sign up for a ticket in advance. 

Dan talks with Joel Tannenbaum (Plow United, Snow Fairies, Skywriters) and Nick Palmer (WAX WAV, The Danger O's) about their new project The Blackburns. Nick tells the story of how he thought he was out of the music game until he got a message from Joel (Plow United was a huge band for Nick as a teen) that he was looking for a songwriting partner. Needless to say, Nick was back in, and the two of them quickly wrote a full length record. Joel and Nick talk about the process, what they did and didn't want to do, their mutual Twin Peaks obsessions, and the record as a love letter to their youth and young adult lives spent in small, regional punk scenes. The Blackburns' debut LP is out on April 12th, available on independent label Sell The Heart Records, the group's Bandcamp, and wherever you get your digital music. 

Dan talks with Zoe Lemon, a trained and seasoned violinist who is fairly new to the singer-songwriter game. Zoe talks about growing up in the rural parts of Chester County, the ups and downs of music school at Temple University, graduating right into the pandemic, van life, and learning to write songs by herself out on the road. Her latest EP, 'Tailspin', is the result of those road-trip songs, which she made with Packie Cronin (Rally Point/Attic Posture) and Rob Bolz (Tribe Sound Records). She was featured late in 2023 on WXPN's The Key Studio Sessions. From her childhood pet goat bullying her and her siblings, to finding her way as a performer, Zoe brings a brightness and eager spirit to her live show and records, and we're looking forward to what she does in 2024.