Also this issue: Hair Aware Duafe Holistic Hair Care shows its clients a righteous path to locks, twists and braids. -A.D. Amorosi

June 13-19, 2002

music

icepack

by A.D. Amorosi

Odunde all over town, gay-pride floats past Bump, Cosmo’s B-boy/B-girl barbecue at the Hawthorne Center at 12th and Carpenter. This is good stuff -- the loveliest stuff of summer. Then I got a note from Robert Drake saying that Sara Weaver -- Swisher leader and gay-rights activist -- had passed away Friday night, losing a long battle with leukemia. I didn’t know the brave Sara or her brave boyfriend, Jon Vital. So I won’t bore you with the bullshit “personal” memoir I’ve witnessed this weekend over the death of legendary Bikini Bandits cinema star Dee Dee Ramone. But I knew of Sara and Jon’s love and struggle. I salute that. Check goswisher.com if you want to know more.… Now, let’s make fun of somebody: So the new Marah CD’s nifty but, despite telling rollingstone.com they were abandoning things Philadelphian and Springsteenian (even their old clothes) for Wales or Japan, we hear Marah is moving to Brooklyn, Spin mag’s fave town. Like the revolution that saw stars moving to Winston-Salem, Athens and Seattle, this should be worse for Brooklyn than when the Dodgers left. And if they sold their clothes, how come Dave’s still wearing that porkpie hat? Whether they like Philly or not, they’ll be in residence at The Khyber in July.… Brooklyn’s blue Marly Hornik likes Philly. The cuz of Avram Hornik -- who finished her first full CD by getting fans and friends to give her $20 in exchange for music and memorabilia -- is playing SoMa every Thursday with her soothing blend of Carole/Carlyisms.… Bar Noir’s become VH1/MTV central, what with Real World star Aneesa working the Noir in varied forms, as well as Boyz II Men (like Hall & Oates and Brian Setzer before them) taping a Behind the Music there. VH1 promises it’ll be back for many more tapings.… Maybe Kindred’s Hidden Beach label debut, Surrender to Love, is a bit delayed, but is the Chocolate Soul comp out June 19? That’s what the Upper Room party at the Balcony’s supposed to celebrate.… Noel Zayas and Bruce Yelk’s Creative NRG company is doing their own “prom” at the Ritz-Carlton June 15 with Christian James, Rob Lee, Rahsaan, Lee Jones and Adrock DJing. “It’s a second chance at your prom,” e-mails Noel. “Bring the date you really wanted to bring, listen to the music you really wanted to hear, wear the right thing this time.” Hosted by Ms. Phoenixx (who’ll hopefully show like she didn’t for the gay pride float) there’ll be prizes for best dressed, cutest couple, best dancers and homecoming queen. Marissa K. Devine will cheerlead.… Ex-Perils of Pauliners The Persona, labeled down by Nettwerk, is doing three songs with Smashing Pumpkin/Pete Yorn-twiddler Brad Wood.… We hear P. Diddy finally paid up on the Ram Squad claim for swiping one of their backing tracks from their 2001 JCOR release. And is Ram Squad member Wiz Gam getting a record deal with Koch after Squad co-founder Tommy Hill got offered a deal through Alliance distribution?… City Tavern owner/chef Walter Staib is hooking up with pal Paul Dillon (from his own CN8 show) for a live-audience Flag Day (June 14) taping of the Comcast cooking show in the Tavern garden.… When Azriel Group and SoundLab at La Tazza celebrates its first anniversary June 13, it will do so to aid Chris Keenan, a local music man accidentally electrocuted in mid-April, subsequently losing both legs below the knee. He needs help with med bills and new prosthetics. So join Chatty Cathy, Torsion, Alfred James and Euclid Street in this fundraising bash.… Josh Sankey holds his third annual Summer Comedy Classic at Cunningham’s, June 15, with Vince Valentine, Craig Shecter, Matt Bellace, Chip Giambrone, Buz Whelen and Jim Seaver.… The Mermaid Inn in Chestnut Hill on June 15 turns into a romantic red-light district when cabaret-hoochie-koochcie singer/guitarist Bradley N. Litwin, his Madman Jazz Trio & Friends (including chanteuse Nancy Falkow) celebrate his sophomore CD, You Rascal You.… Joey Blanco and Brendan Olkus’ The Joint moves permanently to 1616 on June 14.… Happy b-day to TPDS, to Valanni lounge’s Gypsyboots showcase (June 12 with Mike Roi and Mia Johnson), to Chrome and to Robert Drake, who can use a hug at his Psydde Delicious joint b-day bash at Tattooed Mom and Fluid June 16.