Archive: September, 2010

NOW SEE THIS: The Thermals, "I Don't Believe You"

POSTED: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 9:00 PM

Filed Under: Music | Now See This | Video

Starring Carrie Brownstein.

Henry Brown

Posted 2010-09-09 12:58:12

The Thermals are performing in NYC on 10/13 at Irving Plaza! Tickets are available at http://www.livenation.com/event/000044FBA1477A77?artistid=923542&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=60. Hope to see you there!

Posted by Patrick Rapa @ 9:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

ON THE FRINGE: Win tickets to the Live Arts show of your choosing — WE HAVE A WINNER!

POSTED: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 8:00 PM

Pretty sweet giveaway today: We've got a voucher for two (2) tickets to any Live Arts show, and we want you to have it. What'll you choose? Maybe CHICKEN? Or perhaps Sanctuary's more your speed? Would you rather bring your kiddo to the family-friendly Cankerblossom? Totally up to you.

Speaking of Cankerblossom, here's what Mark Cofta had to say about it:

For Cankerblossom, the eclectic Pig Iron returns to William Shakespeare for the first time since 2007's grimly mesmerizing Isabella, which set Measure for Measure in a morgue populated by naked zombies. But don't worry: Since it's based on A Midsummer Night's Dream, this is actually an all-ages fairy tale. Director Dan Rothenberg and cartoonist-puppeteer Beth Nixon combine stop-motion animation, video projection, live music and Pig Iron's distinctive physical style to create an eerie two-dimensional Flat World. Rothenberg calls Cankerblossom a dare "to do something simple, sweet and sometimes stupid."

There's some small print to be worked out for this voucher, so here goes:

Vouchers can be redeemed in person at the Festival Box Office (Fifth and Fairmount) or by calling 215-413-1318
Voucher must be redeemed in advance of performance and is subject to availability
Vouchers are not valid for Saturday evenings, weekend matinees or Fringe shows
Decasia and Release are off-limits

Winning is simple:

Just comment below and tell us about the weirdest/craziest/best Live Arts/Fringe show you've ever seen.

We'll randomly select a winner and notify him or her by the end of the week. Good luck! [UPDATE, 3:15 p.m., Friday, September 3]: Congratulations to CritMass reader David, whose name we randomly drew from the random hard hat in my office. Thanks to everyone who played!

christine yoo

Posted 2010-09-02 16:56:36

i haven't gone to any fringe things yet, this will be my first!

David Runkle

Posted 2010-09-02 17:04:48

My favorite show I believe was called "the dangerous lives of altar boys". It was a punk rock opera. Towards the end of the show the singer got naked on stage. My wife and I loved it.

Rachel Robbins

Posted 2010-09-02 22:14:48

Weirdest: Definitely the show at the Massage Arts school 2 or 3 fringes ago. Well intentioned and so so awkward :)  Best: Nichole Canuso's Wandering Alice. I  would relive that show at least once a week if I could.

Brian Choplick

Posted 2010-09-03 09:04:16

Best show I've seen was explanatorium two years ago. They used the domed space at the rotunda as a "spaceship" in a large scale interactive performance

Bluehensfan

Posted 2010-09-03 09:06:48

Brian Sanders Urban Scuba show in 2009 in the previously abandoned pool in the dank basement of the Gershman Y. Who said great dancing, the smell of chlorine, a pool painted pitch black, and half naked bodies don't mix?

char wilson

Posted 2010-09-03 11:39:23

Show @ Sheraton Hotel..business people in the pool fully dressed w/brief cases

char wilson

Posted 2010-09-03 11:40:13

SHow @ SHERATON in Society Hill...

