Also this issue: The Sound and Di Furia Photon Band art scholar hears colors, sees sound. -Brian Howard Heller High Water A Philly expat talks about the end of Philadelphia as he knows it. -A.D. Amorosi Fads Will Tear Us Apart NYC's Interpol swims against the next wave. -John Vettese Ours -A.D. Amorosi Marianne Nowottny -Patrick Rapa Aimee Mann -Nicole Pensiero Hail Social -Hillary Rea Har Mar Superstar -Brian Howard

December 5-11, 2002

musicpicks

Kool Keith

It's dinner and a show -- and good thing, too. We're about due for a dose of Kool Keith's otherworldly and otherbrainly funkiness and all the Popeye's the spectacle entails. Since the release of last year's lukewarm Spankmaster, the world's most confusing rapper has been busy turning out dozens of new songs, giving the usual contentious interviews criticizing the industry for a lack of originality and eking out the usual star performances from unknown producers. His appearance at The Trocadero next week comes on the tail of this summer's release by KHM -- with Marc Live and H-Bomb, it's Keith's first group project since the Ultramagnetic MCs. There have also been rumors of a new Dr. Octagon album in February, in which the good medic will finally be brought back to life. This Sunday, with KHM and protégé Jacky Jasper in tow, Kool Keith will be putting his many faces and personas on display. Luckily most of them like to share chicken with the audience.

Sun., Dec. 8, 7 p.m. $15, with Zion I, The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-LIVE.

—Elisa Ludwig