Back in the day, The Warehouse (1030 N. Delaware Ave.) was a top recording studio. Led Zeppelin laid down tape; so did Madonna, Bon Jovi, The Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff, Bon Jovi and, yes, Skid Row. Things were a-happening at The Warehouse in Day-Glo-'80s fashion until lo-fi got to be de rigueur. Now Steve Meranus and Mike Gendler of EBE Events & Entertainment have taken it over and created a new 3,000-square-feet hall for weddings and private parties. "We kept the soul of the original space intact while allowing guests to express their individual style," says Meranus. The Warehouse at EBE offers bar mitzvah and bachelorette party attendees a dramatic bells-and-whistles, state-of-the-art spot. Did any of the old recording artists leave junk behind? "We found record sleeves and awards that are now hanging in our place from Will [Smith], Dave Matthews and more," says Gendler. Man, I was hoping for studded bracelets and drug paraphernalia.
Things should be steaming at Little Bar Feb. 25 with locals you haven't heard much from in a minute. Dr. Ketchup has matured into a modally tuned acidic jazz ensemble, while Julia Rainer's grown from goth-folk to arch and sultry rock. Each has been absent since autumn. Irene Barajagala joins the fun with sword dancing.
Karen Gross is a queen of sophisticated cabaret with a naughty streak. Think Andrea Marcovicci with a kink. Gross' next Black Cat Cabaret at Tin Angel is getting frisky. "I have burlesque star Annie A-Bomb, the hilariously sex-ed-up Chlamydia dell'Arte and Philly Sketchfest-er Dave Terruso," says Gross, who'll bring her smoky voice and sassy humor to the Angel Feb. 24.
Action on the set of the new M. Night Shyamalan movie After Earth: So far, Garces Restaurant Group and Starr catering have made daily treks to Chester Township's Sun Center Studios and the read-through cast. Tech tip: AE is the first feature to use the Sony F65 digital camera as well as being Shyamalan's first digi-film.
A movie of a different sort will hit Johnny Brenda's Feb. 25 when Philly's eerie-pop group Buried Beds do a release gig for their Small Stories EP and accompanying Nate Johnson-directed flick. "All of the songs are performed live and in different locations around the grounds of the Lemon Hill mansion in Fairmount Park," says Bed-head Eliza Jones. "We had to come up with different arrangements to be able to pull it off in the great outdoors and had lots of friends banging on drums and running around with sparklers." Spinto Band's Nick Krill engineered the day's recording — capturing Beds' music and the sounds of the river, bees and traffic — and won Spinto an opening slot at the show.
There's more ice right now at Critical Mass.
