Archive: August, 2010

Get your Franzen fix

POSTED: Thursday, August 26, 2010, 7:26 PM

Filed Under: Arts Books

In this week's issue, Kathrine Hill reviews Jonathan Franzen's Freedom, which has garnered some book-of-the-century buzz, what with the Time mag cover for Franzen and word that Obama got his paws on an advanced copy. Hill says it ain't perfect, but it's real frickin' awesome:

The brio and insight of the writing, the flesh-and-blood central cast, and the impressive inventory of so much in our world, from indie music fans to songbird decimation, makes Freedom a literary event of the sort Franzen himself once feared had passed. And yes, it's better than The Corrections.

Can't wait to get your grubby little hands on a copy (it hits shelves Tue., Aug. 31)? Never fear, that's why Crit Mass is here! The New York Times has an excerpt up on their site, and the good folks at The New Yorker have the two stories that predicated Freedom, "Good Neighbors" and "Agreeable," up for your consumption. Also, this.

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 7:26 PM Permalink | Post a comment

MUSIC MADNESS: Win tickets to see the Scissor Sisters tomorrow! -- WE HAVE OUR WINNER

POSTED: Thursday, August 26, 2010, 6:00 PM

Filed Under: Music

Want to have a gay ol' time? Then you best be hitting up the Scissor Sisters show at the Electric Factory tomorrow night. We've got two tix and we want your hot little behind to have 'em. Here's what K. Ross Hoffman had to say about the shindig:

From the ass-tastic 1980 Robert Mapplethorpe cover shot to the entendre-riddled lyric sheet and the gleaming, greased-up disco grooves contained within, Night Work (Downtown) finds Jake Shears and co. returning from a too-long absence in revitalized, deliriously hedonistic form. This is their gayest, sexiest, simultaneously campiest and most earnest outing to date. It's got space for wiry new wave rock ("Running Out") and strutting pop-metal ("Harder You Get") — though not the eyebrow-raising twang of their recent Kylie Minogue cover — but they've streamlined their sound for the dancefloor throughout, with an able assist from retro-electro savant Stuart Price (Killers, Madonna, Les Rythmes Digitales) on instant classics like "Whole New Way" — a bouncy, delightfully chipper paean to butt sex — and the searingly anthemic "Skin Tight," which is at once a thinly coded meditation on condom use and a totally gorgeous love song. Don't worry too much about whether they're smirking or sincere, just be stoked that they're back. These scissors swing both ways.

So how can you be one of the lucky ones? All you have to do is e-mail the answer to the following trivia question to molly [dot] eichel [at] citypaper [dot] net: Congrats Kevin!

The Scissor Sisters took their name from a Sapphic sexual position (aka, scissoring). What is the position's technical name?

Tribadism

Fri., Aug. 27, 8:30 p.m., $30-$32, with Sammy Jo, Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St., 800-745-3000, electricfactory.info.

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 6:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

ICECUBE: Jersey Shore selling the Jersey Shore, bargain bondage basement in CC, a move for BCKSEET and more!

POSTED: Thursday, August 26, 2010, 4:57 PM

Filed Under: Ice Cubes

Vinny from Jersey Shore goes beyond the traditional notion of an ironic t-shirt.

