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Before we race from the worst April of Philly's collective life—weather, taxes, Iverson—I wanted to comment on its most despicable moment. Just because I had bets that David Lee Roth'd be off 'YSP quicker than another Fishtownie got hit in the head with a brick didn't mean I wanted Diamond Dave gone. Sure, he was schlocky and old in a smelly-mothballs-'n'-halupkes sorta way. But neither Opie nor Anthony will do anything as rude, rocking and heelarious as Van Halen's "Eruption." If you want crude at 94.1, check www.channelchaos.com, the renegade podcast run by 'YSP-affiliated folks. Emanating from the station's dingy basement (and it sounds it), Ed Banas (WYSP's director of imaging) has made a cool, rude, aptly named pod with an unhappy clown (JD), a pierced Teutonic bombshell (Melissa) and a coke 'n' sex-sucking Dirty Diamond (Triangle Theater's Michael Hans' Neil impersonation). Better than Chio annnnyday.

Deee-luxe apartments in the sky: Since his initial blast of PR nine years ago, you haven't heard much from the quiet boychik of the Philly renaissance, developer Tony Goldman (other than selling off his Divine Lorraine Hotel, mebbey). But the king o' B3 (Blocks Below Broad) is gearing up for mojo chatter as he's readying ye olde S.S. White Dental Supplies to become 12th Street's boutique condo White Building for September. We're simply Roused (wahwahhh! Get it? Willard. Ah, architecture jokes. The people love 'em) by the DVD he and Gloss PR have out on the street. Not to be outdone, there's a new deputy in Condo-Town: EB Realty, who along with owning the Marine Club, just acquired—for their swanky 640 N. Broad condodigs—their first tony restaurateur, Mark Vetri and his L'Osteria.

Speaking of PR, we hope Philly2night.com and Renamity.com (redheaded Brian Nagele vs. Booberryish Anthony DiMeo III) ironed out their tiff-differences what with P2N sending out notes about Renamity's newsletter copying its letter's design. "Since we work in the nightlife industry, I guess we were drunk when we told Renamity they could use our design," went the note. "We can't remember doing so!" Either way, Nagele's note concludes, "If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then we're very flattered!" Atsanize.

It's Pink Floyd-meets-PJ Harvey time when Dan "Redbeard" Baker and Lora Bloom's Radio EriS returns after too long away. For this re-debut at Bar Noir May 1 not only will they spew poetry and artwork in a gallery setting: EriS'll welcome new drummer Ed Wilcox (Temple of Bon Matin, Bardo Pond) and coconspirators Lisa Sunshine, Justin Duerr and the Etheric Phoenix of Love.

Wednesday's Back to Basic's reunion at WCL didn't just offer ex-partners King Britt 'n' Dozia opportunities to pretend it was 1992. It brought out Philleee funk drumming compatriot Chuck D, finally sickness free (now we can kick his ass!!!), and acted as a pre-party for Xande Cruz's Afro-Brazilian Batukis Band's album release and da Sneaker Phreaks Boutique on South with art by Stacey Squarebiz Wilson. Dag.

We adore playing The Count (Undead? The Barnabys? www.philebrity.com/ ?p=2294. Wasn't that pre-Green River?) to the piles of bodies strewn about town. But one truly undying soul, David Carroll, celebrated his birthday by bringing Erika Schiff to the Tribeca Film Festival (he manages her; she's on the soundtrack to TLA Releasing's contribution Another Gay Movie) and contemplating buying the Monkey Bar. Ook ook.

Poetry monster Leonard Gontarek'll destroy you with his worrisome, lithesome words if his new Déjà vu Diner is any indication. May 1, 6:30 p.m., Free Library, Central Branch.

The Devil and Daniel Johnston opens Friday. Trenton-born director Jeff Feuerzeig told me his fave moment in the flick came at 3 a.m. on the last day of his film's shoot with Daniel doing an interpretive dance of his whole life including "the devil dance," "the Jackie Gleason" and "the straight jacket. It was awesome." See it already.

A.C. is buzzing after the sightings of Mike Myers and The Strokes hitting The Borgata's blackjack tables last weekend. No word on whether Casa-blancas and co. were there lobbying to be the next Ming Tea in Austin Powers 4. But you didn't see Matthew Sweet throwing 21.

When you see Gravy Thomas yanking off his shirt during the April 29 Tritone release party for Phil Moore Browne's latest chapter in dynamo zigaboo punk—the Motel Moore: Baggage Smashers EP—ask him about the solo poetry CD he's recording. He'll give you a big Vitaminwater kiss.

Chestnut Room, Walnut Room. Blah blah blah. We heard that not only did the Chestnut Room get new owners (from New Jersey), but that it's gone all cover bands. This probably means Jim Thorpe (an original partner in Grape Street) is getting out if he's not gone awweady. So we'll stick to the Walnut Room. Not just 'cuz they got Kanye West's golddigging DJ A-Trak with my best bud Cosmo Baker April 30. But 'cuz they have my other best bud Rahsaan spinning Saturday nights and Sunday La Rumba brunches.

As we speak, Philly photographer Scott Weiner and his cousin Spencer Gorman—a Fifth Street antiques dealer—are awaiting the results of the Howard Stern Film Festival and their piece of its $25,000 in cash and prizes. "I don't care about the money," says Weiner. "I just want to see it on On Demand." The movie? Rise, "the story of the persecution and resurrection of Howard," conceived while sharing a corned beef sandwich at Famous Deli; a story featuring strippers and members of the band 21 Against is a tale equitable to, in Weiner's words, The Passion of the Christ. He'll know and show—if he wins—immediately on April 27.

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)