H Y PERLOC AL
DON E DI F F E R E N T LY
FISHTOWN + KENSINGTON + NORTHERN LIBERTIES + PORT RICHMOND + BRIDESBURG
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WEEK AUGUST 3, 2016 VOL. 13 NO. 29
THE WAY OF PEACE John Lewis Pre-Releases Graphic Novel at Amalgam Comics + Coffee. 11
LABOR COUNCIL Riverwards neighborhoods mentioned in DNC Labor Council meetings. 9
PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA Philadelphia Orchestra brings music to the people with a free chamber concert at Schmidt’s Commons. 10
ST. ANNE'S SENIOR CENTER Portside Arts Center summer campers will help design a new mural at the Senior Center 3
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Local events, meetings and more. 12-13
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ditor's Note: As a hyperlocal community publication, we pride ourselves in our coverage of everything community-based. We love telling stories about the small play that local folks are starring in, nonprofits that are doing good in the community, the new restaurant that is re-energizing a once-barren street corner, and just how much truth there is to “all politics are local” in our pages. But this week’s issue is a bit of a departure from that. Over the course of the past fews months, 14 Spirit News reporters, photographers and editors underwent the process of receiving press credentials to cover the Democratic National Convention. Just like Pope Francis’ visit last year, we thought it was important to cover an event of this magnitude, even if we are just a small, independent community publication. Our team was at the Convention Hall and in the streets, rubbing shoulders with reporters from regional, national and international press organizations, covering the event as only we know how: In person and on the
ground. In this week’s issue, you’ll read the stories and see the images taken by our group of local reporters. For us journalists, this was a once in a lifetime experience, and we’re proud to share this work with you. We think we found some great stories that others in the mainstream media did not cover, and got some great interviews with politicians, celebrities, and activists who wanted you, our readers, to hear what they had to say about the upcoming Presidential Election. This issue is in no way a political endorsement; only a collection of stories we’ve crafted during this historic event. We hope you enjoy this special DNC Edition of Spirit News. And no matter who you decide to cast your vote for, know that your voice counts come November. -Max Pulcini, Editor of Spirit News Continued on Page 4.
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 3, 2016 THE
local lens BY THOM NICKELS
T
he Democratic National Convention is now history. City streets are quieter, the traffic less daunting, and there’s finally a sense of being able to breathe easy. Though a national convention may be good for a city’s PR image, sometimes for residents the going can get rough. An overcrowded Frankford Market El and Broad Street subway filled with SWAT teams and wall to wall people is not a pretty experience. But on Monday, July 24, the first day of the convention, expectations were bright. That’s when I headed to the Jill Stein for President Green Party protest in front of City Hall and got an eye full. This protest reminded me of the Occupy Philly protests a few years ago and of certain demonstrations I attended in the early 1970s. I will always feel a connection to grassroots protest even as some of my political views evolve. The Green Party’s "Power to the People" 2016 platform is attractive enough. The Green vision is to end world poverty, put a moratorium on pesticides and institute community control of the police rather than the other way around. The Greens also want to terminate unconstitutional surveillance on American citizens. These are noble goals. I remember what happened to the Greens in 2008 when their presidential ticket, Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala were arrested and handcuffed to a chair for eight hours for attempting to participate in the Hofstra University Obama-Romney debate. Stein and Honkala should have been included in that debate. Thirty years ago presidential debates were sponsored by the League of Women Voters. That was back when any third party presidential candidates on the ballot in enough states was invited to debate the Republican and Democratic nominee for president. In 1988, the League withdrew its sponsorship of presidential debates because of the demands of the two party system. League President Nancy M. Neuman said at that time that “the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter,” and that “the candidates’ organizations aim to add debates to their list of campaign-trail charades devoid of substance, spontaneity and honest answers to tough questions.” It was fascinating to hear Stein supporter Chris Hedges from Truthdig and then observe the Green protestors (of all ages), some of whom were in costume, like the woman dressed as Hillary, the Queen of Death (based on Hillary’s reputation as an interventionist with a fondness for starting foreign wars). Large Green Party flags fluttered in the afternoon breeze as activists from the 60s chanted the same chants anti war protestors chanted during Vietnam War sit ins. I heard lots of ‘up’ talk in the crowd about Bernie pull-
