220. Katie Hackett (The Lunar Year)

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 (acoustic)

3. Somebody Like You- Acquaintances

4. Nervous Nikki and the Chill Pills- Limits

5.  Longfriend Timefriend- A Praise Chorus- Are You Listening?: A Tribute To Jimmy Eat World’s Bleed American

6. Booze Radley- Sweetness- Are You Listening?: A Tribute To Jimmy Eat World’s Bleed American

7. Dave Cope and the Sass- Hidden From The World- Hidden From The World

8. Ron and the Hip Tones- Tear On my Chin

9. Granddogs- When You Call

10. James Haro In Storage- Verses

11. Party Nerves- Going To Hell On A Technicality

12. Clover- Beach In the Rain

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 a label going for ten years amidst all the tumult and uncertainty in the music industry. Current Philadelphia bands on Grind Select include Pine Barons, Son Step, and Grocer. You can keep up with all things Grind Select over at their site, including new releases, tour dates for artists, merch, and more.

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 once, and how moving to Manayunk (not her first choice, initially) changed everything. She met the guys who would end up being her band, Koser, at the Grape Street Pub open mic, and has finally been able to create the music she's had in her head. Their newest EP, appropriately titled 'loudmouth soup', is out wherever you get digital music. Follow the band on their mailing list to keep up on all their comings and goings.

Photo by Runamok Images

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, her persistence in still making her own music, and the importance of great vocal production. Sam releases her original music as Samryebread, and her latest single "R U OK?" is out now wherever you get digital music.  

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 acts, and all things community related. Dan and Brian have a lively conversation about the similarities and differences between the Boston and Philadelphia music worlds, touring, venues, sandwiches, etc. Brian has a new ADWL LP out now, 'A Stranger That You Met Before', available on Ur Mom Records and wherever you get your digital music. 

Photo by Bill Streicher

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 collaborations, working with people who are good at what they do, navigating the music business, and always learning how to do it better. “Retaliation”, the newest single by Lily Enos, is available wherever you get digital music and via Winding Way Records.

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 music scene playing shows and hosting open mics. Nate goes into his love of music, but also of making movies and filming skits, and his love of table top RPGs, which led him to his role as producer of the D&D podcast Oops, All Bards. Dan and Nate talk about their shared experiences working amdist the Philadlephia music community, and some of the collaborations they've done over the years. Yo That's My Jawn! is available streaming and for download wherever you get your podcasts.

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 Eric Bazillian and Rob Hyman in 1980 turned into a 40+ year career (and still going) as The Hooters. Dan and David discuss some of the great Philadelphia musicians that Dave has worked with (In the Pocket is a huge "who's-who"), folk like Pete Donnely, Charlie Ingui and his late brother Richie of Soul Survivors, Patty Smyth, and more. It's a non-stop ride, and David's enthusiasm and energy for playing music seems in no way to have slowed with age. Thanks to all the listeners and supporters for helping us get to 300 episodes!

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 favorite songs that came ouf of Philadelphia this year. And dan even makes his own year end message and one of his picks as well. Use the clickable playlist below to support the artists featured on 2023's year end wrap up. Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, and here's to a great 2024.

1) Dear Forbidden- Freaks

2) Night Windows- Something Simple

3) Amos Lee- Greenville. (Helen Leicht)

4) Slaughter Beach, Dog- Float Away. (John Vettese)

5) Daphne Ellen- Old Money  (Julia Pratt)

6) Sweet Pill- Chewed Up. (Andrea Quinn)

7) Reef The Lost Cause- Umar’s Revenge. (Cosmo Baker)

8) Jamie and the Guarded Heart- Shake. (Brian Seymour)

9) The Hirs Collective- Unicorn Tapestry Woven In Fire. (Jenn Coulter)

10) Speedy Ortiz- You S02  (Nate Runkel)

11) Tubey Frank- Some Beat Revival

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 cruise ship performer made her hone her skills very, very quickly. Dan and Emily dive into how she hit the ground runing when she moved back to the Philadelphia area, writing with a deadline, and how you have  to let the rest of your life take priority for a bit. You can find Emily's catalog wherever you get your digital music, including her latest single, "5th Ave". Follow her on the socials at @emilydrinker, and on her YouTube.

Photo by Will Drinker