AGENDA

Icepack

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


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Published: Mar 17, 2010

You'll see The Runaways (see Shaun Brady's review) and wonder what the chicks from Twilight and I Am Sam are doing wearing shags in an un-ironic fashion. They're acting — playing Joan Jett and Cherie Currie of The Runaways, the first all-girl punk band that bud David Carroll brought to his sold-out Hot Club in 1978, and the Tower Theater in '79 with the Ramones and the Jam. "Joan was the big mahaff, being from Upper Darby and I loved their drummer, Sandy West," notes Carroll. "She used to have to climb into her kit like a soapbox derby driver." Carroll owned other punk-ish hot spots, from Artemis to Bar Noir most recently. Nowadays, he's trying his hand as entertainment director at Brownie's 23 East in Ardmore, after Harlequin LLC purchased the 450-person capacity venue. Maybe Carroll'll get a Runaways reunion. Ch-ch-ch-cherrybaamb.

► Down the road, Tommy Joyner's MilkBoy (recording studio, coffeehaus) and Craig Kaplan's All Star PR firm merged and got Liscio's Bakery as its first client. Bon appetit.

► Andy Hurwitz just took control of MarBar booking in West Philly — only to dump it. "Just not comfortable," he says. Whatabout his takeover as A+R guy at Drexel's MAD Dragon label? He's signing locals such as Toy Soldiers, Black Landlord, West Philadelphia Orchestra, Kuf Kutz and more with a full slate of CDs starting in May, and new albums each month through December. "Is this not the most Philadelphia label?" exclaims Hurwitz. I think so.

► Philly Style's (m)ad man Noah Stein is now the mag's associate publisher, leaving John Colabelli to wear the ascots. Congrats.

► The vacant Hamburger Mary's venue on Chestnut finally found a user. Stay tuned.

► Hoagy Wing and Steph Hayes have zip in common, save for good grooves. This week, they're sharing two bills: March 24's soiree at the Troc with Hayes' duet-band with Mia Johnson and The Jass (Wing plus Dena Miranda). Then there's Ladies Only (March 29) at National Mechanics with Wing playing percussion for Victoria Spaeth, Hayes' solo jawn, Vitamin D and Lisa Bouchelle, the former CP busking issue champ whose new CD drops the next day. Oh, guess who else is on that March 24 Troc bill: My Music Issue guitar-slinging cover guy, Jef Lee Johnson. JLJ wasn't supposed to be around in March. He was recording with George Duke in Hollywood, and readying to go on Duke's Euro-tour until May when he suddenly got sick — hospital sick — and had to come home. Don't fear, Jef's better and will hit the road with Duke in April.