August 4-10, 2005

music

icepack

by A.D. Amorosi

Ever play so hard — so fast — that days' events blur into one? Like, I know I went to Philly Mag's "Best of" Awards and Philadelphia Eddie's Tattoo Convention. But I swore I saw Soulamite's tattoo love boy Ben Edwards at the mag bash and Philadelphia scribe Rich Rys getting his ass inked with the word "douchebag." (We saw the CBS 3 thing, Rich; "douchebag" is gentle). I'm almost positive Larry Platt was flashing guests with his penis piercing and that Psydde Delicious won "Philadelphian of the Year" over those folks at Alex's Lemonade Stand. Nah, must be dreaming. I imagined I actually saw a black person — ?uestlove yet --in last month's issue.

What elsth hath the tattooth conventionth wroughth? Valerie Velvet — tattooing 'n' piercing queen of Kadillac — has moved her dyeing, poking self and her Irreverent Mother jewelry line to Poison Apple Tattoo. This is akin to Johnny Dougherty turning Republican.

Change of scenery? With Warmdaddy's rent reportedly up-upped to $12,000 a month, are the Bynums leaving Dad? Is it true Silk City may be for sale to the silkiest bidder? Could Suede, Dreamz and Dead Fred be in the sort of nuisance violation trouble (the latter for yelling at the old guys at Old City Florists through microphones) that gets you closed for good? Is Molly's on South Third selling to big-ticket bidders? When will Chestnut between Front and Second get its newest neighbor — Triumph Microbrews of New Hope fame?

Hooooooogaaan: Creepy Invincible star Greg "Bob Crane" Kinnear was not only spied ordering a venti decaf at 18th and Market's Starbucks, we found him sitting, alone, at Walnut Room — unremarkable, totally schleppy. Speaking of things Vince Papale, with director John Singleton (he who produced the wrongly acclaimed rapclaptrap Hustle & Flow) in town to tawk up Four Brothers, can we expect its star Mark Wahlberg (Phillyfilming Invincible when he isn't running around acting all Entourage with his bro, Donnie, at Morimoto) and Philly's Terrence Howard to do a red-carpeted walk? I hear yes.

WHOWHATWHERE: Get Saucy author Grace Parisi stopped by Jean-Marie Lacroix's restaurant to talk glazes; glazes, you hear. Playgirl model Charles Dera showed up at Sapphire Fund's "Sizzle" at Shampoo, all flex-ed out. Bulge! Walking corpse talk host Larry King spent time riding the elevators at the Four Seasons, belching and grumbling as if he'd eaten a whole ham. D'you say "ham?" Piggie-faced Al Franken noshed at City Tavern during last week's Cable & Telecom convention. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah frontman/Philly expat Alec Ounsworth was extra-extra nice to those at Big Jar Books who stopped to hear him pull a solo. Abington's Mike Vogel — starring in August's X-treme Supercross — stopped at the Wach to meet Tony Hawk during the latter's Boom Boom Huck Jam. They did not play leap frog. …

You will never die. You will never get old: Philly punk elders retooled for the 21st century — noisy Notekillers, dream-poppy King of Siam — play The Khyber Aug. 6. Though there's no connection musically, undead Patrick Rodgers' Dancing Ferret label not only has Billboard action for its spooky Lunascape single, "Mindstalking," its remixes come courtesy Philly dawgs John Blake of Sweetie and DJ Jon Gill. The full CD, Reminiscence, drops Aug 9. Another death notice: Fave Goth castle The Cathedral (42nd Spruce) gets Fringey with New Paradise Lab's Planetary Enzyme Blues, a piece about '60s-era Philly. …

Strawbridge's at the Gallery: sold and converted into … homo-bathhouses? A PHAG superstore? Rick Santorum's campaign HQ? No. Macy's. Look for lines to form outside the men's room. Which reminds me: The Prince Music Theater will hold an open casting call for Dreamgirls' Supremes types Aug 20. G'wan.

German import or not, you need the new CD from Philly rockabilly legend Charlie Gracie, Just Hangin'Around! Spend your euros at www.rhythmbomb.com.

Atzsa good: Not only did Michelle Iovino (of the Girasole familia) just open a hearty Italian nosherie, Nido, at 15th and Ritner, she's got Nillio from Napoli singing and strumming on weekends. Also, finally ready to deal its hand: Deuce, that understated Vegas-y lounge joint on N2's Liberties Walk, developed by Tower Investments' koo-koo-iest, least demonic sorts. Yay.

Beau Monde Takeover: Pig Iron captain Dito van Reigersberg and Victor (Bro Sugga) Fiorillo become crepe hangers every first Thursday starting Aug. 4. Joining them is The GetArounds: singer Patty Leswing (WHYY's Fresh Air), cellist Ed Groff and ex-Beach Balls guitarist Robert Fanelli.

You gotta wish happy b-days, not only to World Caf Live's Robin Parry and Kelly Menendez but to PR promotrix Paige Wolf, who'll tear up Vesuvio for her diggable day.