Also this issue: Sex and Our City HBO's latest single-gal show finally gives Philly a chance to show off its stuff. -Alex Richmond

January 23-29, 2003

music

icepack

by A.D. Amorosi

Risk ain't bad: David Garlitz and his booking co., Risk-Taking Type Music (that honored Philly's UnConventional Books' III (Three): Images of Fantasy and Experience with a benefit for Triangle Theater and InLiquid at Tribecca with his avant-Afro-Cuban band Way Blue Bucket and the soy product 3Vodka) have two wack productions this weekend. Jan. 24 sees improv saxman Jon Thompson fronting the Chance Trio for what they call Lazlo at High Wire Gallery. Then it's the 'burbs for Conjunto 23, Philly's wack cuarteto de son, Jan. 25 at Mokas (3605 Lancaster). To celebrate Patrick Rodgers' Dancing Ferret Concerts' eighth anniversary, Brit-EBM-wiz Ronan Harris debuts dark-style Jan. 29 at Shampoo. VJ Kaboom tells me he's bringing the cool of video-edited swirls and samples to classical music at the Kimmel in February -- a visual collab with Philly Orchestra, conductress Jerri Johnson, Tin Hat Trio and composer John Adams. Rap risk comes from Mr. PCP's Arrakis label, which drops Kenneth Masters' Independent as F*ck! at Silk Jan. 25, co-starring Adam12. PCP's also a big part of Take Down Records, whose freaky-murder-soul Scratchin' & Survivin' 12-inch from Chester's Bugsy and Snake (with pal Freeway) is ripping hip-hop radio. Take Down's dropping a label comp, Streetz Inc. (femme MC Caution, Dalinkwentz, etc.), in February, a magazine (Holla!) and "hip-hop's first reality drama" for UPN and Viacom, the very same team working with Eve on her comedy series for 2004. (Cable must be hip-hop's future, what with local giant Comcast's Brian Roberts teaming with Radio One for a new African-American network). And the very queen of risk, punk/prose doyenne Patti Smith, puts on a mammoth sketch/art/photo show (as she did the Warhol Museum) at ICA in September with a poetry reading and concert to boot. WhoWhatWhere: Before the big bad game, the Bucs' Lomas Brown and Eagle Bobby Taylor's family supped at Twenty21's Nostradamus-weekend lounge revue starring the always-fab Julia Othmer, currently eyeballed by Island (Hey, who were the leechy journalists who stopped by?). Along with munching at The Continental, Donovan McNabb rented out Buffalo Billiards for Hollis Thomas' birthday party with Duce Staley, Hugh Douglas, Corey Simon and Allen Iverson in the house. Jamie-Lynn Sigler (Meadow Soprano) helped open a new IKEA in Conshohocken. Joan Rivers dropped free Comcast cable and DSL stuff on some unsuspecting (surely frightened) family off Haverford Ave. After Seussical, Cathy Rigby supped at Maggiano's. Brian Setzer was in town all week, hanging with Tommy Maguire at Blue Comet, where he played "Brand New Cadillac" in memory of pal Joe Strummer. Speaking of Setzer, his onetime road manager Bobby Startup leaves Bar Noir after Jan. 27 to spin a mystery gig in South Beach, Miami. DJ A.D., me, will sub loudly while decorators and Setzer's ex-manager, David Carroll, create another mystery. (BN's long-rumored extension: a Deco naval steamship-looking thing.) Speaking of Strummer, East Coast Ghost's Dennis McHugh hosts a night of exclusive Strummer sounds benefiting Paul Green School of Rock (in Strummer's name) at Sugar Mom's Jan. 23, with DJs O.C., Bob and Beth. Mark "The Dentist" Simone brings his Young Professionals' Ball back to Circa where it belongs Jan. 24. Matthew Izzo launches his plush piquant inaugural line of signature home furnishings -- the Izzo label, a minimal look despite the winnowing of glass, acrylic and woods -- at his 928 Pine salon Jan. 24. Denim's opening weekend kicks off Jan. 23 with DJ Edan's '80s stylee, Jazzy Jeff (1/24) and regular-night DJs Cosmo (Fri.) and ?uestlove (Sun.). Jugo and Cozmic Cat got Tuesdays. Ex-Restaurant School head mistress Kimberly Cambra -- now a comedienne -- brings guffaws and calamari to the Spaghetti Warehouse (on Spring Garden) Jan. 25. Cathleen Heard, Trishy Gdowik and Gabe Boylan bring naughty music and dirty videos (all with an '80s twist) to Silk Jan. 29 for Nonstop Erotic Cabaret. Hard Liquor Theater unleashes Needles Jones' "Divas" Jan. 23 at Tritone. Bring the absinthe. Andrew Jones' rough pop Raccoon runs dark furry rings 'round Doc Watson's Jan. 23. Not only have the Tribecca/Mako's group -- Bruce, Kenny and Jay -- bought ye old Barbary space, Delaware Avenue's first true club, they're running hard-hat tours (run by Larry Giglio every Saturday night) of what it will become by spring: a three-floor rock 'n' roll bar/billiard emporium to be named later. B-days: Bassment Cru turns 1 Jan. 25 at West Chester Community Center with DJs Jae, Coda and Mynd. Solomonic Sound turns 3 Jan. 24 at Filos. Promoter Noel Zayas celebrates Jan. 25, as does folk freak Adam Brodsky the same day at Tin Angel. And VIP originator 32 -- Barry Gutin and Larry Cohen's baby -- turns 1 with a four-day blowout starting Jan. 29.