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Also this issue: Home Sweet Home |
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April 18-24, 2002
music
You're sooo hearing this here first. The 50-50 relationship that began between Chris Schwartz's RuffNation and WB records in September 1998 (estimated $25 mil spent) is officially over as Tom Whalley, WB's new purging chairman and CEO, dropped Ruff, leaving (more than likely) Ruff/WB's new signings Bobby Avila and Leela James in WB's court. Think Schwartz is crying? Nope. Throughout his WB tenure, Schwartz kept contact with Columbia's Donny Lenner, RuffHouse's proud platinum papa backinnaday, with whom Schwartz is now prepped to sign a deal this week. (Though Schwartz won't confirm, I heard RCA and Chris Blackwell's Palm/new multimedia offshoot also offered him the moon). More soon.... Local photog David Field just bought the spot that was Bettina's at 20th and Rittenhouse to open a noir restaubar akin to Manhattan boîtes Blue Hill or JoJo's.... Compression Films' producer Natalie Blumberg is readying Philly Blunt, a new scene program -- currently caught in a three-station bidding war -- for CN8 for which she'll double as host.... Last week, Drexel's fifth annual Women in Society dinner for successful alumni recognized Nicole Cashman as honoree/keynote speaker.... Elizabeth "Sarge" Elmore's The Reputation perform for Sean Agnew's first R5 gig at La Tazza on April 23, then Khyber on April 30.... After the hubbub of SXSW, the Burning Brides are fielding six label offers.... While repping Stephen Epstein (Linda Creed's husband) and Stuart Chalfin in the sale of Creed's publishing catalog to Warner/Chappell, lawyah Bernie Resnick got hip-hop locals big deals. Peedi Crackk got a record deal with Roc-A-Fella/Island Def Jam. He helped SW Philly's Armique "Jae Staxx" Wyche, who's currently working on new stuff for Will Smith and Eve, get two songs for Naam Brigade's CD (on Artist Direct) and one song on the upcoming Ms. Jade CD (on Beat Club/Interscope); he got Qur’an Goodman a song on Motown's Jose's CD and got Philly expat Ebony Burks hooked to Blu Cantrell (six of Ebony's tunes wil be on the new Blu); and helped Narada Michael Walden, who'll produce Burks tunes for Whitney Houston, then Santana, then Wynonna Judd.... On April 19, the ace-ambient Gate to Moonbase Alpha holds its final Rotunda show of the season with Lenola. It'll also be the last show for founder Aharon Varady. Why?... Soundgun Studios presents an evening of art, comedy, music and fiction April 20 with Neal Pollack, C.G. Mason, Rick Shapiro, Mr. Hazardous, Bob Phillips and more at 2131 N. American St.... If you (at least 400 of ya) can't get enough of Tower Broad Street signings/singings when Elvis Costello does it April 19 for When I Was Cruel, dig Paul Westerberg's in-store for his Stereo/Mono April 30.... Got $2 mil? That's what Steve Guttenberg was looking for when he crashed TLA's Jill Clayburgh soiree atop Di Palma's, yakking with Michael Imperoli and anyone else who looked well-funded. (And I could be nuts, but I think I spied Danny Glover strolling down Walnut Street).... Pyro (Mark Simone's party) goes Proto (Lounge) for professionals April 19.... Roll 'em: Jill Scott is set to direct some vids from her latest live CD.... Noel "Dr." Zayas just joined Bruce Yelk for a PR/event-making company, Creative NRG, to bring festivities to clubs and corporate events. Event No. 1: April 19 at Chrome for SoundFactory's DJ Jon Peters (and his new CD Live) starring Brian Sanders' "Junk" and Marissa K. Devine.... DJ K-Tell starts a new soap opera, Kuntzmann, April 17 at Bob and Barbara's for da Dumpsta Players, 11 p.m. sharp. There'll be no reruns.... Along with welcoming Bobby Flay to her CN8/Fretz kitchen TV schwoiree, Michele Malin Seidman is repping Coeur on 17th, starting with a lingerie/swimwear trunk show April 24 with Brazilian designer Rosa Cha.... "More ambient than ambient" brings Fuzzy Box and Zenapole together for a glitch-core showcase April 22 at Tritone with genre masters Freiband, Boston's Howard Stelzer and Jason Talbot, and Reichian Rotter-damn duo Goem.... If you're looking for Philly dawgs BT or G. Love, this weekend, don't: They're at Coachella 2002 with Björk and Siouxsie.... Tapping the Vein opens for legendary techno-psychobillys the Electric Hellfire Club at the Troc April 20.... DJ Crystal gets gelatinous wit' "Jello," Wednesdays at Club 218 South St. Free Jell-O shots for happy hour.... While the Jazzyfatnastees' Mercedes is expecting a baby soon, give it up for b-day kids Rob Lee (who'll celebrate at Evolution) and to Spaceboy Dan Buskirk!
