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

by A.D. Amorosi

Before we get dippy 'n' bitchy, here's something serious I heard from Greg Weeks (we know him as a member of the Espers, a label owner and a producer at Hexham Head studio in the Wissanoming section). The story isn't just about Weeks, though. It's about other local artists who live and work toward the northern sections of town — like guitarist Eric Carbonara and such who own or rent homes and studios in Fishtown and Kensington. There's been a rash of what Weeks calls "hostile attacks on white 20- to 30-something males by middle- and high school kids" within the last month. The kids come in packs. The attacks are seemingly random and unprovoked with kids first yelling things like "faggot" and "tight ass jeans," then going in for what Weeks calls "an epidemic of violence" that feels like someone enforcing "random street law." On separate occasions, Weeks has had stuff thrown at him and been sucker-punched. Carbonara was clothes-lined off his bike, then kicked in the face and ribs. Other artists have told Weeks of their travails. And things only seem to be getting worse and weirder. "It's fucked up and extremely troubling. Someone should do a story on it before people start dying." Hopefully I will soon, Greg. Until then, after then — y'all be careful.

► When Dave Pianka isn't busy Snacking or Making Time, he manages to DJ solo. And he's doing that at O.N.E. at Rittenhouse, July 18. It ain't Berlin. But it's dark, Dave.

► Only a rumor, but a fun one: Could Eddie Vedder, who name-checked J.C. Dobbs at last month's Pearl Jam concert, be looking into a solo show at the reborn Dobbs Aug. 12?

► The wrapping came off Stephen Starr's glittery Parc at Rittenhouse Square over the weekend. Starr Restaurants director of creative services Randi Sirkin said of the Philly-Parisian bistro, "It's a place that's been through a hundred lives." Adds Starr: "I think this is the most significant opening I've had in four or five years." This from a guy who opened Buddakan and Morimoto in Manhattan and is opening Teplitzky's coffee shop and Chelsea Prime steak haus in Atlantic City by July's end.

► National Mechanics is doing the cutest Project Runway party every Wednesday. They'll screen the hot tranny mess and get contestants (that's you) to dress up Barbie dolls in whatever Heidi 'n' Tim ask of their televised charges. While we're on the subject: We see from Philly's Jay McCarroll's blog (jaymccarroll.wordpress.com) that he's doing a series of T-shirts for the always-wonderful Alex's Lemonade Stand. And while we can't ever lend enough support to pediatric cancer charities, I also can't help but think that Jay's timed his goodness to go with the start of Project Runway's fifth season — for him and for Alex.

► Hey B.J. Ellis and your N Crowd improv troupe: You're doing two weeks' worth o' Monday Night Club LiveArts/FringeFest work-in-progress events for your upcoming Hoppers Hit the Road musical about home-schooled brothers in Ocean City July 21 and July 28 at the Balcony. Bravo (hopperbrothers.com).

Philadelphia Area Music Podcast Hosted by
Jon Solomon

Local Support 063
Mtn. High | Fred Martin | Sola | And The Moneynotes | Busses | Gang | Ponieheart | Astral Archetype | Andrew Keller | The Silence Kit | Persona | Newton | Prophecies Of War | The Emotron | Aderbat | Jukebox Zeros

Local Support Home Page

It's free. Subscribe.
Get on it.

► A tale of two Da Vincis: While Sonny DeCarlo and Francesco Parmisciano just opened Da Vinci, an Italian BYOB at 1533 S. 11th St. (Tre Scalini's first home) at Passyunk, Da Vinci Art Alliance at Seventh and Catharine streets celebrates the gallery/foundation's 77th anniversary with a fundraising dinner and silent auction, with readings by Carl Johnson and Ronnie G. aka Norpell — a true troublemaker who used to run with the Warhol crew — July 26. Get tix here: davinciartalliance.org.

► WHOWHATWHERE: So what if the Gay & Lesbian Film Fest gave a Midnight Cowboy 40th anniversary party at Nineteen and none of the advertised stars came? Cowboy producer Jerome Hellman showed and hung with the nicely embalmed Patrick Stoner. And besides, Nineteen's getting ready to open all of its balcony spaces for high-up outdoor supping. Lou Gossett's cousin Robert Gossett from The Closer liked Philly so much during his promotional stay at Ritz-Carlton, he stuck around three more days. When Van Morrison hit the Tower for a two-day stint, he hosted Philly rockabilly god Charlie Gracie and the rest of the Gracie clan at the Four Seasons.

► One of us: Congrats to CP political columnist/film director Mary Patel, who sold Electile Dysfunction, the film she made with Joe Barber, to Canoga Park, Calif., film distributor Cinema Libre for DVD and Netflix distribution in September. That's when she'll hopefully start work on her feature/thriller flick with Mark Webber, Ethan Hawke and Vincent Gallo.

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)