ing a fast one during the convention. No, he would not capitulate to the corporate Clinton, but he “had a surprise in mind,” some said. Utopian dreams die heard. I kept my mouth shut and did not share my belief that Bernie had nothing in mind except... capitulation. A band of youthful drummers caught my attention with the following chant: "Communist Revolution is the only solution!" The Communist Revolution wrecked havoc in Russia and ended in failure. The French Revolution, as Jonah Goldberg has written, was “the first fascist revolution to turn politics into a religion. Accordingly, they declared war on Christianity, attempting to purge it from society and replace it with a "secular faith.” While we’re at it, let’s not forget this pro-revolution maxim from Thomas Jefferson: “If you discourage mutiny and riot what check is there on government?” Green Party dress was decidedly downtrodden and raw; frumpy shorts, pigtails askew, shredded baseball caps, pony tails and the occasional culturally appropriated dreadlocks on tall thin activist white men (some of whom had a man bun on top of the dreads). Unfortunately for the Greens, the numbers of protestors were not large enough to shut down the DNC at Wells Fargo, the original goal of the march. Whole Earth Catalog style post hippie costumes, floppy hats and black anarchist flags would never win over America’s heartland. A cosmetic makeover might be a good first step to start this revolution. Next stop on my list was the Wells Fargo building. I had my US Secret Service photo ID badge and my green Arena pass around my neck. A green Arena pass got you inside the Arena but not inside the actual Hall where you could sit down and watch the convention. Most press organizations sans big names like The New York Times had green Arena passes. Monday night, being the first night of the DNC, the "ASK ME" volunteers were quite liberal in allowing green ID press into the seating area, but green press passes were essentially useless unless one enjoyed standing for hours, or sitting on the Arena floor like a homeless person in front of 7/11. The DNC was quite stingy in its allotment of Hall press passes. In some ways it seemed to me that the ASK ME volunteers had it better than credentialed press. I sat in the upper tiers in the Hall Monday night with my green pass. I was behind the stage so I only saw the backs (and behinds) of Paul Simon, Al Franken, Elizabeth Warren, Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders. Two hipster DC online publishers who told me they were conservative libertarians sat beside me. Most of the press did not applaud or cheer the speakers although when Bernie Sanders mounted the podium, very few people did not lean forward in their seats. Before each speech, DNC pages distributed banners and
THOM NICKELS IS A PHILADELPHIA BASED AUTHOR, JOURNALIST, POET, FILM CRITIC & FEATURE WRITER FOR SPIRIT NEWS.
signs with a slogan or the name of the next speaker. This was for the benefit of the television audience. Generally, journalists attending political conventions do not show support for candidates, so the props offered by the pages went nowhere in the press section although a few newbie reporters from college newspapers scooped them up, causing one of the libertarian editors to remark, “Those kid reporters don’t know what they’re doing.” On Monday night there didn’t seem to be many American flags on the floor. For some people this may not be an important matter, but it did catch the eye of certain conservatives like writer Tammy Baldwin, who noted, “Americans notice things like no American flags on the DNC convention stage. It might be small to some people, but it’s a statement…. After criticism mounted, they added them the second night…” The lack of flags was more than amply made up for by a double tsunami of balloons, some as large as beach balls and small planets, that fell from the ceiling like a plague of locusts over the Clinton-Kaine team during the convention’s closing moments. Viewers watched as the Clinton team seemed to walk ankle deep in a sea of rubber. I couldn’t help but notice a dazed looking Hillary bending over slowly, as if in extreme arthritic pain, to pick up a balloon and then throw it to Bill or Chelsea. The balloon extravaganza was clearly