Best Daniel Drago Podcasts (2024)

1
Brendan McGeehan 1:11:43

3h ago1:11:43

1:11:43

Dan first heard of Brendan McGeehan back when he interviewed Aaron Parnell Brown about their band, The Right Fiction. Brendan talks about growing up on coastal Maryland, gravitating towards the bass at a young age, his journey as a record producer, and his first time solo-outing Peace Fortress. With the foundation of the tracks recorded largely in …

1
Summer 2024 Playlist, Vol. 2 50:27

5d ago50:27

50:27

As promised, here's another set of Philadelphia music for the summer! Use the clickable playlist below to link up with the artists you love, see them play, check out their records, all of it. There's so much great music coming out this summer, sometime we have to take a sec to take it in. Enjoy! Alek Barkats- Jewels Sixteen Jackies- One of the Boys…

1
Summer Playlist 2024, Vol. 1 56:31

13d ago56:31

56:31

It's playlist time again! So many Philly artists are putitng out new music this summer, so here's just a small selection of what's on offer. See the clickable playlist below for direct links to all the artists you'll hear on this episode. And, as you can imagine, Vol. 1 implies another set coming next week. Dan was sent so much great music, he had …

1
Quincy Stallworth 1:15:15

19d ago1:15:15

1:15:15

Dan has known of Quincy Stallworth for years, especially for Quincy's job running SoFar Sounds concerts in Philadelphia since around 2018. Quincy sits down to talk about his musical upbringing in the Baptist churches of Southwest and North Philadelphia, his early bands, and how he always excelled at the "business" side of being in a group as much a…

1
James Haro 1:19:03

29d ago1:19:03

1:19:03

James Haro came from Los Angeles (San Gabriel to be exact) over 15 years ago and made his home here in Philly. He talks with Dan about growing up in an old mission town, being a "secret songwriter" from age 6, early bands and projects (mostly lost to the depths of MySpace), coming to Drexel for college, and why he never wanted to leave. James began…

1
Benjamin Hughes #2 1:12:26

1M ago1:12:26

1:12:26

Dan and Benjamin Hughes of Night Windows have been friends since about 2011 or so, when their bands played together in New York a few times. Dan holds Ben up as one of his favorite songwriters of all time, and Ben returns to the show for the first time in about six years. Ben talks about the recent Night Windows records, including the most recent '…

1
Chris Kasper 1:25:06

1M ago1:25:06

1:25:06

Dan has been a Chris Kasper fan since he first heard him on WXPN over 15 years ago. Chris sits down to talk about growing up a metalhead drummer, surrounded by a whole family of musicians. From loud drums and Led Zeppelin to discovering bluegrass and Appalachian folk while living in West Virginia, Chris reminisces on moving to Philadelphia almost 2…

1
Bret Tobias 1:12:25

2M ago1:12:25

1:12:25

Dan talks with Bret Tobias, formerly of The Bigger Lovers and Moped, now helming The Bret Tobias Set. From seeing the Replacements on MTV, discovering House of Love and Philly's own The Wishniaks, it was inevitable that Bret make his life about music. Bret talks about his aversion to being classified in any scene or community, the independent music…

1
James Everhart (Cosmic Guilt) 1:12:13

2M ago1:12:13

1:12:13

Dan talks with James Everhart, a man who's been part of a lot of Philadelphia music over the years, about his long tenure amidst bands like Low Cut Connie, Scantron, and his current project, 10-member supergroup Cosmic Guilt. James talks about hitting the road with Low Cut Connie right out of college, and how he had to pull back from the touring li…

1
Todd Mecaughey 1:27:34

2M ago1:27:34

1:27:34

Todd Mecaughey has been part of the Philadelphia music community for a good while, in bands like New Connection and Secret American. He's also an engineer and producer at Cambridge Sound Studios, and has been since its inception. Dan and Todd talk about their love of Phish and the Grateful Dead (and how both bands are pretty dang punk rock), learni…

1
Judah Kim 1:16:23

2M ago1:16:23

1:16:23

Dan goes in deep with Judah Kim as he talks about growing up "lucky number 7" of 8 siblings, the influence of his older brothers' garage bands, the lack of any Asian American role models in alt rock, studying voice and production at Berkley, sobriety and gratitude, and the burnout that comes with always having to make "content". With a journey that…

