Dropped Among This Crowd

This week, forty years ago, a historic recording was made in Kingston, ON..... Join me, Sara J, as we dive deeper into all this and more, including an in-depth look at Davis Manning, who was more than just the sax player in The Hip. The Copper Penny Project by DATC Media — coming soon.

This week on the show, Sara J. is sharing a bit of personal news and a health update.

In this episode of Dropped Among This Crowd, Sara J. dives deep into the life and career of Phil Collins—from his formative years, to Genesis, to his groundbreaking solo work, and beyond. We explore the stories behind In the Air Tonight, his collaborations with legends like Eric Clapton, his commercial dominance alongside artists like Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson, and the unforgettable Live Aid performance that cemented his place in music history. Sara also shares personal memories of seeing Phil live as a kid, highlights his autobiography Not Dead Yet, and invites listeners to weigh in: which era of Phil Collins do you remember most—Genesis, solo hits, or even the Tarzan soundtrack? Join us for a deep dive into a career that has truly soundtracked our lives.

In this third episode of Something On, Sara J switches things up and brings you a streamlined music news rundown—this time dropping directly into your podcast feed. The big story this week: the release of “Generation” from Gord Downie, The Sadies, and the Conquering Sun – Live at 6 O’Clock, arriving February 27. Sara breaks down what to expect from the live album, why the Discovering Downie podcast is an essential companion listening, and how this project captures Gord at his electrifying best. She also covers: The latest from The Hip on Shuffle (including her recent appearance on the “Fire in the Hole” panel and a killer unreleased 1997 live cut from Rock am Ring) New content from School of Hip A deep dive recommendation into Phantom Acoustics Highlights from Gord Downie birthday celebrations in Buffalo, including standout performances by The Strictly Hip A special audio clip from Craig (Discovering Downie / Gift Shop) recorded at a Gord birthday tribute show Plus, in the DATC Media world, Sara shares details from the latest episode of Dropped Among This Crowd, featuring Brady Callan of Cancon_eh. They talk Canadian music culture, Finger Eleven, Nickelback’s love-to-hate legacy, Richard Beland’s photography, desert island albums, music books, vinyl collecting, and the formative power of live music. Whether you’re here for The Hip, Gord’s solo work, or the broader Canadian music community, this episode is packed with news, recommendations, and celebration. Be sure to stick around to the end for a special audio clip—and check the show notes for all links mentioned. Something On will return April 14th with a live guest episode. Follow DATC Media everywhere to stay in the loop.

This week on the show, fresh off celebrating two years of creating digital content for his page Cancon_eh, Sudbury, Ontario native Brady Callan sits down with host Sara J to talk about the inspiration behind creating a page dedicated to highlighting and celebrating iconic Canadian music—and Canadian culture more broadly. Brady shares the artists and bands he’s had the pleasure of sitting down with, including an intimate conversation with Finger Eleven about touring with Ozzy Osbourne, recorded just weeks after Ozzy’s passing. He also reveals who’s still on his bucket list to interview. Sara reflects on growing up with easy access to Canadian content from Buffalo, NY, seeing bands for free in the city, the advantages of living in a border town, and the alternative music day festivals of the early 2000s. Brady dives into the Cancon playlist he’s built on Spotify (link in show notes), his creative plans for 2026, the history behind the Cancon\_eh name, and a breakdown of Canadian Content (CanCon) guidelines. The two reminisce about Richard Beland’s Toronto gallery event last October and share their favourite photos from his incredible collection. Brady walks us through his lifelong love of music—what shaped him, the bands that built his musical foundation, the first music he ever bought, his most prized albums, his elusive “white whale” vinyl, and other standout pieces from his collection. He relives his iconic first concert and other unforgettable live music moments, speaks on the importance of supporting local musicians and venues, and shares some deep Canadian music history surrounding The Townhouse Tavern. And we talk about Nickelback - how their music left an imprint on his memory those cold early mornings on the way to hockey practice, and a distinctly Canadian perspective on the love-to-hate them. Brady also reveals his desert island albums, favourite music books (plus a recommendation for Sara), what music he’s currently “married to,” playing drums, and the Freaks and Geeks scene that perfectly sums up his childhood—jamming in the basement, collecting drums, and wanting to learn any instrument he could get his hands on… including an accordion from Germany dating back to the mid-1930s, gifted to him on Christmas morning when he was 18.