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Archive: April, 2010
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4. Tullycraft, "Fall 4 U" I have a feeling the opening keyboard riff was swiped right from the concert scene in Revenge of the Nerds, but I don't wanna look it up and find out I'm wrong. It would just make so much sense for this adorable little bedroom pop song, with its girl-boy vocals (Jen Abercrombie and Sean Tollefson) and jingle-worthy melody. "Dusty couldn't blame us/ we were young and indie famous still/ not enough to save us from our fear of heights/ You know they might call it a gamble/ or an Oklahoma scramble/ we left the basement in a shamble on those summer nights." God, it feels like it's been centuries.
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Monday: Unfortunately, The Mary Onettes are not an underground doo-wop girl band. Fortunately, though, they are Swedish indie poppers who make sweet, drifting music. The lyrics are whatevs, but they're easy to tune out and listen to the sounds of the light and airy strings and chimes. At 9 p.m., $12, Mar Bar (above Marathon Grill), 40th & Walnut sts., 215-222-0100. Tuesday: Timid Roosevelts showcase female vocals with a soft quirkiness. It's not just about cuteness, there's a no-nonsense edge to the guitars and the vocals. They're all over the place with touches of kookiness and lyrics of serious proportions. The most impressive thing is the super solid female presence. With S.T.O.P. and Vitamin Cheese, $8, The Manhattan Room, 15 W. Girard Ave., 215-739-5577. Wednesday: Locals Arc in Round will be churning out ambience-sans-pretension. Their music is considered experimental, though it's a safe try this one — goggles and all. They don't try anything much crazier than indie pop sounds mixed with '90s alt rock. With True Womanhood and Oh! Pears, 8 p.m., $5 - $10, Danger Danger Gallery, 5013 Baltimore Ave. Thursday: The New Pornographers won't actually be at Kung Fu Necktie tonight, but you can still hear their new music. The new album, Together, is the Canadian indie darlings' fifth, and is due out May 4. But why wait? You can get yourself fancy and go to tonight's listening party. At 7:30, free, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 215-291-4919. Friday: Quasi are immediately reminiscent of Ben Folds with the nasally whine and lovesick songs driven by ivory keys. But Quasi are less inhibited than Benny Boy. They walk the dangerous line between manic fun and straight up Helter Skelter. With Let's Wrestle, 9 p.m., $12, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684. Saturday: One of the Illadelph's favorite local hip hoppers — aside from some Roots band, whoever they are - is Black Landlord. Sexy, soulful and, based on their song "Gimme," they're greedy, too. They're sure to please with a show full of high energy, kinky lyrics and brotherly love. Go congratulate MC Maxx Stoyanoff-Williams on his Dancing with the Philadelphia Stars win! With Kilroy and The Bronze, 9:30, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684. Sunday: London's Hot Chip provides the soundtrack for the dance party of the century. Or at least the dance party of 2010. The loop-filledelectro beats and lovey-dovey lyrics are enough to make any set of feet uncontrollably happy. Plus they're playing with Philly/Jersey flip-floppers and dance demons, Memory Tapes. With The Memory Tapes, 8 p.m., $30, TLA, 334 South St., 215-922-1011.
