Icepack

Amorosi on the news, nightlife, gossip and bitchiness beats.

by A.D. Amorosi

Imay not be gay. But when it comes to National Coming Out Month and my boys are concerned, come on out. It's a sausage fest. Like: He may not be gay. But German expat Dean "Swag68" Rosenzweig — guitarist for 66 Under, Cream Chargers, Catnip — left Philly because he won acclaim for his paintings: the broken bold colors/heavy text thing a la Francesco Clemente fisting Basquiat. So, he's in a Berlin garret, painting, when the next thing you know, he's playing guitar in the glam-tech-waltz sensation IAMX and they blow up across Europe and the UK with The Alternative and Kiss + Swallow and the single "Spit it Out." Those titles are so gay, it rawks. "IAMX is a Trojan horse," says Dean from Vienna, where the wieners are schnitzelicious. What about North Star Oct. 15 — your first time back with IAMX's Sneaker Pimp Chris Corner? "Coming home'll be like any night with IAMX — a war and a circus." That's paint thinner talking. Next: Evan Gusz may not be gay. But he's got a sweet hookup: DJing the Balcony, doing PR at Reel Indie Records and Clothes. Before he got that gig, I heard execs from Miskeen who own Dr. Denim got disgruntled when they ran into their ex-fash designer Raheem Johnson (now with Reel Indie's skurban Collection) at MAGIC in Vegas. Despite having no contract, Miskeen felt Johnson shouldn't work elsewhere. "They were cursing, making a scene on the floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center," says our spy. Not nice. What's nice is Boxer, Reel Indie's first act. The band formerly known as Superhero rocks hard and melodic — XTC meets Fall Out Boy — with a singer, Chris Gallagher, who's got a Morrissey mope. Love that. They got paisans in Boxer's ring: Schoolly D (who may show Oct. 16 when Boxer play the Balcony) rapping on tracks, and Ian Cross producing Boxer's 11-song EP. Next: MoonFire Tower might not be gay. Wait. Actually he is — bi at least. But he's delighted to be sober and back in Philly. Moonie's recording at a rechristened Life House (ex-Sonic Studio, 1030 Columbus Blvd.), where he'll hold weekly Tuesday performance salons — Life Jamz TV Open Mics — with producer T-Life (Evelyn "Champagne" King) and pal Keith Brand (WXPN) starting Oct. 16. "I won't do these shows in nightclubs — you're an alcohol pusher," says MoonFire. After Life Jamz, hit his home at 611 S. Fourth to dance to Moonfire-tunes and dig sculptures he does as "Bryce LeVan Cushing."

► WHOWHATWHERE: Rosario Dawson and Mark Webber wrapped Explicit Ills by supping at Rae. In town filming Lovely Bones, Ryan Gosling noshed at Bertucci's in Wayne PA. So packed was da Lounge at La Veranda's b-day bash for Black Thought (?uestlove, Erykah Badu) that when Big Daddy Kane got to the door owner Anthony Cardillo wouldn't let Kane in until another patron left. "One in, one out," said Ant'ny. No exceptions.

► Lee Jones' sensational Sundae brunch house jam at Bubble House moves to La Veranda Oct. 21. "We'll be wintering at Pier 3, complete with epic sunset views," says Jones, who's due to do some Vango-ing soon. Mo' presto change-o: Green Line Café is opening a GLC2 at 45th and Locust across from Abyssinia. Why? More scones. Plus, GLC2 will highlight live music — soft electronic/acoustic/improv fare — so GLC1 can concentrate on coffee klatch-ing. Expect Sherman Arts/Rich Wexler to get way involved, booking a lion's share. Also doing a 2 — undercover until now — is Big Jar Books, whose Patrick Richardson Graham readies BJ2, 709 S. Fourth, for October's end while BJ1 on N. Second celebrates 10 years.

► Y'know, that sweet eponymous debut of Kevin Michael is out. "Phil a del phi a" from phillycars.com ain't on it. But it's swellegant. His big fro's on the cover. And see his video at www.mcdlive.com from Washington Avenue where they busted ODB. 

► The pushiest nu-Philly band — dear but deadly Hermit Thrushes — play 5 p.m. at the Fire with Pattern is Movement, Oct. 15. Go. They'll bug you if you don't.

► Koresh Dance turns 15 with a $100-a-ticket bash Oct. 13 at its 2020 Chestnut school. Gift Roni K with hairbands and kisses.

HALF OFF DEPOT

Why live life at full price?

► Did you know? Do you care? Stopped by Whiskey Dix's Rock Paper Scissors Classic after Bruuuce on Saturday only to find it canceled — the Dix closed due to landlord probs. We hear it's only temporary. Like herpes.

► George Manney's Rufus Harley bagpipe bio-pic Pipes of Peace gets its Philly debut Oct. 13 (2 p.m.) at Seventh and Arch's African-American Museum.

► If you don't love Philly photog Geoff Hall or feel his financial plight (violently assaulted, he), you're a jerkoff. Bunnydrums' Marc Laurick, Skip Heller and Mose Giganticus host a Tritone benefit Oct. 13.

► Miss busking beauty Lisa Bouchelle (touring with Blues Traveler in October) at her Suburban Station outpost? She's on the CW network's Gossip Girl (Oct. 17) playing a waitress. There'll be more Gossip for Lisa.

► After Saturday's Starlight/Polaris tragedy, look for R5 to move plenty of Starlight bookings to the Troc/Balcony ASAP. No word which gigs.

► Get scared: Terror Film Fest commences Oct. 16-21 at the Adrienne with French people (Laurent Fabre, Bacchus), Bobby Evans' producing pal Bobby Logan (F Troop) and Philly's Leo Rossi (who'll bring his Diamond Zero with Joan Van Ark: too frightening). Jillian "Princess Horror" Peters, TFF's goddess/Quirky Pic's producer, says it's as spooky as it is sexy. More info: 215-569-9700 or www.terrorfilmfestival.net.

► A sad fond farewell to two crucial local scenesters: the just late, always great Shawn Tierney (managed She Males, Mama Volume and Dandelion; helped Chris Schwartz open Ruff House) and rockabilly Tommy Gallagher.

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)