1
Fire In the Radio 1:03:17

3M ago1:03:17

1:03:17

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 H…

1
Eliza Hardy Jones 1:21:23

3M ago1:21:23

1:21:23

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, qui…

1
Nicole Bauza 1:23:24

3M ago1:23:24

1:23:24

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 s…

1
Alex Wash (Granddogs) 1:16:56

3M ago1:16:56

1:16:56

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 turnin…

1
The Blackburns 1:09:19

4M ago1:09:19

1:09:19

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. …

1
Zoe Lemon 1:14:51

4M ago1:14:51

1:14:51

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, 'Tai…

1
Scott Radway 1:18:06

4M ago1:18:06

1:18:06

Dan goes in deep with Scott Radway about his early musical tastes (all Beatles), going to music school despite his parents advice to the contrary (they had both attended music school), composition, touring with bands, and becoming both an accomplished producer and songwriter on his own (he's currently a member of lo priestess with wife Gina LC of D…

1
Dave Perry (Athensville) 1:17:57

4M ago1:17:57

1:17:57

Dan talks with Dave Perry about his band Athensville, growing to like the weird music your older brother plays when you're young, the many missed connections between him and frontman Matt Taglang (who was on the show back on #203) and their eventual meeting as adults, and choosing a side in the lesser debated "Echo and the Bunnymen vs The Smiths" a…

1
Early Spring 2024 Playlist 59:59

5M ago59:59

59:59

In the aspirationally titled 'Early Spring Playlist' (Dan is anxiously awaiting the change of seasons), here are 12 new tracks from Philadelphia area artists for your listening pleasure. As always, check out the clickable playlist below for links to all the music and ways to support the artists. 1. Autumn Luz- Bone Marrow 2. Humilitarian- Midnight …

1
Jeremy Garber (Grind Select) 1:24:45

5M ago1:24:45

1:24:45

Jeremy Garber is the co-founder of Grind Select, an independent record label based in Philadelphia that is celebrating it's 10th year this year. Dan and Jeremy talk about how Jeremy found his way into the music world via punk and hardcore on Long Island, being part of the first music business major at Syracuse University, and what it takes to keep …

1
Kara Koser 1:15:17

5M ago1:15:17

1:15:17

Dan and Kara Koser bond immediately over being fellow loudmouths, and their love of the Norristown Zoo, of all things. Kara talks about growing up and trying to find her place as a singer and performer, getting sober and figuring out how to be a musician again, singing contests, skipping an entire line of the National Anthem during a performance on…

1
Sam Rosen 1:22:07

5M ago1:22:07

1:22:07

Dan sits down with Grammy winning engineer/producer/songwriter Sam Rosen to talk about her work in the studio with folk like Jazmine Sullivan, John Legend, Khemist, and Dan's longtime friend Alec Stewart's Lucky Rabbit project. Sam recounts how she got into the engineering chair at MilkBoy The Studio, working with a ton of hip hop and r&b projects,…

1
Brian Walker #3 1:08:58

5M ago1:08:58

1:08:58

Dan is pleased to bring Brian Walker back for his 3rd full length episode (sort of like the SNL "5 Timers Club"). Despite a recent move to the Boston area, Brian is and will always be part of the Philadelphia community. He's been making music as A Day Without Love for over a decade, as well as being a sharp commentator on DIY, the state of touring …

1
Lily Enos 1:07:12

6M ago1:07:12

1:07:12

Dan talks to Lily Enos (Winding Way Records) about growing up in Wildwood, NJ, the loneliness of being a weird, arty kid, watching her dad play in bands, and how she ended up picking up a guitar and writing her own songs (she would sing rather than talk to herself). Lily talks about making the music she’s making now through various online collabora…

1
Nate Runkel (Yo That's My Jawn!) 1:19:08

6M ago1:19:08

1:19:08

Dan finally sits down with his podcast brother-from-another-mother Nate Runkel, creator, host and producer of Yo That's My Jawn! Nate tells Dan the story of how the show started, notable guests like Taylor Goldsmth from Dawes, and Ken Marino and David Wain (MTV's The State), but even before that, all his various involvements in the Philadelphia mus…

1
David Uosikkinen 1:29:31

6M ago1:29:31

1:29:31

It's our 300th episode! And Dan sits down with Philly music legend David Uosikkinen, drummer for The Hooters, founder of In the Pocket, and countless other projects. Dave talks about growing up in Levittown, seeing Buddy Rich as a kid, his first drum sets, South Street and the scene in the late 70s and early 80s, and how a one-time session with Eri…

1
Farewell 2023, Bring On 2024 1:07:05

7M ago1:07:05

1:07:05

Dan turns again to the always vibrant Philadelphia music community for messages about their year, what wowed them in 2023, and some of their favorite tracks from Philadelphia artists. Featuring dispatches from Helen Leicht, John Vettese, Julia Pratt, Andrea Quinn, Cosmo Baker, Brian Seymour, Jenn Coulter, and Nate Runkel, as wel as their picks of f…