CH: Carolyn Huckabay PR: Patrick Rapa HO: Holly Otterbein ME: Molly Eichel
Where We Went:
—Caught BalletX's spring show Friday night at the Wilma; was particularly enamored by Myra Bazell and Monica Favand's reprise of Carry Me, a duet about parents and children and how their roles reverse over time. Also loved UArts grad Lauren Putty's piece, and had to admit being pleased that vests are unflattering on everyone, even tiny dancers. —CH
—Went on a weekend trip to NYC, and stopped into the New Museum. The main exhibit was "Skin Fruit: Selections from the Dakis Joannou Collection," a hodgepodge of different artists' works on ... well ... the apocalypse and war and dead presidents and sexuality and road trips and women and masturbation and etc. And dicks. There were lots of dicks. I highly recommend going to the show. —HO
—Headed to Oaks, Pa., for Philly's Go Green Expo (an eco-conscious trade show you have to drive to ... OK) and checked out the Good Housekeeping Research Institute bubble, er, tent, where, among other strange "tests," if you pressed a button, you immediately started catching whiffs of chocolate chip cookies baking. This kept me occupied for a good five minutes. —CH
—Saturday was Record Store Day, so while hanging out in Jerz for my Aunt Maryann's birthday, I dropped by part music store/part coffee shop Groove Grounds in Collingswood. Canadian Invasion was outside rocking out. Inside, I picked up that split seven inch by Stephin Merritt and Peter Gabriel. Each covers the other (Merritt: "Not One of Us." Gabriel: "Book of Love"). I'll either listen to it or lord it over my music nerd pals. —PR
—Saturdays at Westy's Tavern (1440 Callowhill St.) is my favorite karaoke spot. Pretension doesn't exist here, nor do bullshit ironic versions of songs people are too embarrassed to admit to legitimately loving. Also: more country. Ran into a drunk copy editors convention. Who new the grammar set liked to party so hard? —ME
What We Watched:
—I peeped ODDSAC at the International House on Friday, at the 7:00 p.m. grandma showing. Animal Collective's music was really great, and the video was at times visually stunning, a lame Urban Outfitters ad come to life, sickening in the way that only psychedelia can be and maniacally hilarious. It was so full of unhinged energy that it seemed really unfair that we had to sit in our seats the whole time. —HO
—Loved on Peter Krause all weekend: Watched the first few episodes of both Six Feet Under and Sports Night. The former holds a special place in my heart (that last-episode montage! sob!), but I'm already starting to develop a small crush on Josh Malina. —CH
— Caught Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, which only led me to only think in Bill and Ted-isms for the next couple hours, i.e.: "Strange things are afoot at the Circle-K." This viewing sparked a debate between which was better: Excellent Adventure or Bogus Journey. I prefer Adventure. What about you? —ME
What We Read:
—I read about how cell phones may be killing all of us (or not). (I knew it!) The science is really inconclusive right now, but it makes you wonder if cell phones will eventually become like cigarettes, and our ancestors will look back on us like we were idiots for not knowing they were unhealthy.—HO
— Read most of Living Dead in Dallas, the second in Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novels because it was in front of me. This one isn't as well written as the first one, which is saying something, considering the first novel — Dead Until Dark — is not exactly prized prose. I gotta give it to Harris, though. She knows how to write a compelling — albeit totally cheesy — narrative with a strong female lead. —ME
—Read the entirety of poet Paul Guest's new memoir One More Theory About Happiness. Granted it was under 200 pages, but still, I consider this a feat for someone who starts plenty but rarely finishes books. Guest, who was made quadriplegic following a bike accident when he was 12, broke my heart and then filled it up again with his determination to get past being dealt such a shitty hand. —CH
—I didn't like Jennifer Egan's short story "Ask Me If I Care" because it felt like scene tourism. But started digging it more once I got the groove of the voice of the narrator — San Fran teen/punk Rhea. The use of subculture is more a superficial setting; this is a deftly executed story about being a teenager, nothing more, nothing less. —ME
American Teen is an awesome movie.
After recently showing the 9-year old I babysit both Bill and Ted's in one epic weekend, I have to say I may like the second one more. The first one is classic (I can't tell you how many times I watched that one my freshman year of college, but it was enough to make Idol Hand's TB tell people that if I wasn't around, I was probably watching Bill and Ted), but I can never get enough of the Reaper (and all the great "don't fear the reaper" jokes that come with it). Plus, I love when they see the devil for the first time and they make whatever "Shout at the Devil" crack it is that they make. This weekend I watched "Better off Ted" for the first time. Awesome show. Portia de Rossi is so fantastically evil and I love it.