âº By now everyone knows that the season 3 crew of MTV's Jersey Shore finds our guidos and guidettes back in Seaside Heights. But did you know they're back working at the t-shirt shop? We found Vinny trying to casually hawk his wares to a customer. âº After a successful residency at the Society Hill Playhouse for the past five seasons, BCKSEET Productions is leaving SHP. No more cleaning up after Caveman and Patent Leather Shoe enthusiasts. BCKSEET relocates to 535 South St. to create the BCKSEET Creative Co-OP now through January and will hold open rehearsals to give street patrons a looksee. They'll also take a new theater series into area bars and restaurants. Not like Glengarry Glen Ross at Amada but you get the drift. âº Let's be discrete here. There's a new dungeon on the block — 12th Street, near the Convention Center — courtesy of the Royal Women of Philadelphia that specializes in erotic role-play, fantasy bondage and discipline. The Royal Castle is female-owned and has a teensy slew of beautiful experienced dom dames who, if you stare at long enough, you'll recognize from other parts of your daily life. They have all the whip smart accouterments, private and open spaces. You have to have to pay $20 for a consultation to see what you might want, what you can handle and, I'm guessing, whether or not you're serious about dungeon drama. They're open to photographers using their (rental) rooms for photos shoots and are swank enough for a private affair. Plus they're accessible to New Jersey expressways and bridges, and they've cheap parking minutes from their door. âºThe ride on Broad Street's Subways got a little more dangerous last Saturday when the ramshackle TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb went from the Pattison, to Fern Rock stops playing songs from their debut CD. No one got jailed. Everyone was arrested. âº Tommy Lee had breakfast in the drizzle with an unnamed lady companion at Marathon Grill on Chestnut before he and the Motley Crue played Ozzfest in Camden. âº On Friday, Philly's Disco Biscuits hung out — shooting a documentary, having a nosh — at Darling's Diner at da Piazza at Schmidts âºWhat's the hub bub bub at the old stucco-ed super-spot on 10th & Christian? The long-boarded up building was rumored to become a Santucci's Square Pizzeria. Actually the building is more rectangular, hmmm. Anyway after I wrote a Meal Ticket post where a rep for Joe Santucci denied that was the case, Alicia Santucci wrote and confirmed in the affirmative. "We are indeed opening a Santucci's at the corner of 10th and Christian. Although we have a lot of work still to do, we are very proud and excited to open up our newest location. We are expecting to open late October," the femme Santucci writes. Whee. âº Blocks away on Ninth Street's lower half near the Ric Rac, rumor is spreading that a tattoo parlor will start inking by October âº NBC10's 10! Has been looking for some lovelies to fill the slot next to Bill Henley for the next two weeks. Starting today, look for Love Boat lady Jill Whelan, ex-Wired 96.5 morning gal G-N Kang and our fave one-time co-host, singer Lauren Hart

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 4:57 PM Permalink | Post a comment

WHAT WE HEART: Philadelphia wine totes

POSTED: Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 6:17 PM

Filed Under: Shopping What We Heart

maptote.com

Brooklyn-based Maptote, creators of eco-friendly bags, note cards, zipper pouches and onesies with a bent toward hometown cartography, have come out with a Philly series — our favorite of which is their narrow canvas bag just big enough to snuggle a bottle of wine as you head to your favorite BYOB. It would have been impossible to fit a map of our awkwardly shaped, porkchop-reminiscent city onto these wine totes, so Maptote proprietors Rachel Rheingold and Michael Berick chose, instead, to list as many of our little 'hoods as they could cram in. (Pennsport made the cut, but not Kensington; and we'll give them a pass for calling the Gayborhood "Midtown Village," but not so much for the extra "S" in Roxborough.) Nevertheless, the tote's super cute and affordable at $13, and if you click on the site's Philadelphia page (where you can also buy grocery-size totes affixed with local landmarks — the Liberty Bell, Rocky, etc.), you'll find fun facts about our city. For example, did you know the Philadelphia Zoo was the first in the country? (OK, you probably already knew that.)

Posted by Carolyn Huckabay @ 6:17 PM Permalink | Post a comment

NOW SEE THIS: Oh my god, Tony Danza is going to ruin the lives of the children of the Northeast

POSTED: Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 3:25 PM

Filed Under: Now See This | TV

My favorite part of this trailer for Teach: Tony Danza — the A&E reality show that followed Danza as he taught English at Northeast High last year — is when he says, "Where I come from, I'm pretty popular but that's not gonna help me here." Is he referring to Hollywood? Ah yes, when your last movie role was in The Nail: The Story of Joey Nardone — aka, the shitty movie Tony Luke, Jr. made — I don't think that means you are particularly popular anywhere. It's a genius idea, really: Have someone whose entire career is predicated on playing sub-literates teach English class. To the students of Northeast High, I think I speak for the entire city of Philadelphia: Sorry... Teach: Tony Danza premieres Fri., Oct. 1 at 10 p.m. on A&E.

Sha

Posted 2010-08-25 22:45:04

Lol, Molly your funny. Pretty popular my ass.

