Icepack

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

by A.D. Amorosi

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Published: May 12, 2010

For the both of you who still like your music on CDs, Tuesday has long been the equivalent of Friday in the movie business: release day. But when we're talking local music, albums either come out when the bassist gets back from Canada (cheaper rates up there) or Discmakers has a big sale. This is a good week for Philly, with no less than three lovely hometown acts dropping tracks with release parties to follow. The swell art-prog-pop trio that is Busses drops its eponymous debut with a nifty cardboard sleeve May 13 at the Khyber. Then there's Kevin Hanson's The Fractals, who cleverly/hopefully call their chunky-jazzy-catchy debut Heavy Rotation and drop it May 14 at Johnny Brenda's. It spins but never sits, that manic Fractals jawn. Lastly there's some rustic glam jam from Toy Soldiers which pops on May 15 at TLA. Whisper Down the Lane is the first MAD Dragon release under new boss Andy Hurwitz, who says of his stable: "We have so many great local records coming you won't ever have to leave town." He could be speaking for all of Philly's bands. Keep this up, boys-n-girls, and it'll be Brooklywha? (Bunny Sigler's new download "Philadelphia Burning," the thing that connects dots between the decades-old M.O.V.E. blaze and that Philly International headquarters fire, doesn't count. Too weird.)

► Done after three years is Swanky Bubbles' Cherry Hill location; the bros. Frankowski still have their original Old City spot. Done after six months (wow) is Chew Man Chu of Broad Street.

► Before DJ Lee Jones moves his Sundae party to Octo May 16 for its outdoor summer session, he wanted to clear a few things up since y'all been ringing his iPhone and fucking up his R.E.M.-sleep: Sundae won't be at Bubble House, Silk City or the Piazza this summer, and there'll be no Sundae reunion party at its first home, Le Jardin in Rittenhouse Square. Thank you.

► There're plenty of reasons to hit D'Angelo's Ristorante Italiano on South 20th that have zip to do with their spinach-n-ground veal cannelloni. Like its wow-worthy show-tuney, American standard-bearing open mic Tuesday with pianist Tom Adams and every great vocalist in Philly.

► City Paper Music Issue faves Post Post — they of sweet quirked-out pop from Bryn Mawr/Haverford college — have a busy seven days with a Sugar Town appearance (May 15 at Khyber, co-starring Rutgers' She Ends All) and showing at The Great Vibrations' backyard carnival (May 17, National Mechanics), where the bartenders will mix up "Grape Vibrations" just for the occasion.

► Remember when ?uestlove told Icepack first about The Roots’ upcoming CD collaborations AND a little something-something special with his pal, John Legend (citypaper.net/print-article.php?aid=21595)? Well, How I Got Over FINALLY got a release date from Def Jam (June 8) with its Legend-led songs “The Fire” and “Again” most prominent (like a first single maybe?). Cooler still: Thompson broke the news on The Roots’ teaming with Legend for his upcoming CD. The date changed from June to September, but the Legend album has a name (Wake Up — based on Harold Melvin’s song “Wake Up Everybody”), a concept (social protest covers from the ’60s and ’70s) and some titles to savor (Donny Hathaway’s “Little Ghetto Boy,” Les McCann/Eddie Harris’ “Compared to What,” Nina Simone’s hit “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free”). In more Roots news, Magnolia Pictures just snagged Night Catches Us, from director Tanya Hamilton, for release. That’s the Black Panther-in-Philly flick with Roots MC Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter and Anthony Mackie from The Hurt Locker.

➤ If I happen to smoke a joint after I leave Johnny Brenda’s, dag-nabbit if I don’t want a hot dog. Dapper Dog at Second and Poplar sounds like it’ll hit the spot Fridays and Saturdays, as they now stay open until after 2 a.m.

➤ After I mention Celebrity Boxing CEO Damon Feldman’s latest affair — Butch “Eddie Munster” Patrick at South Philly Bar and Grill’s arm wrestling/Strongest Man in Philly Contest May 13 — and close the door forever on last week’s escapade with Michelle Bombshell McGee (the longest worst waste of time in my life, and I was a meth head for years in the ’90s), I have to mention for the first time ever in this column Arthur Kade. This is the one time, kids. I can’t and won’t stoop lower again. Anyway, Philly’s epically saddest character was at the press conference for Bombshell and could be heard muttering something about how he couldn’t believe she was a bigger star than him to his self-held vid-camera. After the conference, Kade got the opportunity to say stupid things to McGee upon which she responded, “Does hair get stuck in your teeth when you go down on guys?” I got that last bit from Gawker, which got it from Kade’s own website. Blah.

➤ More encouraging WHOWHATWHERE: Damon Wayans hit the Palm after his book signing (Red Hats) at Borders Broad and Chestnut. (Comedian Jay Mohr is due there May 17 to sign No Wonder My Parents Drank.) After releasing her album with an Oprah Winfrey show appearance, Charice (the tiny queen of dance-pop with “Pyramid”) and producer David Foster hit QVC’s studios for a short set and a fan meet-n-greet. And today’s probably the last day to see Robert DeNiro filming his scenes for The Dark Fields. DeNiro was heard to have busted some DelFrisco’s glasses by accident during a shoot I mentioned on Monday. Days previous, there was a minor unplanned and unscripted auto accident when a cab swiped a minivan — both with New York state license plates — and knocked its mirror into pieces during a scene where Bradley Cooper vomits. Oy.

➤ She’s talked about it forever: Sarah Van Aken will offer private label manufacturing for band merch, restaurants and boutique owners who want their own label with V.A. Private Label, a garment production and manufacturing business. Check the deal at vaprivatelabel.com.

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)

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