the most bizarre moment of the convention and called to mind the antics of that famous clown, Clarabell. I found much to admire in the behavior of Bernie Sanders supporters. Some of them came dressed in funny hats, capes and motorcycle gear. The emotional build up to Sanders’ speech had all the tension of a Wagnerian opera. Bernie, however, still had many detractors. Charles Hunt of The Washington Times, wrote: “During his quarter-century in Congress, Mr. Sanders has been viewed as something of a gadfly with Tourette’s Syndrome. Always dressed like a homeless person shambling along the hallways, Democrats felt sorry for him and let him into their meetings. He looked like he needed a cup of coffee and free danishes.” Well, whoever said that politics was charitable? On Thursday evening, the night of Hillary’s speech, there were far fewer Sanders supporters on the floor. Hillary’s "Stronger Together" crowd was out in force: lots of women in black men’s suits and bob cut hair dos. I got a taste of the privileged political class when I went up the wrong escalator on Hillary night and wound up in a high donor area with special cocktail lounges and restaurant skyboxes serving crab, lobster and cherry filled Manhattans. Culinary security was out in force, so I did not get in. All in all, there were five intense security check points one had to go through before arriving in the Hall. On Hillary night, Monday’s generous press pass atmosphere had disappeared. Ask Me volunteers now guarded the Hall gateways like 1950s Communist border guards. I tried to negotiate a seat several times, but failed. I made do with touring the (so called) food courts, and noticed right away that Wells Fargo wasn’t doing the Democrats any favors: small bottled water sold for $4.50 a bottle, and a slice of pizza was double that. When the “enough is enough” alarm sounded within me, I left for home and watched Hillary’s acceptance speech online. •
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 3, 2016 BY SHANE ENGLISH
St. Anne’s PORTSIDE ARTS CENTER SUMMER CAMPERS TO DESIGN NEW MURAL FOR SENIOR CENTER
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group of young artists visited St. Anne’s senior center on Friday to finalize the design for a new mural. The artists, a group of campers ages 8-12 from Portside Arts Center’s summer arts camp, are preparing a four panel mural to hang on the wall of the senior center. “The theme is growth and harvest,” Sarah Damiano said. “It’s about growing, planting and learning about healthy eating.” Damiano is leading this group of campers, dubbed the Sharks, as they draw vines, plants and fruits for their mural. Greensgrow Farms’ Milkshake, one of famous pigs in Fishtown, has a starring role in one of the four panels. “We’re doing a panel of seeds being planted plus two panels of growth, Damiano said. “The last one will be the full garden, ready to feed everyone.” Damiano has worked with Portside since 2012 and is a fully committed arts educator. Though she encourages her students to reach for whatever medium speaks to them, Damiano personally leans toward drawing, painting and printmaking. To further encourage the Sharks, Portside Arts Center invited Cesar Viveros to chat with the campers. Viveros is a muralist who has worked with the Mural Arts Program. Notably, he designed “the Sacred Now” mural which was prepared for the 2015 World Meeting of Families. During the Pope’s visit, Viveros’ mural was signed by His Holiness. “Working together helps them to come together positively and learn,” Viveros said. “The feeling as they become part of the process motivates them and, ultimately, can open their minds.” During his visit, Viveros walked from table to table to ask campers what they contributed and what it meant to them. He demonstrated how he sketches and encouraged campers to make every drawing count. “It’s important for the kids to know that they can do this
together like we all came together to paint the mural for the Pope’s visit,” Viveros said. Before the campers began to draw, they all visited Greensgrow’s garden, said Sam Perry, a counselor at the summer camp. Perry, an illustrator, made sure to show off the vines and flowers brought by a Greensgrow volunteer. She said that she wanted to make sure the campers had all the inspira-
tion they needed. Portside Arts Center’s founding director, Kim Creighton said she is proud of the work her campers do at St. Anne’s. "We try and do outreach and class trips in addition to the arts work that we usually do,” she said. “This gives our students the chance to see their work displayed and to spend time in the community.” •
St. Anne's Senior Community Center
FINANTA
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 3, 2016
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 3, 2016 Continued from Page 1.