Caitlin

Posted 2010-08-26 12:46:21

No, the best part is actually all of the parts, because it is all the best.  APPOINTMENT TELEVISION.

paige hughes(paris golden)

Posted 2010-08-26 16:11:47

This is funnt beacuse when i first saw it,i though it was our class than i looked again and none of those dtudent were us lol im like "where am i in this o wait thats not us" lol :)

Posted 2010-10-15 13:54:27

Amazing, typical "Ghetto" NE Irish style...trash anyone that demonstrates education or wealth (excluding Philly sports teams).  I wouldn't be too concerned about Tony Danza screwing up the lives of those kids in that school because the poor low life, Budweiser drinking, white trash parents of the NE already did the job!!  You should be honored to have him teach at that slum of a school.  LOL!!!

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 3:25 PM Permalink | Post a comment

So the Inquirer definitely printed the word motherfucker

POSTED: Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 5:35 PM

Peep this pic that ran in Sunday's Inquirer story by Tirdad Derakhshani about local graphic novelist John Arcudi's new book a god somewhere:

You may need to click for larger view, but that second panel on the right-hand side prominently features the word motherfucker. Who knew the Inky worked blue? The image is no longer up on their site. For what it's worth, a god somewhere is pretty good. h/t DMac

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 5:35 PM Permalink | Post a comment

It's Always Sunny cast Let It Be on Filter mag cover

POSTED: Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 1:08 AM

Filed Under: Music | TV

[source]

Our Gang — aka, the kids from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia — appear on the cover of Filter magazine next month, recreating the cover of The Replacements' straight-up classic 1984 album Let It Be. We're digging the cast associations, especially Charlie Day as Tommy Stinson, although we woulda put Frank (Danny DeVito) in the Bob Stinson spot, rather than Sweet Dee (Kaitlin Olson, who still gets points for being blond, just like King of the Fuck Ups Bob). The cover story also features paeans to the band by the likes of Of Montreal and Mike Patton (natch).

The original

The issues hits stands Thu., Sept 3, and also features a piece by Philly-born Bob Saget. It's Always Sunny's sixth season premieres Thu., Sept. 16 at 10 p.m. on FX. Like you didn't already have it DVR-ed. RELATED >> Catch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia early at the Troc's premiere party

Mick

Posted 2010-08-25 15:30:07

It's about time "Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia" finally gets some recognition. It's one of, if not THE best comedy on television right now. 

Here's FOUR REASONS TO WATCH IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY:
http://www.digitallizardproductions.com/daily-fournication-08.24.10--4-reasons-to-watch-its-always-sunny.html

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 1:08 AM Permalink | Post a comment

THE SHOWDOWN: They'll make a great dessert

POSTED: Monday, August 23, 2010, 10:34 PM

Filed Under: Music The Showdown

Monday: Yes, we know. It's sold out. But we still thought it worth highlighting local favorite Scott McMicken. That's the singer/guitarist of West Philly psych-tinged rock-pop fivesome, Dr. Dog, who'll be playing one of a batch of solo shows tonight. According to the Dr. Dog website, money from the shows will go towards McMicken producing an album by friend Mike Vissar. w/ Springs, 8 p.m., $12 (sold out), Tin Angel, 20 S. 2nd St., 215-928-0770. Tuesday: Soothing vocals, reverb-soaked guitar and electronic flourishes combine to make local duo Eat Your Birthday Cake a true pop confection — that and their delicious name. They'll make a great dessert, but you might enjoy the appetizers too; in the spirit of all things Dr. Dog, you can catch former drummer Justin Sten backed by his band The Get Real Gang. w/ Justins Stens and The Get Real Gang, TV Torso & The Makes. 8 p.m., $8, North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 215-787-0488. Wednesday: Trip-hoppy beats from Asheville, N.C.? We'll take it. The MySpace page of hip-hop/electronic group Flesh Epic only features a few eerie and awesome instrumentals as of yet, but apparently there are words to be sung and/or rhymes to be spit (?) over these dark, eccentric beats. w/Rap Dragons & Teenage Souls, 8-11 p.m., $5-10 suggested donation, Danger Danger Gallery, 5013 Baltimore Ave. Thursday: The story behind Life's A Problem, the latest offering in the long and storied career of local indie/alt-country stalwarts Marah, is an alluring one. The band's current line-up took some roadside and fleamarket finds — a rusty bass, an old drum set and church piano, a "funeral organ" from an Amish store — into a farmhouse in PA to self-record, welcoming all the environmental accents the space had to offer. 9 p.m., $15, Johnny Brenda's,1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684. Friday: Iggy Pop remains an icon of the raucous '70s rock that fueled the punk movement, and he's still raring to go. Iggy and the surviving members of The Stooges — subjects of a somewhere-in-the-making Jim Jarmusch rock doc — are bringing their unbridled energy down the shore this weekend. 8 p.m., $47.50-60.00, House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic, City, N.J. 609-343-4077. Saturday: Looking for something uplifting and free? Try this: check out the Sounds of Gospel Concert on Penn's Landing featuring Grammy-winner Fred Hammond and several regional choirs. 3-9 p.m., free, Great Plaza, Columbus Blvd. at Chestnut St., 610-784-5400. Sunday: If you've never seen My Morning Jacket live, you're missing out. Known for combining of a taut, yet woozy Southern-tinged rock with a hint of jamming, they can really play for hours. In addition to their own catalog of reverb-soaked rockers, MMJ are known to break amazing and sometimes unexpected covers — like Erykah Badu's "Tyrone." And if you missed Scott McMicken earlier in the week, you can catch him in the opening slot for MMJ — the very band that helped launch Dr. Dog's career outside of Philly. w/ Scott McMicken of Dr. Dog, 7:30 p.m.. $39.50, Great Plaza, Columbus Blvd. at Chestnut St., 610-784-5400.