1
Emily Drinker 1:26:58

7M ago1:26:58

1:26:58

Emily Drinker is one of the hardest working singer-songwriters in Philadelphia, and Dan was delighted to finally get a chance to talk to her. Emily talks about growing up surrounded by music, singing and musical theater, feeling out of her league at Barnard as an undergrad, discovering a capella, taking jazz theory as a vocalist, and how a job as a…

1
Muskrat Flats 1:13:41

8M ago1:13:41

1:13:41

Dan sits down with Paddy McCann and Eric Cooper (remember Coop from #183?) to talk about their band, Muskrat Flats. Paddy talks about the band forming as a recording project with his brother Matt, and the new lineup of the group, including Eric joining just a year ago. Jams, improv, touring, pedal nerdery, an amount of Phish talk (obviously), and t…

1
Ang Bocca 1:35:33

8M ago1:35:33

1:35:33

Dan and Ang Bocca have been meaning to make this conversation happen since 2021, and now it has arrived. Ang sits down in the studio, just a few blocks from where she grew up, and talks about coming up as a South Philly native, forays into music, ice skating, Broadway, dance, and being drawn to sing and write songs from a young age. Ang has been pa…

1
Dina and Artem 1:05:15

8M ago1:05:15

1:05:15

Dan talks to Dina Layzis and Artem Tenkeli (Dina and Artem when they're playing together) about their duo, and how they came together. Dina is from the Ukraine, and came here as a young child. Artem studied classical piano in Russia and just got to the US a couple of years ago. The two found each other on Instagram, and struck up a friendship and e…

1
Rob Tait 1:17:37

8M ago1:17:37

1:17:37

Dan last talked to Rob Tait back in 2018, when he was drumming for the jam-organ-combo Hambone Relay. It's been almost 5 years, and things have changed. Hambone Relay is no more, Rob has drummed for countless Philadelphia artists, and when the pandemic hit, he pivoted to writing and performing his own music. Rob has been releasing singles since the…

1
The Groove Merchants 1:30:30

8M ago1:30:30

1:30:30

Dan sits down with Fishtown-by-way-of-Bethlehem frontman Tye Vallone of The Groove Merchants. Tye talks about growing up amidst his father's bands rehearsing in the garage, watching the same John Mayer concert on cable over and over, moving from drums to guitar, and how The Groove Merchants took a possible problem and turned it into a band when the…

1
Fall 2023 Playlist 1:20:55

9M ago1:20:55

1:20:55

Dan is back from a few weeks in Japan, and with him comes stories, memories, a new found love of seaweed related snacks, and this playlist episode. Featuring 15 recently released tracks from Philadelphia musicians, please enjoy just a taste of all the great talent here is in this city. Please see the clickable playlist below, which allows you to li…

1
Buzz Zeemer (Frank Brown) 1:08:42

9M ago1:08:42

1:08:42

Frank Brown fronted one of the best Philadelphia bands of the 90s, Flight Of Mavis. When the touring life (which featured opening for the late Sinead O'Connor amidst her rise to stardom) couldn't pay the bills, Frank put the band to bed, and started Buzz Zeemer, which was never intended to have any ambition at all. Flash forward to 2023, and Pat Fe…

1
Apple Juice Jones 1:22:37

9M ago1:22:37

1:22:37

Matt Nestor, drummer of Apple Juice Jones, reached out to Dan a bit ago to tell him the story of the band and the tragic loss of their frontman, Teddy Kradzinski. Dan was moved by the story, so he invited Matt and bassist Mike Bennett over to talk about it all. Matt and Mike talk about the early days of the band, living in a house together during t…

1
Moustapha Noumbissi 1:17:45

9M ago1:17:45

1:17:45

Dan has been a fan of Moustapha Noumbissi ever since he first heard him on WXPN's Philly Local show. Moustapha talks with Dan about growing up in Belgium, the culture shock of switching to an American school in Upper Darby when he was 7, playing college basketball, always being fascinated by guitar and songwriting, and how a One Direction concert t…

1
Marian Hill 1:09:34

10M ago1:09:34

1:09:34

With Philly Music Fest nearly upon us, Dan talks with Samantha Gongol and Jeremy Lloyd of Marian Hill in lieu of their PMF performance on 10/11 at World Cafe Live. Sam and Jeremy talk about meeting in middle school, turning a one-time collaboration into a decade-long group, their early opportunities, the role that MP3 blogs played in their early su…

