SWORDFISH & TROMBONES: Grandchildren, Popped! Fest, Last Night [FLICKR] EVA SAYS: Holy shit! I am so hyped up on Monster Energy Drink right now it’s not even funny. It’s 3:23 in the morning, I’ve smoked my third cigarette in a row, and I’ve just read this last sentence over five times. Whoever thought of giving out free mega doses of glucose and sucrose in sugar-water beverages to kids at an avant-garde, prog-rock, DIY West Philly show is either an asshole or a genius — I haven’t decided yet. Luckily, the task ahead of me deserves all the energy I […]
THIS JUST IN: Rick D. Memorial Services Announced
RICHARD C. DOBROWOLSKI, April 7. 2007 of Phila., beloved son of Eileen and the late James, brother of Linda Lyng (John) and Susan Lester (Doug); also survived by 2 nieces, Audrey and Lily. Relatives and friends invited to his Memorial Service, Thurs., 11 A.M., JOHN R. FREED FUNERAL HOME, 124 N. Easton Rd., Glenside. Int. Chelten Hills Cem. The family will greet friends after 10 A.M. No flowers. Instead please send donations to Philabundance, PO Box 37555, Phila., PA 19148-7555. [Via Philly.com] UPDATE: An informal wake for Rick D. is reportedly going down tonight at Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar.
POPPED! FESTIVAL PICKS: BARKING SPIDERS, NORMAL LOVE, BEAR IS DRIVING
NOTE: All week we will be sharing responses to our Popped! band-libs. Barking Spiders 1. We are called Barking Spiders [pictured, above] because it’s what grandpa called farts. 2. No, that is not a stupid name for a band and it is correct of you to say that. 3. We are a band because we are good friends. 4. If we were not a band, we would be another band. 5. People say we sound like lawn mower. 6. But really we sound like jet skis. 7. A year ago we were online dating and now we’re married. 8. If […]
MOJO RISING: Jimbo Named ‘XPN Drive Time Jock
CITIZEN MOM REPORTS: WXPN is finally bringing Roger Jim McGuinn into the fold, moving him from King of Y-Rockism to the “regular” station lineup. McGuinn, the paterfamilias of Gen X radio in Philly, will remain as Y-Rock’s program director, but he’ll move from the Y-Rock on XPN broadcast to David Dye’s 4-7 p.m. on-air shifts, every day but Friday. The Funk remains. Here’s Mr. Dye’s open letter to listeners: Dear Amy, I have an announcement that may seem sudden, but has actually been a few years in the making. About two years ago, I crawled into XPN GM Roger LaMay’s […]
All Of This Happened While You Were Sleeping
POP WILL EAT ITSELF: Popped! Festival Opening Night Party, JB’s, Last Night
TRIBUTE: RICK D. IN HIS OWN WORDS
My favorite time in Philly’s music history was ’79 to ’83 or ’84. The city was a mess then. It was bankrupt and every other building was boarded up. The entire city was coated with fliers for shows. A lot of them were really creative, and you could generate buzz and excitement overnight. Because Center City was so shady, you could put on shows at the drop of a hat, and nobody really gave a damn. The police were enforcing the liquor laws, so you’d just hand them a hundred bucks and they’d go away. There was no radio support, […]
JOHNNY THUNDERS: You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory
This one goes out to Rick D. Because at least he tried.
POPPED! FEST PREVIEW: Pattern Is Movement
NOTE: Throughout the week we will be sharing the responses of Popped Fest bands to our Mad Libs-esque questionnaire. 1. We are called Pattern is Movement because it sounded better than Passionate Moments. 2. No, that is not a stupid name for a band and it is awesome of you to say that. 3. We are a band because God told/commanded us. 4. If we were not a band, we would be working for Ride The Ducks. 5. People say we sound like Julie Andrews meets System of a Down. 6. But really we sound like Julie Andrews. 7. A […]
EARLY WORD: Pop ‘N Fresh
Standby for our daily Popped Fest preview…
BREAKING: Tritone’s Rick D. Killed By Heart Attack
SARA SHERR REPORTS: I’m shocked to even type this. Just found out through Paul Dellevigne that Rick D co-owner of Tritone passed away from a heart attack just a few hours ago. I’ve known Rick D for over a decade, first as a music journo, back when he booked The Firenze, JC Dobbs, and Upstairs at Nick’s. He was an early supporter and adopter of all kinds of punk bands, most famously booking Green Day at Dobbs pre-Dookie. He also ran a label called Black Hole and was in a band called the Newbyles. He probably has a history pre-bar […]
Rick D: Barman And Booker Extraordinaire, Beloved Inventor Of The Bob & Barbara’s Happy Meal
BY BRIAN HOWARD The crowds have changed since [Nate] Wiley first began playing at the bar in 1983 with the Joe Whalen trio. Back then, Bob and Barbara’s drew primarily black crowds as one of the last of South Philadelphia west-of-Broad’s jazz bars. (Many nearby establishments had closed or vacated in the ’50s, ’60s and early ’70s due to the long-planned-but-never-realized crosstown expressway, which eventually became the Vine Street expressway.) Bob Port, who had owned the bar since 1978 with his friend Barbara Carter, retired to Kansas City in 1995 and sold the bar to Prince, who used to own […]