I agree Lindsay, the second Bill & Ted is a better movie. I got it free with a pizza (from Pizza Hut, maybe?) like six years ago and enjoyed it way more than I expected. It's also funny how dated it is, with the main characters (or maybe just evil robot B&T?) calling each other "fag" throughout the movie. That might not fly now in a light comedy. I was at the Phanatic's birthday (oh, and the Phillies game) yesterday at Citizens Bank Park. I was covering, but I got to see the glorious Zooperstars, who were there to celebrate the Phanatic's big day. It was kind of a sporty weekend, as I also watched a lot of NHL and NBA playoffs. I'm not one to usually enjoy music in commercials, but this NBA autotuned press conference commercial is awesome. There's a series of them, too!
I watched "Can't Buy Me Love" with a not-so-McDreamy Patrick Dempsey. Love how Cindy Mancini gets boozy yet still manages to knock the needle off the record with her beverage...and how everyone is wearing fringe. Speaking of 80's wonders...no cell phone seems more dangerous than the weighty cell phones of the 80's. Read an excerpt from "Secret Ingredients: The New Yorker Book of Food and Drink" about dated New York steak dinners, aka "beefsteaks." Sounds like a mess hall/brazilian steak house and I wish I was there. Although women weren't invited until the 20's and then were accused of corruption via the addition of cocktails and salads. How uncivilized.
Friday: copy editor convention 9-5. Work shift until midnight. Wii rock band until far too late. Saturday: copy editor convention until 4. Nap from 4 to 6. Birthday party at Cantina. Somehow engineer that copy editing afterparty and birthday party both end up going to the same karaoke dive two blocks from my house and staying, again, way too late. I can't believe the balloon animal guy was there again! Sunday: Church service. Brigid's brunch. Free Library festival. Work shift. Wish for death.
Saturday I ate too many pork tacos and ultimately found myself "singing" The Shangri-La's "Leader of the Pack," which admittedly might have had more to do with margaritas than tacos. Sunday morning I sat through an awful lot of "American Loggers" as they dramatized a truck driver's off-road diabetic shock with stock footage of ambulances and indecipherable (Maine?) accents.
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| Photo | Mike Regan |
| Dancing with the Philadelphia Stars champion Maxx Stoyanoff-Williams |
You rocked as the young folks say. Our agency gives you thanks for your participation. See ya next year. Debbie Butler, Staff
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| Oxford University Press, 210 pp., $21.95, Jan. 15 |
Who wrote the First Amendment, and when did it go into effect?
E-mail your answers to carolyn.huckabay@citypaper.net for a chance to win. If you can answer without using Google, you get extra honor system-based merit points. Lee Bollinger reading and signing, Wed., April 21, 6:30 p.m., $9-$15, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St., 215.409.6700, constitutioncenter.org. |
Celebrate your home planet with the Earth Day events.
Earth Day Festival 2010 at Academy of Natural Sciences
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, the Academy of Natural Sciences has invited a bevy of scientists, environmental groups and educatiors for a day of family-friendly activities. It warms our cold, cold hearts to see that they're showing Dr. Seuss' The Lorax each day at 1 p.m. Learn about electrofishing, test out new gadgets and equipment (like a laser level that tracks elevation change), make Earth Day crafts and more. Sat.-Sun., April 17-18, The Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 215-299-1000, ansp.org.
Second Annual Earth Day Festival & Flea Market at Clark Park
Get outside for a whole day of celebrating nature, through live music, yoga and free workshops. Proceeds benefit the African Village Survival Initiative, which aids sustainable building projects like community gardens and kitchens. Bring some cash for a flea market peddling art, books, clothes and other goodies. Rain date is April 18. Sat., April 17th, 9 a.m,-5 p.m., Clark Park, Baltimore Avenue & 43rd Street, 215-387-0919, clarkpark.info.