1
Suzanne Sheer 1:11:12

10M ago1:11:12

1:11:12

Dan talks with Suzanne Sheer, Philly based/Pittsburgh born singer-songwriter extraordinaire. Suzanne opens up about her latest LP, 'Blue Hour', her new singles, coming from a very music familiy, music school in New Mexico, and how the pandemic shaped what would be her current trajectory. Suzanne talks about the joy of meeting and talking to people …

1
Julia Pratt 1:13:40

10M ago1:13:40

1:13:40

Dan converses with singer-songwriter Julia Pratt about her life, both in music and out: moving around a lot as a kid, living in China and Vietnam as an ex-pat, early songwriting, playing guitar for only about a year, and the opportunities that have come her way recently. Julia talks about her recent collaboration with Philly band Mt. Joy, opening f…

1
Julian Booker 1:17:20

10M ago1:17:20

1:17:20

Dan has been listening to Julian Booker on WXPN for a long time, especially on Sleepy Hollow every Sunday morning. Julian sits down to talk about growing up in a music and radio house (his father was in the broadcast biz), working after school and summers in the production booth, his early days producing concerts for The Blockley in University City…

1
Nik Greeley #3 1:17:40

11M ago1:17:40

1:17:40

Dan is always glad to talk to Nik Greeley, which is why this is Nik's third full length episode. And they always seems to talk at a time when Nik is going through a period of growth and change, whether it be in his personal life, or with his band, The Operators. Dan and Nik talk about coming back after the pandemic, working in the concert industry …

1
S3 - E11 - Dr. Umberto Olcese - Unraveling the Mysteries of Neurophysiological Sensory Perceptions, Consciousness and Sleep 45:19

12M ago45:19

45:19

Let's embark on a captivating journey as we sit down with the brilliant neuroscientist, Dr. Umberto Olcese, to explore the wondrous world of neurophysiological sensory perceptions, consciousness, and the mysterious realm of sleep. We kick things off by unraveling the fascinating aspects behind sensory perceptions and how our brain interprets the wo…

1
Love? Said the Commander 1:06:35

12M ago1:06:35

1:06:35

Dan and the ethereal duo Love? Said The Commander have been wanting to make this episode happen for quite some time, and it finally happened. Kate Hall and Chris Bishop talk about meeting on CraigsList (his first original band, her umpteenth), deciding to be a two-piece, sparse songwriting (they call it "maximal minimalism"), live performing, their…

1
Kevin Hanson 1:08:22

1y ago1:08:22

1:08:22

Dan sits down with Kevin Hanson (The Fractals, Huffamoose) to talk songwriting (he's a songwriting professor at University of the Arts), the up-and-down ride that was Huffamoose in the 90s and early 00s (including a last minute gig on the Woodstock '94 mainstage), working with The Roots, Jay-Z, Jill Scott, Victor Wooten, and so many more as a sessi…

1
Your Next Favorite Band (Phillip Reese and David Moore) 1:46:50

1y ago1:46:50

1:46:50

Dan sits down with Phillip and David of Your Next Favorite Band, a podcast out of the Lehigh Valley in PA that's very much in the spirit of what 25 O'Clock is about: finding and discovering new music. Phil and Dave talk about how they met, starting the podcast only a year or so ago, and the wide variety of great music in the Lehigh Valley (with a l…

1
S3 - E10 - Dr. Laurence Heller - A Meaningful And Insightful Conversation On Healing Developmental Trauma 1:26:45

1y ago1:26:45

1:26:45

Welcome to the MindUnplugged Show, where we explore the depths of the human mind, untangle the complexities of life, and discover pathways to personal growth and well-being. In this episode, we embark on a transformative journey as we unravel the intricacies of trauma and delve into the power of healing. Join your me and my special guest, Dr. Laure…

1
Ron Aikens 1:23:49

1y ago1:23:49

1:23:49

Dan talks to Ron Aikens, and his story is full of twists and turns. Originally part of Philly soul group United Image, they were signed to Stax Records and on their way up when Ron was suddenly sentenced to a term in Graterford Prison, where he joined the prison band Power Of Attorney (signed to Polydor Records). Dan and Ron talk about what it was …

1
Brian Seymour 1:20:40

1y ago1:20:40

1:20:40

Dan talks to Brian Seymour about growing up in the shadow of New York City, the Dutch art market of the 17th century (Brian's an art history professor by day at Community College of Philadelphia), playing Tom Waits tunes all over, auction houses, piano playing, his many records and steps as a singer songwriter, how he "fell over" creatively, and th…

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