August 28-September 3, 2003

mixpicks

Dead Eyes Open: A Tribute to Edward Gorey

by Juliet Fletcher

Blame it on the new moon: There’s been a strange conflation of events in the Philadelphia goth community lately. When Jenn Jamison dreamt of organizing a show that would "stir up some creativity in the goth-punk-deathrock scene," her first job was to find it a direction. And, while she was at it, she had to go about helping her friend Matt Riser find a house in town. Riser, of the band Fear Cult and also notably the man behind Newgrave magazine -- a sort of anti-bible for deathrock scenesters everywhere, is soon moving to Philadelphia from California, and in return for helping him out, Jamison has asked for his help and Newgrave’s involvement in the long-awaited show, which hits The Rotunda this Sunday.

None of which explains precisely why, when bands including Cinema Strange, Antiworld and The Brides (pictured) take the stage that night, they’ll be paying homage to venerable writer, illustrator and general portrait painter to the haunted, Edward Gorey. But, as Jamison puts it, "When I hear Cinema Strange’s songs and watch them play, it always reminds me of an Edward Gorey story: ironic and spooky, yet intriguing. Every stage show is different and I am curious what theme they will do next." So showing up in extravagant garb to the night’s event is essential -- there’ll be prizes for the best Gorey-inspired costume (though points will surely be deducted for ripping off his well-known illustrated credits to PBS’ Mystery!) -- and Riser will be on hand, documenting the whole dark matter for a spread in a forthcoming issue of Newgrave.

Dead Eyes Open: A Tribute to Edward Gorey, Sun., Aug. 31, 8 p.m., all ages, free, The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., 215-573-3234, www.foundationarts.org.