October 21–28, 1999

icepack

by a.d. amorosi

If David Bowie had recorded "electronica" precursors Heroes andLow in a Poconos hilltop hotel room as opposed to dank Berlin before the wall dropped, it would sound like thework of Rick Henderson. Since 1994, singer/guitarist/keyboard-sampler guy Henderson has brought breezy, airy,dark ambience to pop in both band formation — Emma (with Dean McNulty and Ed Farnsworth) andEltro (with Diana Prescott, Jorge Sandini and Ted Johnson) — and with new solo projectsThe Wayward Wind and City of Horns. Henderson, who just released Emma’s Garden City 44(Schwa-Disk), quickly dispatches the differences. "Emma is pop songs with a great rhythm section. Eltro is popsongs with an electronic rhythm section. The Wayward Wind is pop songs, inept rhythm section, and City of Horns is nosongs and no rhythm section." Funny, yes. And apt. But Henderson takes his odd, almost sinister, approach to popvery seriously. He started making ambient-type music in the early ’80s, long before he joined any bands or did anysinging. With Emma, which came together in ’94, he had never played electric guitar in public before and wasintrigued by the idea of adopting a power trio format without a traditional lead guitarist: a powerless trio. "Overtime we’ve eliminated a lot of the aggression and ‘rock’ quotient that the early material had in favor ofa quieter, more restrained approach with occasional outbursts of loudness," says Henderson of GardenCity’s (and all Emma’s recorded work) ambience integrated into a pop music context. "But we’vealways contained plenty of atmosphere." Mixed at Cycle Sound, Garden is a surrealist world of energy andcalm, floating melting sounds. But left to his own devices, Henderson gets quieter, as his Wayward Wind projectDrenched & Drained (now in mastering phase) shows. This vocal music is Emma’ shoegazing pastoral cousin,a narcotic nosedive into amniotic pop. "The intention was always to create vocal-based pieces, songs and not justinstrumentals." But most intriguing is his City of Horns, which’ll show itself at the Rotunda, at 4012 WalnutSt. on Oct 22. "It’s a chance for myself and others to perform music that wouldn’t really work too wellin a "rock bar format," says Henderson of his Drift Night gig. This music may be informed by Roedelius and Enobut Henderson’s vision of wallpaper music — which may appear on two CD releases by early 2000 — is lovelyand original, determined enough to crawl up your spine. Henderson sees himself lurching back and forth betweenEmma-style pop and City of Horns-type ambience — "Frankenstein-like, until every fragile object in thevicinity is broken and useless. In the next few months I plan to go clumsily into the minimal techno arena as well, thenattempt to combine all three into an unlistenable mess." We’ll be there.…

Staying ambient, Josh Wink and King Britt are starting up The Womb again — their Ovum label partynight — Wed., Oct. 27, at Fluid, continuing each last Wednesday of the month.…

What was the worst event of last weekend? The implosion of the Towers at 13th and Bainbridge or Howard Sternnoisemaker Fred Norris’ King Norris Band at Clementon, NJ’s Cherrywood Lounge.…

Look for DJ Willyum’s Urban Rhythms every Thursday at Love Lounge. The night is all about deephouse and spotlights liquidy faves Kevin V (who runs da Web at Philly Soul Collective), Willyum and CarlMichaels, along with special guests. Thursdays also look good for The Groove, a slow-funking ram jam consisting ofpoetry readings, live music and an array of singers, dancers and comics, hosted by Tiffany Bacon from Power99’s Inner

City and Devon Hampton of Loud Records. The once-secretive party is now an open house, every Thursday at 7p.m., BlueStarRecording Studio, 10th and Hamilton ($12, unlimited alcoholic beverages, 215-701-7114).…

Last week Live Bait’s second-floor dance space — spun by DJ Fierce, made sick by Frank CipriottiJr.’s manic-panic personality — opened again, giving Old City reason to fear.…

Philly cosmetic world divas Patrice Caldwell and Christina Calzaretto are bringing the runway to thehighway at their too-groovy Elizabeth Arden makeover jam, From Milan To Main Street, at Strawbridges, Eighth andMarket, starting Oct. 26. I know some of you women and drag queens need this. "We’ll interpret thisseason’s runway trends for the real world," says goddess Caldwell. Get in touch with your inner model: Call215-629-6000, ext. 258, for an appointment. Speaking of inner models, happy b-day to Distante’s JimmyGlenn.…

Odd gig o’ the week goes to Upstairs at Nick’s Oct. 23 gathering of soulman Wesley Willis, theJapo-pop-sounding Today Is My Super Hot Space Day and Big Lazy, the NYC noir-pop outfit that had to changetheir name from Lazy Boy because the chair company was gonna sue them.

Got some good gossip or nightlife news? Call the Icepack tipline: 215-735-8444, ext. ICE.