Go Green Expo at Greater Philadelphia Expo Center
Take a look at more than 200 environmentally-friendly products, businesses, local nonprofits — all committed to beautifying the Earth with their sustainable business practices. See interactive seminars, demos and hear from speakers on topics like energy management, ecological living and creating a green business. You can catch City Paper's own Brian Howard and Isaiah Thompson chatting about alternative transportation, Sun. at 11am. Fri.-Sun., April 17-18, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $5-10, Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Avenue, 484-754-3976, gogreenexpo.com.
Earth Day Film Festival at Bryn Mawr Film Institute
The Film Institute is partnering with Whole Foods to bring a series of films that make you think bout food, the Earth and our impact on it all. See What's On Your Plate, a documentary about inner city kids and food; No Impact Man; Tapped, which scrutinizes the bottled water industry; End of the Line and Silent Running. Day passes will get you access to all five screenings. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Food Trust. Thu., April 22, noon-10 p.m., $20-25 Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, 610-527-9898, brynmawrfilm.org.
Earth Day tasting at Square 1682
Did you know that a vegetarian diet actually helps the Earth? Lower your environmental impact during an all-veggie dinner at Square 1682, featuring six courses of creative dishes and wine pairings. Felicia D has details over on Meal Ticket. Thu.-Sat, April 22-24, $40, 121 S. 17th St., square1682.com.
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| blogginprojectrunway.com |
| Top: Jay Bottom: Mila |
Oh please - do we have to sit through 10 designs by Mila in order to see who wins this season? At this point, I am hanging on mostly due to momentum (gotta have closure or something). If the three designs she showed to compete against Jay are her 'best' offerings, I may not be able to stand it. Jay's designs were indeed overdone - it was as if he tried to insert every possible design trick into them to show he could do innovative things. At least his collection offered a new look at fashion. Mila's designs looked like something off the 1967 sale rack in K-Mart. Nothing new or exciting. Her cocktail dress was straight out of the Twiggy era. I could probably handle the black and white part (tired of it as I am) if she had even one shred of originality. Retro has to take a look to a new level to be fashion - otherwise it's off-the-rack hack designing. Oh yeah - it looks like we have to watch Ping whine and moan next week when they have the reunion session? Somebody give her some meds, please.
Mila's clothes can be worn by all women. The others are great, but the average woman cannot wear them.
Who cares that everyone can't wear Jay's clothes? That's not what a "Design" competition is about.
I don't know about you but when the judges picked Mila and leave her a tip to make sure her models look young, it was a little disconcerting (why?). See, I got the samurai part. Jay's "overdesign" is still a little more exciting than what we were shown in comparison to the other designers. At the very least it gives me a lot more to look forward to than the geometric black and white blah, blah, blah . . .
very true... design is not about the average woman would wear...if it was up to that then almost NOTHING would be presented in runways... not even the people wearing the clothes at these shows are average women... Jay should have won! Mila... we r just tired of u...
How sad is Project Runway:( The whole thing wreaks of Bravo's drama ratings and $100,000.00 to boot. If these designers are truly as horrible as Michael Kors says they maybe he should get off his ass and start designing again. Which brings me to the point of the other judges. One supermodel who designs glued halloween costumes once a year and a magazine editor who's NEVER sewn one stitch in her life. Well I guess this is TV land so what can you expect. Uggg....
Oh, c'mon. Last night's episode had the greatest moment in ProjRun history: Heidi's twitch when Seth Aaron announced that his line was based on 1940's German uniforms. Somewhere in NY, Tim Gunn is watching a loop of that footage and laughing himself silly.
PLEASE, tell me the visits Tim made was NOT the Finale????? I was away for two weeks, thought I taped the last episode but when I go to watch it, it was Tim visiting. Thus, missed the winner, the collection and feel I watched 9/10th of a movie the projector broke. Anyone know where I can find the actual final episode??? I have searched with no luck.
Eve's Necklace, Fri., April 16, screening starts at dusk, free, Piazza at Schmidts, 1050 N. Hancock St., philadelphiaindependentfilmfestival.com.
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| Courtesy of Lionsgate |
| Hit Girl, from Kick-Ass, doing as the title tells her to. |
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