Philadelphia City Paper | A.D. Amorosi

Chunklet's Henry Owings Lays Down the Rules in 'The Rock Bible'new

Mere mortals tremble at Owing's caustic humored sensibilities toward pop and culture. So when he came up with a "rock bible" idea for issue 20 and it exploded into a 250-page Word file in two weeks with more than 300 ideas from his contributors and friends, a book was in order.

Philadelphia City Paper | A.D. Amorosi | 11-11-2008 | Author Profiles & Interviews

Tags: zines, Chunklet, Henry Owings, rock music, The Rock Bible: Unholy Scripture for Fans & Bands

Do the WPA's Striking Visuals Still Make a Mark?new

The Works Progress Administration is often viewed through the kaleidoscope of the arts -- specifically the iconic, familiar posters originally commissioned as a visual representation of the WPA's credo. But what's their purpose today, aside from nostalgia?

Philadelphia City Paper | A.D. Amorosi | 10-28-2008 | Art

Tags: FDR, visual arts, posters, Ennis Carter, New Deal, Posters for the People: Art of the WPA, Works Progress Administration

New Documentary Shines a Light on Dick Clark and Philly's Payola Pastnew

Wages of Spin looks deeply into the ways Clark's vertical integration in the record publishing business, record pressing business and talent representation screwed over many a little guy.

Philadelphia City Paper | A.D. Amorosi | 10-14-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Philadelphia, documentary, payola, Charlie Gracie, Dick Clark, Shawn Swords, The Wages of Spin

Damon Feldman Pits C-listers Against Each Othernew

Celebrity Boxing Federation, the company Feldman started in January 2008, held one of its biggest matches last month, with former child star and current radio and television host Danny Bonaduce fighting local comedian the Rev. Bob Levy.

Philadelphia City Paper | A.D. Amorosi | 10-06-2008 | Sports

Tags: boxing, celebrities, promoters

Disc Makers Acquired CD Baby. How Come?new

CD Baby artists still sell big numbers and the company still operates as it always has. The only change is that as of August, CD Baby is owned by Disc Makers, the 62-year-old Pennsauken, N.J.-based independent manufacturer of CDs and DVDs, with 10 locations nationwide.

Philadelphia City Paper | A.D. Amorosi | 09-16-2008 | Music

Tags: retail, CD Baby, music sales

How and Why a Free Arts Magazine will Become a Storefront in Philly's Chinatownnew

For 30 days, Megawords' frequent contributors and like-minded friends will take over a burnt-orange storefront in Chinatown to allow the mag's playful personality to "come to life," according to co-founder Anthony Smyrski.

Philadelphia City Paper | A.D. Amorosi | 09-02-2008 | Art

Tags: Philadelphia, media, Megawords, magazines, visual arts

Live Arts' First Sold-out Show Ramps Up Greek Tragedynew

Emmanuelle Delpech-Ramey's speed-wheeling deconstruction of Oedipus at Colonus goes beyond Sophocles' wandering gloom to find a future and newfound faith in this hard urban setting, with local skateboarders acting as the play's Greek chorus.

Philadelphia City Paper | A.D. Amorosi | 08-26-2008 | Theater

Tags: Philadelphia, theater, skateboarding, theater festivals, Greek tragedy

Soulful Folkie Mutlu Chases the Dreamnew

His debut CD, Livin' It, has a similar funky-folky feel, but with a soft, hip-hop groove.

Philadelphia City Paper | A.D. Amorosi | 08-12-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Livin' It, Multu

Circa Survive's Anthony Green Makes Solo Debut with 'Avalon'new

What Roots godfather Ahmir Thompson is to hip-hop, Green is to local progressive punk — a good housekeeping seal.

Philadelphia City Paper | A.D. Amorosi | 08-05-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Anthony Green, Avalon

Ex-Vels Frontwoman Alice Cohen Plants 'Sky Flowers'new

Anyone familiar with Cohen, or the "Alice Desoto" who led Philadelphia's the Vels through the New Wave '80s, wouldn't be surprised by her solo album's distance and its flash of tenderness.

Philadelphia City Paper | A.D. Amorosi | 04-29-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: singer-songwriters, Alice Cohen, Sky Flowers