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Archive: November, 2011
Our resident DJ on his most boogie-worthy pick of the week.
WHO: Matty G, Cotti, Conscious Pilot, Penpal, Mjollnir and IQMC
WHAT: Bass music and dubstep continues to dominate the club world, and this massive 18-plus throwdown will show you why. Seraph presents this party featuring OGs Matty G and Cotti, representing the U.S. West Coast and UK, respectively. Expect a healthy dose of up-front dub-plate pressure and exciting sounds that will rumble your body and mind.
WHEN & WHERE: Sat., Nov. 19, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., $15-$20, Starlight Ballroom, 460 N. Ninth St., 267-765-5210, ticketfly.com.
WHY: The soundsystem at this venue is mad proper. It'll show you how music like this is supposed to be heard and felt.
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Devoted poet/avid concert-goer/nerd-grrrl extraordinaire Jane Cassady's weekly horoscopes run in this space every Friday morning.
Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 22): You are as comforting and comforted as snuggling on the couch in front of Mystery Science Theatre 3000: the gentle rhythm of time-capsule jokes, the Zen of B-movie (Or C- or D-Movie) framing, silly and soft as breath.
Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 22): Last weekend, I got the following fortune cookie, and it reminded me of you: “You will be spending time outdoors, in the mountains, near water.” The coming weeks will be like that, exactly like an advertisement for being alive. Collect lots of leaves and luck, and keep them.
There isn't a definitive guide for do-it-yourself publishing. Nor is there a check list to run through, or an agenda that must be met. To cite a tired cliché, its open to interpretation. For instance, last week's Philly Zine Fest looked at what happens inside the pages. However, content is only part of the equation, and on Saturday the other half will be represented as the Philadelphia Center for the Book present Book, Paper, Scissor, a daylong affair that turns the focus outward and celebrates the art form of book construction. So instead of leaflets devoted to the zaniness of '80s hair metal, expect more along the lines of fine bound versions of classic bits of literature.
Now in its fifth year, thirty artists from Pennsylvania, New York, Jersey, and abroad will gather at the main branch of the Free Library to celebrate the medium they pursue. Among the occupiers will be Purgatory Pie Press, run by Dikko Faust and Esther K. Martin. Based out of New York, this husband and wife duo run the full gamut of DIY book art production — Faust handles the printmaking aspect while Martin undertakes the labor of designing and, in some cases, hand-sewing the books together.
Other outfits expected to be on hand include Tara O'Brien's imprint, Ink Fish, which specializes in ambitious leather-bound efforts, as well as Black Heart Letterpress (pictured), a group that utilizes a 1920s letter press to create greeting cards, coasters, prints and etc ...
Also lined up for Saturday are workshops for young and old alike. A game called Hidden Books is geared toward the teen/adult crowd, serving as an introductory lesson on how to construct your own books. For the little ones there will be a pop-up book demonstration just in time for the holidays.
Sat., Nov. 19, free, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Free Library, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St., philadelphiacenterforthebook.org.
Curious about high concert ticket prices? Ticket Masters: The Rise of the Concert Industry and How the Public Got Scalped is for you. It’s at Drexel U’s Mitchell Auditorium in the Bossone Research Center (3140 Market St.) Nov. 17, 7 p.m. They’ll hold a scholarly panel discussion on the evolution of pricey concert ticketing with Tom Moon (ex-Philadelphia Inquirer music columnist who never had to pay for a ticket in his life hahaha), R5’s Sean Agnew, Josh Baron, co-author of the hot new book Ticket Masters and an editor at Relix, David Cooper, founder of Pearl Jam tour ticketing, and Jim McCafferty, ticketing director of The Mann. No guest list. Sike. It’s free.
Sarah Van Aken of Van Aken sustainable material custom design just started designing and manufacturing uniforms for the newly opened likes of Il Pittore (long white apron with draw strings, red stitching and signature initials) and Sbraga (long green aprons with satin twill ties and drawn tree branches) amongst other local restaurants. Why shouldn’t Van Aken have someone to rep her brand? Now she does. Top Chef’s Jennifer Carroll — late of 10 Arts — is the new (and first) Van Aken Signature Brand Ambassador. Carroll will talk up Van Aken’s specialty uniform program while Sarah custom designs a Jennifer Carroll by Van Aken custom chef coat and apron. Surely a Jen Carroll doll is next.