Business people (actors) dressed in business attire..in the pool along w/their brief cases

Posted by Carolyn Huckabay @ 8:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

HAIKU CONTEST: Win tickets to the Louis CK movie! [NSFW]

POSTED: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 7:00 PM

Filed Under: Comedy | Movies | Stand-up screening

from louisck.com

Yesterday, stand-up comedian/FX TV star Louis CK was drunk tweeting from an airplane. "people think that sarah Paalin is really mean but she has a family of chinese poor people living in her cunt hole. sorry," he said. "@SarahPalinUSA kudos to your dirty hole, you fucking jackoff cunt-face jazzy wondergirl." he added. Anyway, yes, let's give away some tickets to Hilarious starring Louis CK. The screening is Wednesday, Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m. at Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St., 215-569-9700, princemusictheater.org. THE CONTEST: In the comments below, write a haiku to or about Sarah Palin. I've got five pairs of tickets to give away. Lots of chances to win. We'll accept entries all weekend long. Have fun out there.

kyle crayton

Posted 2010-09-02 14:04:18

Sarah Palin, smiles. looks like a deer in headlights.smiles like a bobblehead. weeble wobble.

Shayne

Posted 2010-09-02 14:49:08

An anagram for
Sarah Palin's name could be
"attention whore." wait...

Crane Kick

Posted 2010-09-02 14:50:45

You are a moron.
You're accent is annoying.
I would still hit it.

Joseph Rose

Posted 2010-09-02 14:56:30

I love you Louis,
Sarah said with a smile.
I love that shiny red dome.

Ben

Posted 2010-09-02 15:26:59

I'm from Wasilla,
in middle America!
It's right near Russia.

James

Posted 2010-09-02 16:56:39

MILF,Politician,Dope,
our next President?
one can only HOPE....NOT.

GARY LIME

Posted 2010-09-03 12:16:16

Abstinence only?
Your knocked up kid is single
Some Sex Ed. plan, huh?

Phil Jackson

Posted 2010-09-03 14:48:24

Sarah, you hairy cunt,
I can only pray,
you are not in the presidential hunt....unless it's a moose hunt

Sam Calhoun

Posted 2010-09-03 16:23:45

I'm from Wasilla
You are my embarrasment
Sarah Palin sucks

MJM

Posted 2010-09-03 19:48:09

beware of palin  
dangerous as ignorant 
dumb teabagging slut

CPJ

Posted 2010-09-04 17:42:12

How oh how I ask,
Did a boob get such limelight?
Stop the attention!

Posted 2010-09-04 21:23:43

THE BLUE MOON CHANTS A LULLABYE TO SARAH PALIN BUTTERFLY NOW GONE

Sandra

Posted 2010-09-05 12:42:14

Sad, silly Sarah
You are the worst example
of us four eyed girls

Jay Gambit

Posted 2010-09-05 17:59:21

To Sarah Palin:
Nobody likes you. No one.
Shut your whore mouth now.

Tashamaria Tromer

Posted 2010-09-06 09:52:50

Sarah, capture your
wonderfulness (in) 17 
syllables? Silence.

Posted 2010-09-06 10:27:08

When you winked at us
It made my vagina hurt.
Less sense than an egg.

Posted by Patrick Rapa @ 7:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

ON THE FRINGE: Between Trains

POSTED: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 6:00 PM

Every night, we're hitting the Live Arts/Fringe fest like a pack of culture-hungry wolves. Every morning, we're howling about it at citypaper.net/fringe. Every afternoon on Critical Mass, we're rounding up the previous night's reviews.

Photo | Thomas Cain

Mary Tuomanen in Between Trains

WE SAW IT YESTERDAY >> Between Trains

Nearly everything about Gas & Electric Arts' Between Trains is pure gold. The set, with suitcases piled to the ceiling and seats arranged in rows like a train station, is quirky and accessible; the actors are phenomenally energetic, spunky and thoroughly engaging (especially Mary Tuomanen, a sprightly Puck for the urban set); the story, about a woman who wakes up naked in a train station and realizes she's dreaming, has boundless opportunities for whimsical plot twists. There's just one problem: It's way too long, especially when you're sitting on backless wooden benches. Bring a pillow and you'll be all set. —Carolyn Huckabay

WE ALSO SAW >> Polaroid Stories Think our reviews are so right? Or so totally wrong? Visit citypaper.net/fringe to leave a comment. But don't forget that we are wolves.

