Also this issue: Contempt of Court Hip b-ball game skips the hardwood and takes it to the street. -J.S, Frank Lewis and Chris Newborg

July 3- 9, 2003

music

icepack

by A.D. Amorosi

Why do I love the Fourth of July? Cheap fireworks? Peter Frampton? No. It’s Philly’s spirit of independence, standing up like hair on a scared cat’s back. Why else did we get our collective mug on Kellogg’s cereal boxes for their "America’s Greatest Cities" promotion? OK, we’re All-Bran, but you’ve gotta start somewhere.… Speaking of starting something, remember I mentioned Conduit, the recently closed Trenton club, had Philly buyers interested? Well, Standard Tap bartenders Paul Browning and Randy Walker will put their moolah where their mouths are when they sign papers this week to buy the spot. They plan to re-open in September. "It’s a big haul, but we’ll start doing shows slowly and build with bigger acts," says Browning, whose "Troc-size" acts will be booked by the ever-career-changing Joey Sweeney. Congrats to all.… Chris Kane’s feeling independent, though we’re not sure if that’s good or bad. The Philly bartending top gun has filed suit in Philly’s Court of Common Pleas after being let go by Capital Grille/RARE Hospitality Inc., which Kane claims fired him for alleged misconduct and raunchy humor. Kane is not only suing Cap Grille for libel and slander, but slinging dirt on the sexual antics of other employees who got him into trouble. The law firm of Margolis Edelstein, representing Capital Grille, would not comment on the case. More soon.… Ricky Blatstein is opening Philly Rock July 10 at his old Maui spot on Del. Ave.… Funny rock story: When She-Haw got a last-minute call to open for the Dixie Chicks at the First Union Center (Joan Osborne was sick), Beth Case was giddy. "Oh my God. Beth-o in front of 20,000 people!" she exclaims. Sadly, it did not happen. Though she and partner Amy Pickard made it to the dressing room ("fantastic … loaded with beer … and tasteful Pottery Barn furniture") and through the soundcheck ("super-duper robotic wireless equipment"), all was not well. Seemed The Girls (as they were called) and their sound engineer felt the She-Haw sound, along with the "integrity" and "message" of their music, wasn’t getting through. "I sing country music, for chrissakes," says Case, the ex-wife of a sound engineer, and she tsk-tsked the Chicks’ sound peeps for not having the time or energy for She-Haw. Though their all-access pass got yanked, there were no hard feelings -- She-Haw got paid nicely, not to mention getting to smoke cigs in a Chicks-designated no-smoking zone.… Don’t cry for Electric Factory. While Philadelphia Business Journal reports the club (and its owners) filed for bankruptcy protection, no one’s broke. It’s just biz-ness between EF and their landlord, Callowhill Center Associates LP, as they get set to renegotiate. Besides, EFC/Clear Channel’s Theatre of the Living Arts will soon take over the jewelry shop next door to their 334 South St. location to expand the venue.… Chord Record’s Jeff Met Thies has taken over Wednesdays at Whiskey Dix, Philly’s newest rock bar, next door to Electric Factory on Seventh. His weekly "Freakshow" (which started last week with porn star Jasmin St. Claire’s afterparty for 3PW wrestling) will feature live bands (like his own Bad Luck 13 Riot Extravaganza) and a contest called "What Would You Do For $100." "Think Jim Rose meets Fear Factor," says Thies.… Not only has the après-heures Emerald City finally opened all of its rooms, they’ve brought in Noel “Doctor” Zayas as promotions manager. His first big party: "Red Bikinis, Blue Martinis," with DJs Lorne, Doz and King Britt July 3. Britt is also busy with his website (www.fivesixmedia.com) and getting his Scuba song "Beauty of an Ultravivid Memory" (with Vikter Duplaix) on Sex and the City, as well as remixing stuff for H-Foundation, Señor Coconut, Kindred, Yellow Productions Paris and Genji a Go Go, producing tunes for Ursula Rucker and Jill Scott’s new albums and gearing up for FiveSixMedia’s first LP, Black to the Future.… Studio owner/BBE recording artist Larry Gold would’ve loved to talk to you last week, but he got a sudden call from Janet Jackson and her Roots pal/producer Scott Storch to do string arrangements for some tunes in NYC. "The tapes couldn’t leave New York," says Gold, who didn’t even know which studio he’d be going to until he arrived.… Jimi Mooney’s Helen Back will host a weekly Helen night at L’Etage starting Wed., July 9. "I’m asking theater, drag and music types to do their thing," says Mooney. The first week stars Mary McCool, Victor Fiorillo and Louise Carpino. Mooney’s documentary, Helen Back: Under the Music, debuts July 19 at the Seaport Museum with a post-show gig at the William Way Center.… Sports WhoWhatWhere: New 76ers coach Randy Ayers, Aaron McKie and Billy King took over the back of Bar Noir one night, while former Philly scribe Steve Lopez’s son, Jeffrey, and his old Mt. Airy crew did the same the next night. Mike Piazza hung at Lombardi’s. And Allen Iverson hung out with his crew at Toto for his b-day. Which reminds me -- happy b-day to non-sports types Rob Grossman, who celebrated at Tribecca, and WXPN’s Robert Drake, still celebrating at the Constitution Center. Congrats to Brian Setzer’s Stray Cats, celebrating their 25th anniversary with a reunion at Cal State University’s Fullerton Field July 5-6, part of a rockabilly festival. The gig is rumored to be a precursor to an autumn tour.