September 9-15, 2004

music

icepack

by A.D. Amorosi

Lord knows I had a good time RNC-ing in Manhattan. (Note to self: Call Zell Miller and give him your anger management guy's number). But man, I'm sorry I missed Bill Cosby at Temple U's freshman rally ("No bitches or hoes." Glad I graduated years ago) and Charles Barkley supposedly getting overly frisky at 32º for the Daily News' Sexy Singles party. Gentlemen? What was in yo' water? That said, upon return, what I did for Labor Day was roller-skate the serpentine lengths of Ikea Sout' Philly, swim the lengths of Hotel Pool when Headlong dance folk twarn't around (looking for that water, maybe) and talk to the Simons Brothers, Stephen (of Khyber/Royal Tavern fame) and David (of Tokio Ballroom acclaim). From Stephen, I needed to clear up a rumor that he and Dave Frank were buying out partner Bryan Dilworth in the threesome's co-ownership of Bella Vista's Royal. Not fully. Between Dilworth's management of the wildly successful Burning Brides and LaGuardia, and the consolidation of his Curt Flood Booking agency (with Simons and Franks) into Heyday Booking (Jon Hampton's agency before he went to Clear Channel), Dilworth has his hands full. "Bryan's just an inactive partner," says Stephen. "We're in the process of giving him money to step aside a little. But he's not going anywhere." Then, there's David, who was in the process of celebrating not only his one-year wedding anniversary to his Missus, Helena, but also his first year at Tokio, his weekend live venue on Lombard Street. That is until Helena got a new job with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Manhattan. "My shows will cease at the end of September," says David, who will continue executive recruiting work for Glass & Associates from the couple's new Brooklyn home. "We're excited." No word yet what will become of the Ballroom (Tokio's Madame Saito holds dance and cooking lessons there) in the immediate future except that there won't be bands anymore. "People dug Tokio. Bands that played there — the poppier ones — had a home here they couldn't find elsewhere," says David. Know who else is leaving? MADD doctor/Drexel College of Media Arts and Design dean Jonathan Estrin is outta here — after four years — to become executive VP of the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. "I'm really going to miss all the great friends I've made," says Estrin from L.A. "Philly's a fabulous secret. It just needs to think big about itself, not compare itself with other cities. It has to build an identity based on its creativity within the arts and attract and retain the young people who will take it to the next level." …

WHOWHATWHERE: Reggae lion Luciano chilled at South Street's new Caribbean lounge, Reef, last week. So will members of Antibalas, who promise to hit Reef after their TLA show, Sept. 9. … Bar Noir's Monday Night Club turns to Tuesday for Sept. 14's FringeWest "Dirty" sex-text showcase with David Carroll's old pal Jesse Wilson doing Triumph of Summer (also at Triangle Theater, Sept. 11), readings from Reverend T Bag, Needles Jones, Julia Othmer and others, and a preview of Madi DiStefano's "girl-girl scene" from Brat Productions' Popsicle's Departure, 1989. While PD89 opens at Plays and Players, Sept. 16, DiStefano's Jeremy character will guest with an "'80s heavy metal band, Welcome to My Face" during her run at the Fringe Cabaret, Sept. 14. "I'll do a Motörhead song, and then I return as a Lita Ford-esque babe with a song that shall remain nameless — it's a crowd pleaser and a little dirty," says Jeremy, I mean, DiStefano. Speaking of prose, look for Nabaya — the wordy poemistress whose "Mojito" gig at Marathon on the Square still has people talking — to host "Sofa Cypher," Sept. 10 at N. 3rd. … Janet Bressler and her ensemble will host/house band the new Thursday open-mic nights at 12 Steps Down (Ninth and Christian) starting Sept. 9. … A little bird tells me WXPN's fab World Café multiplex of rooms will host several members-only "soft" pre-opening events during September's third week. … Sal DiPalma turned his eponymous restaubar into One Fourteen to suit Old City's lounge-bound hounds. They'll still get gourmet fare, only served in thematic lounge areas (Blue, Eden, Ultra) with fizzy "fountain" drinks (Southern Comfort and Grape Soda, Ketel One Citron and Mountain Dew) and the sounds of DJ Manolo. … New gigs: Joey Mahoney's Songspot takes over Abilene on South Street every Wednesday with singer-songwriters and comedians hosted by Danny Ozark. Davio's just brought in Michael McCaulley (of Jake's in Manayunk and Salt fame) as new head sommelier. Leo Kheynis started a new position, VIP manager at Emerald City, with the unveiling of the Blue Room on First Friday. Every Tuesday starting Sept. 14, DUTV's Butch (In Bed With) will host Government at Valanni. What it has to do with shirtless boys (so states their e-ads), I don't know. … Sure, I'm sad WPEN got rid of its "Station of the Stars" big band format. But, yo, it's got new all stars like my man pot-and-and-pans Jerry Blavat in the mornings. Wake up!