Jerry Springer/Ptah Gabrie
DAY 1: Jerry Springer Talks Politics, Council Pres. Clarke Endorses Clinton, Mayor Kenney Speaks in National Spotlight By Ptah Gabrie The 2016 Democratic National Convention began on the heels of DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s resignation over yet another email scandal rocking the Democrats. Naturally, Sanders supporters were not happy, and were lined up by the thousands to voice their disdain for the “rigged” system they blame for not giving Sanders a fair shot. Protesters were smooshed against a chain link fence lining the corridor leading from AT&T Station to the entrance to the secured zone. At one point, a security guard tried to stop us from taking a photo of the protesters. Chants of “Bernie, Bernie…” were drowned out by derogatory words spewed at anyone who passed by them. When we worked our way through the maze of fences, police and homeland security, the protests faded into the distance, and we entered the convention. Inside, the crowd grew with people filing through the concourse, occasionally having to find a way past the massive line to each of the Lorenzo’s pizza stands. The diverse crowd brought everyone onto a level playing field where politicians and celebrities mingled with delegates and the rest of attendants. Spirit News caught up with council president Darrell L. Clarke, and asked him why he supports Hillary Clinton for president. “I think she’s the most qualified person to run for the position, by far,” Clarke said. “I’ve watched her over the years…I kind of look at her as a public servant, even before she was an elected official.” Clarke acknowledged Clinton does have some “drama surrounding her from time to time,” but according to him, that’s all part of the political process. “There’s always gonna be issues, but at the end of the day, she’s where I am,” Clarke said. Clarke was optimistic that party unity will be attainable. “We are democrats. Democrats tend to fight, but at the end of the day we pull elections,” Clarke said. “We’re one house, the Democratic Party, and nobody outside of that house better mess with anybody.” Spirit News also caught up with former Cincinnati mayor and legendary talk show host Jerry Springer, who was making his way around the concourse. He also agreed Clinton is best suited for the job. “In my lifetime, she’s the most knowledgeable, well-versed person ever to run for president,” Springer said. “There is no subject on public policy that she isn’t clearly well versed.” Springer said he’s more liberal than Clinton, but a Donald Trump presidency is not an option for him. “She’s not as liberal as me but liberal enough,” Springer said. “We can’t have Donald Trump. It’s not even a grown up fight anymore.” Springer also said this election year is more divisive than years past. “It’s really not that bad. Unless you have an incumbent president, every convention is going to be a conglomeration of supporters of the candidate who won and the candidate who lost,” Springer said. “We’ve got 320 million people in this country, and only two major political parties. Somehow these 320 million people have to empty into two of these grand vessels,” Springer said. “You’re going to have all kinds of points of view. That’s what you’re seeing, and it’s not out of the ordinary.” Many speakers from around the country took the stage throughout the night. Local speakers included Congressman Bob Brady, Mayor Jim Kenney and Rep. Brendan Boyle.
The night was rounded out by passionate speeches from Corey Booker, Michelle Obama, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, each evoked why Clinton must be the next president. For many, the most anticipated speaker was Bernie Sanders. Sanders took the stage to a standing ovation and had a tough time quelling the cheers of support for him. Sanders, in a passive aggressive manner, said he was “excited” for the roll call vote today, and the crowd went wild. “ I look forward to your votes during roll call tomorrow night,” Sanders said. He offered some compassionate words to his supporters. “No one is more disappointed than I am,” Sanders said. “That revolution, our revolution continues.” He balanced attacks on Trump with messages of positivity, and concern about the future of America.
Mayor Jim Kenney/Max Pulcini
“This election is about, and must be about, the needs of the American people and the kind of future we leave for our kids and grandchildren. • DAY 2: John Fetterman Tells Sanders Supporters to Rally Around Clinton, John Lewis Gives One Hell of a Handshake, Jill Stein Causes Quite the Stir By Ptah Gabrie The delegate roll call began quietly inside the Wells Fargo Center. Far less people roamed the concourse on Day 2 than on Day 1 as each state verbally pledged their delContinued on Page 6.
