October 16-22, 2003

music

icepack

by A.D. Amorosi

I love my city. If I¹m not protesting Urban Outfitters¹ sale of Ghettopoly on Walnut Street, I¹m donning sweats at Blue Horizon for Axial Entertainment¹s Rocky re-creation, part of a reality-show taping. Or, I¹m asking myself where Nic Cage can get good pizza (Tacconelli¹s), hear great jazz (Chris¹) or slurp great pasta (Angelina -- so good he recommended it to his National Treasure boss, Jerry Bruckheimer). Cage has no worries. He¹s drinking scotch, smoking cigars, chatting up snackers at Reading Terminal and receiving gift baskets of Kiehl¹s products and Pravda vodka from Cashman & Associates (At presstime, C&A had just confirmed Kim Cattrall and Dominic Soprano Chianese would attend its Buddakan bash for Comcast¹s HBO on Demand. Kim and Dom have no worries.). Nobody from M. Night Shyamalan¹s Village seems to have any worries, either, as they head into filming. Funny-hat-wearing Adrien Brody and Joaquin Phoenix were spotted late at Latest Dish, Continental (both with Shyamalan) and Saint Jack¹s, where they drank Belvedere on the rocks, gave bartender Chris Kane good tips (in both senses; he showed them his Karma Police script) and left after closing. Brody was also spotted at Bella drinking tea and wearing another funny hat while co-star Brendan Gleeson ate. No one who worries would wear hats that goofy.... Picture it: Sara Sherr planting a Madonna on Cathy Britney Heard at Dumpsta¹ Players¹ bash at Bob & Barb¹s.... Self-proclaimed ¹Lazarus of Rock¹ Jay Medley returns with Supernatural Birth Machine, starring operatic vocalist Frank DeHaven (sing ¹Ave Maria¹), old pal Bob Shame and drummer Kevin Owens. They¹re selling an eponymous CD at Viking (Second and South sts.), debuting Oct. 18 at The Balcony and hosting a CD-release party at Mako¹s Oct. 23.... Jon Hampton and Lisa Cohen will be booking the Mill Creek Tavern, a 325-person-capacity restaubar at 42nd and Chester.... One Found Day¹s Jimmy DiLella -- he who had his ¹Woke Up in Oz¹ on Dawson¹s Creek and Party of Five -- solos Oct. 21 at Grape Street Pub.... What NYC food chain is eyeing Striped Bass, despite the fact that Neil Stein is still trying to iron out his problems with the IRS?... WhoWhatWhere: DJ Brendan O¹s Soul Travelin¹ got visits from So So Def crooner Anthony Hamilton and Ahmir Thompson, the latter sitting in as percussionist. Shampoo¹s bash with Frankie Knuckles was a smash, drawing caster Mike Lemon, a premiere of the Dr. Denim clothing line and boxer Bernard Hopkins.... Kenn Kweder hosts a Johnny Cash tribute/American Diabetes Association charity event at Tin Angel Oct. 21 with Amos Lee, Kevin Karg and Chet Delcampo, whose CD, Apartment Songs (with Mark Schreiber and Rocco Notte), is getting play in Slovenia.... Despite rumors of resignations and deterioration, Philly Film Society board president/TLA Video artistic director and fest director Ray Murray and treasurer Claire Kohler have not canceled their 2004 film festivals. ¹They¹ve simply pared down Film Society operations -- which is normal -- until festival time,¹ says rep Andy Preis, who went on to state that while cash-flow problems existed (¹true of most nonprofits¹), the board is out raising money, Thom Cardwell is working to maintain star shine and Murray is scouring fests worldwide.... Fashion Group and Breast Health Institute host the pre-Shirt-Off-Your-Back ¹Dispelling the Myths¹ confab Oct. 20 at Independence Visitors Center with Dr. Gordon Schwartz and Dr. Lydia Komarnicky.... Buddy Ayars¹ Casualgypsies debut Crazy Places We Take Ourselves, with help from Mike Slo-Mo Brenner, Dave Bilanko, Nancy Falkow and Tommy Conwell. Stop in at Abilene Oct. 17 and see who joins him for his CD-release party.... Solo soul-songstress/guitarist Mi'Chel -- a collaborator with Vanishing Peoples, Giggle Stix and Deep 6ix -- is leaving Philly for L.A. after singing her way through Oct. 17¹s ¹Divine Women¹ program at the Painted Bride with Flo Brown, Ursula Rucker, Lady Alma and Keisha Hutchins. Why? She got a record/production deal with All Rhythm Entertainment founder Steve Clark, who¹s produced/written/worked with no-last-name-needed ladies like Janet, Whitney, Mariah and Pink. ¹When I¹m done doing my album with him, he¹ll shop me around to the majors,¹ says Mi¹Chel. ¹That¹s if I want to leave his label. I may want to stay if I am doing well with him. He is a great man to be connected with.¹... How better to share your b-day with your pals than to release a CD. Free-jazz freak Daniel Peterson does just that Oct. 16 at Highwire Gallery with his band, playing Daniel Peterson¹s Truth & Consequence Presents the Mythic Belief. Stephanie Renee co-hosts her b-day party/new monthly jam with Jill Scott and Black Ice at The Big Shed (Gloria¹s), Oct. 17, performing songs from her new CD, ¹with my fellow Libra L.I.F.E.¹ Also celebrating b-days: Sodafine, which marked a year with a fashion show at Silk City, and CP contributor Rosemary Darigo, who marked her 27th year drinking at Tattooed Mom¹s.... As if it wasn¹t enough that Phyllis Polk left the mayor¹s office, the always lovely ex-beauty queen Mary Lou Wilkinson retired from the City Representative¹s Office of Commerce Sept. 30 as public relations coordinator. Big toodle-ooh.