Independence is a tricky notion. Like I believe creepy Jersey governor John Corzine's mind's sailed independent of his senses. I believe Atlantic City should go independent and secede and that casino workers must allow their fists to fly independent of their elbows. Closer to home? It's about the music. Huzzah independence! Course, there's the bomb I dropped last Friday on The Clog where independent Y100rocks.com got bought by WXPN 88.5 FM so to get indie rawk splayed across some soft XPN evenings. (No! Y100rocks.com's Jim McGuinn nor anyone signing checks at WXPN'll talk. Yet.)

There's the race for William Reed and Paul Kimport to open Frankford Ave.'s competitive live joint, Johnny Brenda's, far from alterna-rock's usual grind (The Khyber, North Star), by August 26 so Brel freaks James Sugg 'n' Victor Fiorillo can host their prize-filled pre-Fringe Binge Fest that night. (You guys still driving up in ice cream trucks?)

Then there's Joe Mahoney's Songspot.org's Brotherly Shove fest! What happens when Philly's independent-est booking agent takes on Philly's independent-est club, The Troc? Four nights of local bands and comics (New Aggression, Simple & Supreem, Danny Ozark) broken into categories (hippie-hop, punk) with special events (Live Not on Evil's Crash Bang Boom! party) playing for Mahoney's communal site starting July 6. "I'm tired of bands fighting and bitching about competition," says Mahoney. "If a band fills a room, put it up at Songspot. If you needs a great opening act, find one on the site" (www.brotherlyshovefest.com).

WHOWHATWHERE: That geezer with hay hair standing next to you at the Original Turkey stand at Reading Terminal July 6? That is Neil Young. And he's announcing 2006's Farm Aid at the Tweeter (Lou Reed? Beck? Flaming Lips?), the secret gig Larry Magid hinted at during the Tweet's reopening press conference. Juggler David Smith—spied recently on America's Got Talent, stopped by N. 3rd's Fancypants Cinema. Who did Jerry Blavat have by his Memories in Margate to help celebrate the Geator's birthday? Joe Vento and Bob Gaudio of Four Seasons renown. Seth "I'm Not Mini-Me" Green hit Lucky Strike where he bowled a few rounds. He even signed a Lucky Strike pin "Sorry I didn't get 300." You know we dropped THIS last Thursday on The Clog: Liza Minnelli punching bag David Gest hosting a bash at Zanzibar Blue for his client Smokey Robinson. But you didn't know that along with heatedly asking for autographs from Cameo label guests Chubby Checker, Dee Dee Sharp and Charlie Gracie (they signed his Cameo box!) Gest talked briefly to those artists—all George Manney's Brotherly Love All Stars—of a possible European tour in 2007.

Dag! Scribe Cheryl Squadrito left the Courier-Post after a gazillion years to start Media Friendly Public Relations. Clients so far—double dag!—include Caryn Lin, Smash Palace, a law firm and The Children of Fatima that opens July 12 at the Adrienne.

Glam on South Second Street? It's not just for naked women throwing flaming shots and bananas down their throat anymore. Come First Friday July 7 and its happy hour, Glam's bringing the old-school art gallery vibe—booze—back to gallery row by showing off the paintings of Carmen Martella III who's out to show he's not just a pretty Skeletor or Dali face!

PHILLY JAZZBO ALERT: You missed bass boss Jamaaladeen Tacuma's gig with saxo-mo-god David Murray at Five Spot. But Tacuma has a brand new CD, Political Blues, on Justin Time, that's bold and funky and'll make him money if you actually buy it, fuckers. You missed legendary guitarist Johnnie Valentino's first hometown gig in over 20 years with his wife Elissa Lala and his saxophone pal, Michael Pedicin Jr. , at Chris'. But you can pick up his flighty funky OmniTone CD Stingy Brim. So now that the High Two label dropped U of Arts' abstract Ornette-bopping Shot X Shot's eponymous CD, want to miss that live gig too? They're at the Raven Lounge July 13.

Now that its FCC license renewal seems more imminent than we heard tell, WPRB's 'bot lady, DJ Lizbot, can go take control of Ninth Street Records from owner Bob Dickie this week. "Bob needs to hold onto his business license to take care of unfinished business, so the store will have a new name—most likely Doubleplusgood Records," says Bot, who plans to open the back for some quietlike in-stores. And Dickie? He's heading to Philly Record Exchange. Speaking of robots, they're the only change occurring with the again-rumored-to-be-selling Tin Angel. "I'm bringing in cyborgs instead of humans," jokes Tin owner Donal McCoy who blames continued rumor of Tin's sale on jealousy.

Dare to scare? Director Felix Diaz and his co-producing partner Bill Horton are ramping up for their own Terror Film Festival of horror 'n' skiii-fi (www.terrorfilmfestival.com) for October 18 to 23. Wipe the blood off your hands and start editing. And speaking of scary films, Lee Daniels is going to finally (erg) release (barf) the awful Shadowboxer. He says. Well, at least the rumored Squarebiz/Tastyttreats screening after-party July 22 should be fun.

Suddenly The Fire doesn't want all-age punk shows anymore. So. "With a few days left—we had to move to a smaller, cheaper spot," says R5's Sean Agnew of moving Canada's Career Suicide July 6 to the newish Shore House (51st and Spruce).

Along with ex-Wishniak Jim Moran (wow) dropping a Shimmers record (Gimme, Baby Flamehead) in 2007 on his new Transit of Venus label, Moran's wrapped up Trolleyvox's new The Karaoke Meltdown. Yipe. And after we spotted, at M Room's Tommy Keene gig, Philly power pop's ugliest mugs, we heard that Keene attendee Ken Buono will speak to Frank Brown and the other feuding-lot in Flight of Mavis—long enough, anyway, to record one track for what may be the last Record Cellar label thing—a two-CD compendium. Neil Drucker, say it ain't so.

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)