Also this issue: Folk Gone Wild Philly's own Full Frontal Folk doesn't have time for angst, ballads or clothes. -Mary Armstrong Prime Meridian Steve Forbert exhumes a country legend from his hometown. -Nicole Pensiero An Evening of Russian Romances -Peter Burwasser Tandy -A.D. Amorosi Erick Sermon -Elisa Ludwig Goldie -A.D. Amorosi DJ Nights -Sean O'Neal Beat Box -Ain� Ardron-Doley

December 25-31, 2002

musicpicks

Lady Alma

She's worked with kings (Britt) and heroes (4hero), so it's natural to refer to raw-rough-silk-singer Alma Horton as "Lady." It's a measure of respect in one's field of ardent study, much the way you'd title someone "Dr." if they stayed their assigned course. Where Horton's concerned, her degree is in soul-semantics, vocal division, having led the singing charge for Britt/Sylk 130 LPs like When the Funk Hits the Fan and Re-Members Only with lyrical reminiscences as stark as her depth-diving scat-singing. Along with working on mixed-genre materials -- from glorious gospel to wild-mouse drum 'n' bass rides -- for funky Phillyites Ursula Rucker, G. Love, Scuba and Britt projects like Black to the Future ("Break Me Off") and BBE Records' 2003 series The Beat Generation ("Loves Time"), Alma has her own searing solo work to tout. After the roar of 2001's debut single "Count on Me" on Diaspora Records, her Lady Alma Project has two tunes due out in January, "Dreams" and "In the City" on the righteous, regal King Street Sounds label, as well as a teaming with Red Nose District and DJ Spinna for "Make A Move" (Rush Hour) -- all set to precurse her solo CD, which she is recording now. Bow down. There's a Lady present.

Sat., Dec. 28, 10 p.m., $8, North by Northwest, 7165 Germantown Ave., 215-248-1000.

—A.D. Amorosi