Speaking of some of the above, we know every one is too thrilled that the long discussed new Stephen Starr fish spot Route 6 on North Broad is opening Nov. 18 (just changed from its original Nov. 17 date). But what about that old old Starr restaurant with partner/chef Chris Painter — Il Pittore of Sansom Street — that opened, what, 10 days ago? If you haven’t been, the delectably austere classic white linen spot still has a rustic feel (love the open natural light of the front window on the second floor as well as the skylight) There’s a towering wine list of course of which I believe I tried seven or so. Slurp. And Painter’s cuisine — elegant and epic. Above all else, I dug the handmade duck angelloti pasta, the herb-crusted chicken with chicken sausage wrapped in cabbage (just enough mustard and fennel), the slow roasting suckling piggy and the potted foie gras served with herbed pizelles and Lambrusco and Prosecco jellies. Num num num num.
The Roots left Philadelphia in 1987 to make music and accomplish their dreams. Now, twenty-four years later, the Grammy-winning hip-hop group is giving back to the community that nurtured them through a teamup with the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. The collabo will feature a collection of murals that honors the band’s legacy and introduces young people to the larger world of art-making. The eight month “Roots Mural Project” will illustrate the success story of two young Philadelphians, Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson.
The idea for the project was spawned when ?uestlove narrated the Albert and Greenfield Foundation’s “African American Iconic Images Collection” in January 2010. Jane Golden from the Mural Arts Program comments on the process, “When we asked [The Roots], they didn’t want it to be PR or about themselves. It would represent a broader concept: who are The Roots, what do they stand for and what are their values.” What are those values? Their legacy, Golden adds, is that The Roots are pioneers and role models who represent Philly while making an impact in the music industry. More importantly, the collaboration aims to answer the question to other aspiring artists: How can we make an imprint on this world?
That’s where you come in. The Mural Arts Program, which serves 1000 kids a year, is seeking a multidisciplinary team of painters, writers and visual artists. This opportunity has the potential to involve hundreds, if not thousands of individuals to participate in the mural-making process. Other positions include working on the official website and spreading the word through social media. As a gift to Philadelphians, the project will be a reminder that people should always dream big.
To get involved, visit muralarts.org. But hurry! The deadline is Mon., Nov. 21.
(mara.model@citypaper.net) (@maramodel)
Photo from antennamag.com
Learning is fundamental — not just to the student but to the teacher. Take Rashida Holmes. One of the 
principle spinners for Philly’s Girls’ DJ crew participated in the Ladies’ Rock Camp weekend in February 2011 where she got smitten by a live drum kit sitting in a corner. Fast forward a month or two and Holmes is taking drum lessons with Cheshire Agusta, drummer with West Philly’s one-and-only Stinking Lizaveta. During one of their sessions, Holmes and Agusta discussed the idea that Lizaveta, in readying its next album, wanted to record in Chicago again. The Liz’s history has found the metal bangers in the studio with Steve Albini at his Chicago Electrical studio — this time the lucky producer would be Sanford Parker at Volume Studios in Chicago. So they’re looking to hit the Kickstarter route and enlist its audience and friends in getting them to the Windy City. While I don’t always get mushy about Kickstarter campaigns, this one that involves a Philly recording legend, another blue collar town and some potentially great noise for what should be Stink Liz’s seventh album. I’m in. Hit it.
“It’s usually not so crowded here!” was overheard inside the plain white art gallery walls of PhilaMOCA last night. Everyone wanted to spend a Monday night sweating with San Francisco’s Thee Oh Sees.
The night before the release of their second full length of the year, Carrion Crawler/The Dream (In the Red), guitarist/vocalist John Dwyer and keyboardist/tambourinist Brigid Dawson, who made a witch getup look angelic before the show, shared double duties and couldn’t have been more amped. Petey Dammit! held down the rhythm guitar role while Mike Shoun made up half of the double-drumming with newest member Lars Finberg (also frontman of The Intelligence). Combined, they created dense, but never muddled sonics that moved the crowd from start to set finish. Dwyer, a frontman with an insurmountable aura and energy blasted through Oh Sees’ flagship “Block of Ice,” from 2008’s The Master’s Bedroom Is Worth Spending a Night In and “Meat Step Lively” stomped off of Help. Everyone already knew “Carrion Crawler” because of all the blog buzz. But it was Warm Slime’s “I Was Denied” that turned the crowd into a raucous scene of sweat-sharing. Even the floor received its fair portion of the fluid. Thee Oh Sees tight setup, especially for having two drummers — that didn’t disappear — lured everyone to the front of the already small space as if the band was playing amongst the punk rock congregation, not to them.