Posted by Carolyn Huckabay @ 6:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

TONIGHT: Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women

POSTED: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 5:00 PM

Filed Under: Music Show

Best definition of folk yet comes from Dave Alvin. He says there are two kinds, loud and quiet, and that he plays both. If you don't know the individual players in the Guilty Women you might guess their quiet show will dominate. Those who know steel guitarist Cindy Cashdollar, know that she lives to swing. Expect similar feats of strength from bassist Sarah Brown, drummer Lisa Pankratz and Christy McWilson wailing country at its most soulful. Alvin will have his chance to spread out and fly well accompanied. Thu., Sept. 2, 7:30 p.m., $25, World Cafe Live, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut Street, 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

Posted by mary armstrong @ 5:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

ICECUBE: Jersey Shore waves goodbye, David Fricke talks the Spectrum and more

POSTED: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 4:00 PM

Filed Under: Ice Cubes

Snooki and new Jersey Shore cast member Deena

So there I was in AC thinking that the old Stage Deli at the Taj Mahal had already become a strip club, courtesy of the frequently-mentioned-by-Howard Stern Scores. But alas it's at least six months, millions of dollars and Starlight Events LLC's commitment that le girls would only peel down to lingerie or undies; Jersey law prevents strippers from exposing bodies covered solely by thongs, pasties or clips in places where alcohol is served. Hmm... Instead we got word that Iggy Pop had peeled down to his shorts to swim in the pool at the Chelsea, where after he and the Stooges played Raw Power at the House of Blues; Sammy Hagar caught Joe Piscopo's mega-watt That's Life show at Ceasars and Stevie Nicks supped at Bobby Flay's. Ay. Philly very nearly had a celeb-shutout until baller/dancer Emmitt Smith hit the bar at Butcher & Singer for a Lemon Drop and friendly conversation on Tuesday. That said, let's send some shout to AC now 'cause as soon as SugarHouse opens none of y'all be hitting the Boardwalk. SEE YA! With that, let's show you a so-long to Seaside Heights shot; after Labor Day the Jersey Shore crew split the isle, leaving The Situation to Dancing with the Stars. Snooki and new JS cast member, Deena wave bye-bye. Rich Wexler, the VJ known as Large Marge and the DJ known as Yakov, split the onstage scene when he started school. Now, he's Yak-ov-ing all over Elena's Soul (Sept. 6) with the Philadelphyinz's Apt One and JJC as well as DJ/VJing at the Fringe Fest Festival Bar (Sept. 3-4, 10-11 and 17) at the former Club Egypt site. They grow up so fast: September marks two second birthdays for restaurants. Meme celebrates with $2 for glasses of champagne and for the Champagne of Beers, Miller High Life all month long. Pub and Kitchen will host a party in its own honor on Sept. 9 to mark it's not-so-terrible two. Phillly-In-Media-Hey-o: Sure, New Yorker has a story on John McEnroe by ex-Philly Mag-man Larry Platt, but page 10 has some blab from our own Carolyn Huckabay commenting on Katie Holmes. Plus check out Philly expat/Rolling Stone scribe David Fricke riffing long and hard about the soon-to-be-demolished Spectrum and its best shows such as last year's Pearl Jam close out jams, which are currently on sale: The box, called 2009 Philadelphia, includes four concerts, boxed as nine CDs and costs $60 at pearljam.com. Plus David Dye talked to LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy on NPR's World CafÃ©. Murphy enthused about City Gardens, the Trenon punk rock club. LCD Soundsystem starts their U.S. tour Friday Sept. 24 with Making Time at the Philadelphia Naval Cruise Terminal. I've got more for ya, but you'll have to read this week's Icepack.

