It’s sad seeing Philly boys fighting Philly boys, even ex-patriots. In one corner, we’ve got DJ/Mad Decent label owner Diplo over in L.A. In the other, we’ve got artist Jayson Musson up in Brooklyn. Anyone keeping track knows that the “Harlem Shake” sensation — an annoying No. 1 Billboard hit credited to DJ Baauer on the Mad Decent label — owes its title sample to Musson’s old Philly rap act Plastic Little and their 2001 song “Miller Time.” And Musson wants money. Does this have to go to court? Can’t you gents just sit down at the Melrose and talk it out?
South Broad Street’s Dolphin Tavern put up a valiant fight last year, with weekends full of rock shows, stripteases and big beer promotions. Nothing could save it, though, and it closed up shop in August. Then along came Avram Hornik to scoop it up as a complement to his then-recent purchase of the still-unopened Boot & Saddle. Surprisingly last week I spied the Dolphin’s neon sign shining down Broad like a beacon, and heard word that Hornik (and his Four Corners Management) will reopen the Dolphin March 20 with Kraftwork bartender Matt Summers watching over the homestead. And yes, the dancing girls will return.
You can’t walk down East Passyunk Avenue without hearing the cursed question: “Who will replace George Sabatino at Stateside?” Now it’s time for an answer: Elijah Milligan from Vernick Food & Drink and Bar Ferdinand, come on down. You’re the winner. Now start chef-ing.
Maybe you’ve never seen just how handsome disc jockey Randy Kotz is, what with him being locked up in a booth at WMMR and WYSP all those years. Now, the new Fishtown resident Kotz can be seen as a cranky CEO in high-profile national print and billboard ads for the Southern Nevada Water Authority. The ad was shot at Power Plant Productions on North Second Street by renowned photographer Vincent Dixon for R&R Partners. Las Vegas, baby.
You may have missed the Pink Skull DJs’ usual Second Friday party at Johnny Brenda’s, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t give Justin Geller and Julian Grefe some money. They just released Blind Babies of the International Sunshine Society on which they sample Led Zeppelin and Quando Quango. Usually that kind of thing is either illegal or a copyright debacle, but thanks to something called Legitmix, you can buy the new music as long as you already own or also buy the stuff being sampled. More at legitmix.com.
Congrats to Mitch and Anne Marie Cohen of Cohen & Co. Hardware at 615 Passyunk Ave. near South Street. They’re celebrating 100 years and four generations of family ownership, and will host a swell celebration before summer hits.