Page 6 Inside the Convention Hall./Megan Matuzak
The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 3, 2016 Inside the Convention Hall./Walter Albasi
Cheri Honkola/Ptah Gabrie
Continued from Page 4. egates and nominated Hillary Clinton as the Democratic Party nominee for President of the United States. However, as delegates began exiting the floor, notable figures appeared. The media swarmed and people began filing in from the outside. The concourse became jammed with reporters and politicians. Green Party Candidate, Dr. Jill Stein, casually walked through the arena surrounded by reporters and photographers. As she approached one section where delegates had been exiting the floor, she was met with a large group of supporters who began loudly chanting “Bernie or Jill.” One man seemed to take offense to this chanting and began yelling at Stein. About 100 people clustered around Stein, a reporter who was interviewing her and the yelling man, many with their phones streaming video. But cooler heads prevailed and the crowd dispersed. Spirit News spoke to several delegates in the arena. The Honorable Jacquelyne K. Weatherspoon, an elected delegate from New Hampshire, spent time working for the state department in the 1990s during the Bosnian War. She served in the New Hampshire legislature for 6 years. According to her, she has worked hard to support civil rights in her state and across the country. She is a supporter of Hillary Clinton. “I worked in Bosnia-Herzegovina for the State Department. I lived there for the entire civil war,” Weatherspoon said. “[Hillary Clinton] has a proven record. I also worked with her in the Baltic States, when those were preparing their entry to the EU. So I’ve seen it, I’ve lived it, and she just empowers women. I wasn’t thinking of her being president, I was thinking she’s something to me and she’s saying you can serve, you can do this.” Weatherspoon believes Hillary Clinton is qualified to be the next president and is proud to see a woman nominated by a major party. “This was 240 years in the running. I cried,” Weatherspoon said. “I’m very happy, I’m very emotional, I’m very excited.” As Weatherspoon and I mingled in the crowd, we soon found ourselves face-to-face with legendary civil rights activist and Georgia Representative John Lewis. In the 1960s, he was chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and was a keynote speaker at the “March on Washington” in August 1963. Lewis gained even more notoriety when he recently staged a sit-in with House Democrats where they demanded congress vote on gun legislation. I extended my hand to the 76-year-old congressman and asked him why this election was important to him. Lewis did not let my hand go as he stared straight into my eyes, answering my question in a way that only someone of great poise and eloquence could. The swarm of people around us quieted as he spoke.
“We hear over and over again, that a certain election is the most important one in our lifetime. This one is. There’s forces on the other side that want to take us back, want to divide our country,” Rep. Lewis said. “I second Hillary Clinton, we’ve come too far, we’ve made too much progress to go back. As one people, as one family, the American Family. We all live in the same house, the American house, and we will not be divided.” A few steps away from Lewis, we caught up with Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings, who was a speaker at the convention, and asked him the same question. “Trump has said he is anxious to appoint someone like the late justice Scalia. He (Scalia) was not a friend to minorities,” Cummings said. “We can not be about the business of rewarding someone who calls women bad names, who says that John McCain was a good soldier, but when he got caught suddenly wasn’t a great soldier. That’s not who we are. We need folks that will help us be united as opposed to turn ourselves against each other” John Fetterman, the towering Mayor of Braddock, Penn., who ran a tough Senate primary race, snuck up right behind us. He was an outspoken Sanders supporter during his campaign, but now he’s supporting Clinton. “I have three young kids. We as a party need to get behind Hillary Clinton and do everything we can to make sure she’s the next president and that Donald Trump isn’t the next president,” Fetterman said. Fetterman also hopes Sanders supporters will look at him as an example of putting differences aside to unify the Democratic party. “I ran as the most progressive candidate in my race and I came up short,” Fetterman said. “You have to do what’s right for your country, your family and you have to defeat Donald Trump. The Bernie or Busters, I would just implore them as a fellow Sanders supporter that we’ve got to evolve, and we’ve got to get behind Secretary Clinton.” • Day 3: Things Get Gassy With Kensington-Based Protesters Outside Convention By Ptah Gabrie Protests took a gassy turn on Day Three of the Democratic National Convention (DNC). While some wide-eyed protesters accosted reporters and delegates as they passed by the chain link fences leading into the Wells Fargo Center, Kensington-based activist Cheri Honkola, former running mate of Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein, invited protesters to a bean dinner to express their disdain for the current political system by letting some farts rip outside AT&T station. The event was called a “fart-in” and had gained national attention after Stephen Colbert mentioned it on “The Late Show.” According to a source in the DNC Host Committee, even Chairman of the Committee and former