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 4:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

INTERVIEW with Soul Kitchen director FATIH AKIN

POSTED: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 3:00 PM

Filed Under: Interview | Movies

From Fatih Akin's Soul Kitchen

A decade before you could DJ with computers, the writer/director Fatih Akin was spinning hip-hop on vinyl. A child of the '80s, he purchased hundreds of LPs back in the day but he recalls, "The first record I bought — when I was 12, in 1986—was Parade by Prince." He boasts, "Now I have more than 100 vinyls of Prince! That was my very first one. I liked him since 1984's Purple Rain. I would record his songs on the radio with a tape recorder, and then, when the [disc jockey] talked, I'd be like, Oh! I got him on the tape!" Akin's musical memories explain where his interest in American soul music comes from, and, like his other films, the genre is an essential ingredient in his new film, Soul Kitchen (at the Ritz at the Bourse) about a put upon restaurateur named Zinos (co-writer Adam Bousdoukos), who names his titular eatery because of his similar passion for soul. Zinos has troubles with his back (a slipped disc), his finances, his girlfriend Nadine (Pheline Roggan), his criminal brother Illias (Moritz Bleibtreu), a tempestuous alcoholic chef Shayne (Birol Ãnel), as well as a health inspector, a tax inspector, a freeloading tenant and other assorted individuals. This is a reunion of sorts, bringing together stars of Akin's previous work: Soul Kitchen is a farcical comedy, full of slapstick moments, and closer in spirit to Akin's early film In July, which starred Bleibtreu. However, Akin is best known for his extraordinary dramas, Edge of Heaven and Head-On, the latter of which starred Ãnel. Ãnel steals every scene as the film's hotheaded chef. Akin says he loves working with Ãnel, trying to deflect a question about Ãnel being very much like his wild, alcoholic character on screen in his real life. Eventually, he confesses, "He's difficult to handle. He's like a crazy brother to me. I love him, you know." Akin eventually acknowledges the truth about his actor, saying, "When I was younger, I had a naÃ¯ve idea I could rescue him in a way, but only he can rescue himself. That's the problem with addiction." He praises his cast playing together "like a good soccer team." And part of this may be Akin's reliance on employing his wife Monique as his casting director and casting his brother Cem in a supporting role. "It has its advantages," Akin says about working with family and friends. "But it's exciting to work with new people, too. When you meet someone you don't know, you have to find out who this person is. It's like dating. And you have to listen to them, and you want to treat them right. It's work. I'm very lazy — practical — it makes more sense for me to work with people I already know are good, and what they want."

Akin said he looked at many comedies for inspiration, settling on Chaplin's Modern Times over the equally brilliant output of Buster Keaton. "Chaplin was more hysteric than Keaton," Akin insists. "[Zinos] is a more hysteric character — doing gymnastic movements on the dance floor. This is like Chaplin, in a way." Yet, Akin also culled elements from contemporary comedies, citing the Coen Brothers' The Big Lebowski as an influence — particularly a scene in the end of that film in which a character is reunited with his prized ferret and looks into the camera. Akin laughs at the memory. But slapstick hilarity was not the only source Akin drew from: He mentions Martin Scorsese's Bringing Out the Dead as a source for another shot in Soul Kitchen, one where Zinos falls to the floor in agony with back pain, and the camera falls with him. Despite Akin's love for Americana, working within the Hollywood system is not his goal. "I love American films. I'm a great admirer of them," he says, "but I don't want to come here and make them. They tell you what to do and how to edit them — I would struggle with that."