Posted by Julia Askenase @ 10:34 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Philly-born director of Beatles flicks, Superman donates his archives to the British Film Institute

POSTED: Monday, August 23, 2010, 7:20 PM

Filed Under: Movies | Music

One of Philly's finest ex-pats, director Richard Lester, has decided to donate his archives to the British Film Institute. The BBC reports that Lester chose the BFI because of their long-standing relationship. While born in Philadelphia, Lester is best known for directing the Beatles in Help! and A Hard Day's Night. His association with the Fab Four led him identification with the burgeoning youth scene in '60s London and made him the perfect choice to take on swinging '60s sex romp The Knack ... and How to Get It, which won the Palm d'Or at Cannes. Petulia, my personal fave of from the Lester canon, was also scheduled to compete at Cannes in 1968 but the fest was canceled. Lester also took over the Superman films, after original director Richard Donner was fired from the sequel. He retired after directing 1989's The Return of the Musketeers, only emerging behind the camera to reunite with Paul McCartney for the 1993 concert film Get Back. Lester's archives include draft scripts of his Beatles films and correspondence with various celebs, including Raquel Welch and Audrey Hepburn. REVIEW >> CONCERT REVIEW: Paul McCartney @ Wells Fargo Center, 8/14

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 7:20 PM Permalink | Post a comment

NOW SEE THIS: Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, "Bottled In Cork"

POSTED: Monday, August 23, 2010, 5:00 AM

Filed Under: Music | Now See This

Wow. Maybe the best song off TLRx's The Brutalist Bricks gets real actual video treatment. Directed by Tom Scharpling. Starring Paul F. Tompkins, Julie Klausner and John Hodgman. Ted Leo hinted on his site recently that a "major paradigm shift" was in the works...

Ted Leo And The Pharmacists - "Bottled In Cork" (Official Video) from John Hodgman

Posted by Patrick Rapa @ 5:00 AM Permalink | Post a comment

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Behind the scenes of local film A Man Full of Trouble
What we're trying to do this weekend
CONCERT REVIEW: The Postal Service @ The Mann 6/17
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Sunny, Tony and the return of Do No Harm
NOW SEE THIS: Salinger film trailer
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Indian fare rules, Dunder Mifflin lives on, Tom Jones is a god
CONCERT PHOTOS: The National/Dirty Projectors @ The Mann Center 6/7
REVIEW: Archer Live! @ the TLA 1/11
CITY PAPER WRITING CONTEST 2013: Send stories! Send poetry!
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Pink. Diner en Blanc 2. Breaking Glass and Milkboy at the movies. And so on.

About this blog

Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

Follow Critical Mass editors Patrick Rapa and Emily Guendelsberger on Twitter:

@mission2denmark | @emilygee

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