Tourmate, Total Control, brought lead guitar noise with dissonant post-punk synth buzz from dow under off their August release, Henge Beat. They, just like opening act Pinelands, had to ask to bring the audience closer, but then were awarded with plenty of nodding heads. Pinelands’ simple, one man band of bass drum pounding, guitar strumming and vocals that reverbed off the charts. “Hey everyone, my mom’s here,” he shared at mid set point. She just flashed a sheepish smile and waved.
The deadline was supposed to be yesterday, but since we have a little more time before we gotta get the submissions into the hands of celebrity judge Art Baxter, we decided to extend the deadline. Now you have until this Monday, Nov. 21, at midnight. If you were on the fence, this is your second chance. C'mon, Philly comics creators, show us what you've got.
Each week, Francesca Crozier-Fitzgerald puts together a rundown of book-centric events that’ll keep you “lit” like a firecracker all week long.
[Tuesday]
➤ R. Eric Thomas has requested Your Friendship
R. Eric Thomas (pictured), playwright and oral storyteller, is banking on the fact that we are trapped in a web of social network-
masked awkwardness. You know what he’s talking about: the Facebook instant message that looms unanswered or the wall post that you accidentally “like” on a wall you shouldn’t be stalking (i.e. high-school enemy, secret crush). Join Eric in his exploration of this universal tale, and “like” him on Facebook after the show. 7-8 p.m., $15, Khyber Upstairs, 56 S. Second St., firstpersonarts.org.
[Wednesday]
➤ Freelancers Anonymous
Attention, journalists of Philadelphia: Learn how to pitch, publish and profit from your freelance endeavors, because the way things are going in the biz, you’re going to have to get it right. The pitch will soon be as valuable as the product, if it isn’t already. Freelance journalist Sally Friedman will discuss her methods of marketing, her own work and the practical strategy behind the art of freelance. 11 a.m., Free Library, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St., 215-686-5322, freelibrary.org.
[Thursday]
➤ Two Mo’ Weeks
If you are capable of growing facial hair and haven’t transformed that stubble into an impressively lush handlebar ‘stache yet, you have two more weeks to be part of the Movember Movement. In honor of raising men’s health awareness, men across the world have been growing their whiskers and collecting cash. It’s no secret that the more outrageous the trim, the more money is earned. Use these last two weeks of the month to try out new styles with tips from mustache shape and style guide, Sweet ‘Stache. Inside you’ll find “50 Badass Mustaches and the Faces that Sport them.” Before your morning shave, free, in front of bathroom mirror.
[Friday]
- Activism
- Arts
- Arts Events
- Books
- Dance
- First Person Fest
- Last Chance
- Museum
- On the Fringe
- Philly Artists
- The Curator
- Theater
- Visual Art
- Arts News
- Artist Profile
- Arts Preview
- Street Art
- Been There, Done That
- Big Ups
- Comedy
- LOL With It
- Stand-up
- Critical Mass
- DVD
- Events
- Friday Fill-in
- Ice Cubes
- In Memoriam
- Interview
- Just Do It
- Just Opened
- Kaleidoscopic
- LGBTQ
- Art Phag
- Mailbag
- Movies
- Film Fest
- Movie Review
- On set
- Scenester
- screening
- trailer!
- Music
- 10 Track Mind
- Album
- Album Review
- Concert Review
- DJs
- Local Support
- Now Hear This
- One Track Mind
- Philly Bands
- Show
- Somebody Else Was There
- Song
- The Showdown
- concert photos
- jazz
- DJ Nights Blogged
- Night Watch
- Now See This
- Poetic License
- Printed Matter
- Radio
- Shopping
- Coveted
- Fashion
- What We Heart
- TV
- 24
- Idol Hands
- Mad Men
- ProjRun
- True Blood
- Useless Lost Recaps
- Couch Potato
- Shore Trash
- Turned ONN
- TopMod
- Video Games
- Free Online Game
- PSP
- PlayStation 2
- The 1-Upper
- Wii
- Web Junk
- CAGE MATCH
- Free Online Toy
- Weekend Omnibus
- Win