Posted by Gary M. Kramer @ 3:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

ON THE FRINGE: Welcome to the jungle

POSTED: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 2:02 PM

IT'S FRINGE TIME, Y'ALL. >> OK, so the fests (Fringe and Live Arts, that is) don't technically start till tomorrow, but our annual Fringe-tastic issue's already on the stands, which means it's time to gear up and figure out what the hell shows to go see over the next two weeks. To kick off our 16-day takeover of Critical Mass, let's start with the basics. Here's what you'll miss if you don't pick up a City Paper today:

Photo / Neal Santos

Charlotte Ford (center, with Jay Dunn, left, and Mikaal Sulaiman) in CHICKEN.

FEATURES!

A.D. Amorosi chats with CHICKEN's Charlotte Ford about Scotland, Elvis sideburns and deep-dark fears;
Holly Otterbein breaks down the animal-centric shows of Live Arts/Fringe, including The Jane Goodall: Experience and American Nigga Zoo;
Natalie Hope McDonald previews Cosmic Terrarium, the Mural Arts Project-sponsored wall at Fifth and Fairmount that'll be graffiti'd up and down throughout the fests;
and Bruce Walsh talks to the men behind the MÃ¼tter-fied, creepy-ass Tell-Tale Heart.

Photo / Neal Santos

The cast of Pig Iron Theatre Co.'s Cankerblossom

PICKS! OH GOD, SO MANY PICKS

Shaun Brady tells us all about experimental music's role in Fringe/Live Arts, most notably including the Bang on a Can Marathon;
Mark Cofta keeps up Shakespearances by giving us the details on all of the fests' most Bard-tastic happenings (including Cankerblossom, whose Pig Iron actors served as our cover models);
And about a billion more short previews (just to name a few: Marat/Sade, Sanctuary, Wawapalooza, Whose City? and Drunk Enough to Say I Love You?

Oh, and because our eyes were a little bigger than our page-count stomachs, there's plenty more coverage online, including:

Molly Eichel's rundown of the Fringe's most ghoulish contributions, including Dracula and A Tale of Two Brains;
And many, many more picks, including The New & Improved Stages of Grief, SS Elisabeth and Let Go of the Ego

Whew! That's enough for now, but check back this afternoon because we've got a killer ticket giveaway (and keep checking CritMass throughout the fests — we'll be updating you on our reviews, reminding you of our previews and plying you with free tickets). And don't forget to visit citypaper.net/fringe to read daily reviews of the shows we've seen the night before.

Posted by Carolyn Huckabay @ 2:02 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Fishtown Neighborhood Association discusses David Grasso's proposed music venue

POSTED: Wednesday, September 1, 2010, 4:20 PM

Filed Under: Music

Last night, the Fishtown Neighborhood Association had a meeting with developer David Grasso about the 2055 Richmond St. warehouse that he wants to convert into a concert venue. Grasso has already met with LiveNation, as we Icepacked several times in July, and announced that the club woukln't host DJ nights to assuage the fears of those aren't looking for another Delaware Ave. Grasso, District 1 Councilman Frank DiCicco and representatives from the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and the Central Delaware Advocacy Group were in attendance and, according to anonymous FNA-er, called in the results of Tuesday night's vote: 57 opposed and 38 in favor. That can't be good. Stay tuned.

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 4:20 PM Permalink | Post a comment

« PREVIOUS | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Q&A with SHARI SOLANIS: "The goal isn't pornography"
What we're trying to do this weekend
SEXY TIME Q&A: I've never had an orgasm during sex with a man — and I'm 30!
NOW SEE THIS: Transit cop arrests marijuana activist for alleged disorderly conduct.
Q&A with Tony Goldwyn: "Life is gray, and relationships are, too"
CONCERT REVIEW: Primus (3D & quadraphonic sound) @ The Tower 10/17
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: The Archbishop meets the Geator, the Mayor goes suit shopping, Le Bec Fin fin.
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Indian fare rules, Dunder Mifflin lives on, Tom Jones is a god
SWIMMING HOLES: Some of our favorite places to get wet
Q&A with Goon’s Seann William Scott

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.

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@mission2denmark | @emilygee

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