Icepack

by A.D. Amorosi

With Thanksgiving Day’s parade done and Christmas shopping centered around my computer, I have little left to be obsessively harried by this holiday, ’cept for the new Diet Pepsi Twist with lemon. How can I enervate myself to excitability beyond caffeinated citrus yumminess? The weekly fight-club redux occurring on Cheznut ’tween Front and Second could up my blood pressure as it did those of the pugilists pouring out of that block’s bars Thanksgiving Eve. 1 a.m. Beer bottles. Blood flying. "The cops came but, unbelievably, didn’t shut anyone down," said my mystery bouncing bud, adding that "cocaine, Ex, steroids and stupidity don’t mix." NO THEY DON’T. And what’s this I’m hearing about a famous rap-connected local’s Bentley roaring away from the Transit parking lot after Thanksgiving Eve’s shooting?…

The Writer’s Bench is a graffiti gathering group that meets monthly (starting Nov. 30) at Too Damn Hype’s shop on Passyunk Avenue. The scribblers support crew’s first meeting for canvas and black-book signing will be hosted by new-schooler Past and old schooler Suroc.…

Envy owners Ian Pollock and Kevin Duffy got greener, opening a sister club in Trenton’s Broad Street area (730 S. Broad) last week.…

Who’s here? DMX is recording at Sigma Sound, and B-52 Kate Pierson will perform at The Fire with Ani DiFranco and Gail Ann Dorsey as Hudson Valley Girls. Robyn Gibson (Mel’s wife) is on her way outta town, having shopped at Dahlia’s Treasures of the Holy Land. What of her man? Mel prolly won’t be back for Big Picture Alliance’s Dec. 6 benefit/bash, but you will see Eric Vincent. Vincent is the keyboard half of local electro-soul duo Translux Theater and soundtracker for Koresh Dance Company’s hallucinogenic Ancient Future (now touring the U.S.). It seems Big Pic pegged (rushed is more like it) Vincent to score the prestigious, Comcast-funded hip-hop musical drama Music City debuting that night.…

While Indre Studios hosted Kara Lafty’s (ex-Sonny Sixkiller, ex-Moped ) new band The Jane Anchor with co-producer Michael Comstock, Soundgun Studio hosted Songs: Ohia’s Jason Molina, who took advantage of owner/producer Edan Cohen long enough to create a full CD, Didn’t It Rain (with locals like Mike Brenner and John Popovics ), and a single track "Lioness."…

Send table-dancing author (and rumored Neil Stein aide-de-hip or aide-de-camp) Allan Lane a get-well card at Bar Noir. Lane got rammed at a red light in Glenside. No bones broken, but he’s more sore than if he fell off a table, I can tell ya.…

If you thought it was weird that Ours came from New Jersey, what about South Jersey’s Grand Fabric, who hit Khyber Dec. 2 with Asteroid #4. Like Ours, they have a Lou Reed-meets-Radiohead death rock ambience about them. Unlike Ours, they incorporate swirly Beatles-esque flourishes.…

David Pianka is making time by starting a new electro party, [click.], Nov. 30 at Silk City with DJ Julian (of "Grass" fame) and Cold Retarded spinner Andrew Jeffrey Wright (better known from Space 1026). Speaking of new electro, vocal locals Robots in Disguise start a Wednesday Five Spot residency Dec. 5.…

Moda finally opened its kitchen with Luca Sena Jr. as head chef.…

Jack Boogi jez’ started No Radio Fridays throughout Palmer Social Club. Three floors o’ funky static.…

Congrats to Jesse Lundy, from New Park promotions, whose band The Preacher Curls held their way-worthy CD EP release jam The Live at Longview at Pontiac. If WXPN’s Helen Leicht (Hi Helen! Say hi to husband Biff !) digs their stone-soul groove, then why shouldn’t you?…

Whatever happened to Phantom Flip Hassell’s Fiasco mag. Nothing. The one-time (seven years ago) art rag just turned Local. Its first issue was in September with a second one to follow in December.…

Beta-lactam Ring Records outta Oregon jez signed Philly’s The Red Masque. Full CD’s due spring 2002.…

Former Kixx label head Tab Edwards launched his "churban" R&B label, Tab Records. He’s guided rappers RuggedNess and Ital tha Ruffian to label deals. Now he hopes Tab will drive ex-Patti Labelle background singer Solomon Trotter to success with his debut single, "A Song for You," and likewise 16-year-old Shena Trinette’s first track, "Kiss Me," with former RAM Squadder Tommy Hill, who has his own debut solo single, "Society Hill," (wit’ Freeway from Roc-a-Fella) out on Antra.…

The Hair o’ the Dog Gala location has just been set for Jan. 5 at The Cruise Terminal.…

What’ll ya do now that Crescendo Theatre’s run of A Tell-Tale Heart is over? Act like you know and go to the after-party with stars Metagroove at The Balcony.…

Happy belated b-days to RuffFilms’ Rich Murray (who may get good news about his debut flick Snipes ) and to DJ Bobby Startup, always the bearer of good news.