Also this issue: Critical Mass Local MC Kenneth Masters makes a declaration of independence. -Ainé Ardron-Doley Back to the Future Cracker hasn't crumbled, but David Lowery says Camper Van Beethoven makes sense right now. -Collin Keefe Cherrywine -A.D. Amorosi The Caribbean -Sam Adams Eighth Blackbird -Peter Burwasser Greater Philadelphia Hip Hop Alliance Showcase -Ainé Ardron-Doley Sticks and Stones -A.D. Amorosi D'Julz -Sean O’Neal

January 23-29, 2003

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Watching It Happen

by Patrick Rapa

Rock Lotto is making little pop Frankensteins out of the local music scene. Organized by Maria Tessa Sciarrino (Sugar Town co-founder, Plain Parade co-booker and Her Jazz DJ), the Philly version of this infrequent indie tradition gathered regular and aspiring musicians a month ago and randomly grouped them into fours. These patchwork bands were assigned the mission of practicing and putting together one 15-minute set each for the battle of the bands-style showdown at The Khyber this coming Wednesday.

"It was a mix of exactly what I wanted: seasoned veterans of the Philly rock scene and people who have never set foot on the Khyber stage," Sciarrino says of the Rock Lotto roster. Scattered among the various makeshift bands, you'll find: Matt Kelley (Late Night Television), Dave Frank (Wishniaks, Lilys, etc.), Ben Morgan (The Sand Family), Sam Henderson (King of Prussia), Joe Morris (The Marts), Ben Warfield (Best Friend Records) and Ethyl Sabolick (Paul Green School of Rock). To keep things somewhat organized, Sciarrino made sure every band got a drummer. (Sadly, her secret desire for grudging ex-bandmates being forced to reunite did not come to be.)

So far only one band has dropped out and most of the others have been checking in with positive progress reports. Apparently, the fast friends in Gospel Nation (Warfield, Sabolick, Jon Rosenberg and Paul Havelin) have been practicing at Paul Green School's "Punk Rock" room, so they might have a slight edge over The Camp Davids, Billy D & The Colt 45's et al. at the big talent show.

(First prize is cash plus a day's worth of recording time in studio A at Indre Studios. Second place gets a day of recording at Indre's studio B, which one would assume is less cool. Third prize is gifts donated by Whole Foods. Judges include Amy Salit, Victor Fiorillo and CP's own Sam Adams.)

Sciarrino says we can expect the Rock Lotto to pop up yearly (though probably not over the holidays next time). "I'll keep doing it as long as people want to rock out."

"I just wish I wasn't organizing so that I could play!" she laments. "The irony! Why can't the one person who helps other people find bandmates get her own band together?" Somebody help her.

Rock Lotto takes place Wed., Jan. 29, 9 p.m., $6, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888.