Listen to JD Malone’s interview and live performance on XPN’s Philly Local Hour with Helen Leicht

Helen Leicht recently brought JD Malone into the studio for an interview and live performance on XPN’s Philly Local Hour (Tuesday nights at 10 p.m.). Below, you can read a brief transcript from the full interview (which is available here), and listen to two of the songs Malone performed in the studio.

JD Malone is no stranger to Philadelphia. The singer-songwriter, who is originally from Vermont, has played in Philly for years and chose Phil Nicolo and Studio 4 in Conshohocken to record his latest album, Avalon. Whereas most artists release an album and then tour to promote it, JD Malone And The Experts are touring to promote an initiative they call the “Do What You Can Do Project.” Supported by their record company, JD And The Experts will be touring in conjunction with local organizations such as food banks and relief efforts. Instead of a ticket price, a donation to a local nonprofit is encouraged at the shows.

“I went through quite a few years of trying to figure out how music was helpful other than to myself,” Malone says. “So we came up with a concept called the ‘Do What You Can Do Project,’ and from that we are going to be doing the Do What You Can Do Tour. The tour part of it is us—rather than just going into towns and cities and performing and getting fans—we’re putting a spin on it. We want to make a difference in some little way. The philosophy behind Do What You Can Do is every little bit helps, be the change you want to see in the world.”

You can find the new album and information on the project at jdmalone.com. JD Malone And The Experts perform with Rodger Delany at 8 p.m. Thursday, August 25, at the Tin Angel; tickets to the 21+ show are $10. —Nicholas Bookbinder