Governor Ed “Fast Eddie” Rendell had something to say about the protest. “Hopefully for the sake of everyone’s olfactory senses, this attempt at gastrointestinal malevolence ultimately proves to be more melodious than malodorous.” Spirit News was there as protesters gathered along Broad Street at the heavily guarded entrance to AT&T station. A makeshift serving station was set up and protesters began serving up platters of baked beans and rice and beans. Whoopie cushions were also distributed to get the sound of flatulence going. Honkola loudly enticed the crowd to come join her and show that the system stinks by stinking up the humid air this reporter, the protesters and about 20 police officers were breathing. “I live in Kensington, one of the poorest neighborhoods in Pennsylvania,” Honkola said. Honkola, who has spent time as an election fraud monitor in El Salvador, told the crowd what she’s seeing in this election cycle is far worse than what was happening during her stay in South America. “What happens here in this country in terms of elections is ten times worse than what I saw in El Salvador,” Honkola said. “So today we’re eating our beans and showing that it stinks. We want you to rip, roar and let it loose.” One reporter asked if Honkola was wearing a diaper and if she was afraid of sharting. “I should be wearing a diaper, Continued on Page 7.
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 3, 2016 Continued from Page 6. but I’m not,” Honkola said. “Sharting is always a potential consequence, but we have napkins over there.” The sound of flatulence intensified as a group of people holding pro-Clinton signs passed by and the bean eaters and began a chant of their own. The situation became tense for a moment, but settled as the Clinton supporters continued past. Honkola claimed delegates were going to come out from inside the convention to greet the protesters. However Honkola told the crowd that the delegates were tied up inside by law enforcement and security and were not able to leave. • Day 4: Hillary Clinton Formally Accepts Party Nomination, Delegates Describe What The Dem’s Platform Can Do For Philly By Ptah Gabrie Two things have happened since the Flyers and 76er’s brought a championship to South Philadelphia: America has twice elected an African American President and now a major political party has nominated a woman to run for the highest office in the nation. Spirit News was inside the convention hall when Hillary Rodham Clinton formally accepted the nomination of the Democratic party for President of the United States. The energy inside the hall was electrified as Clinton spoke about being a part of this historic event, and how proud she was to be introduced by her daughter Chelsea. The concourse was again buzzing with notable social and political figures mingled with reporters and delegates. Rev. Jesse Jackson made his way through the crowd, guided by a young woman. We also ran into actress Rosario Dawson, who is known for her role in the controversial 1990s movie about inner city teens titled “Kids.” As we continued on, we were bumped by another reporter who was chasing down former US Rep. Anthony Weiner. Weiner, who was became well known for sending pictures of his own genitals via cell phone, told Spirit News why he thinks Hillary Clinton is the best person for the job, and he even hit this reporter with a compliment. “She’s highly qualified, she’s got the right temperament, the right judgement, and compared to what she’s running [against] it’s not even that close, you’re more qual-
ified to run,” Weiner said. We also spoke with Philadelphia City Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. who was more than willing to speak with us as long as we waited for him to use the bathroom. “It was urgent,” Jones said. We spoke outside the men’s room. “Sometimes you take the best person who can go the longest distance,” Jones said. “Some of the ideas that Bernie Sanders brought up moved the needle in the right direction. To go the distance, to get that soft middle that could go either way for Republican or Democrat, Hillary is the person to get us across that line.” According to Councilman Jones, he thinks the state and federal government needs to invest more money in programs aimed to ease the burdens of student loan debt. “The state has to do a little more. The best thing in this package that I could imagine, is forgiving college loans. People can afford to do other things and they won’t need the government to intercede for them,” Jones Jr. said. “If you have an income you can take care of your healthcare. To my more conservative friends, I would say an investment up front provides you dividends in the long run.” Councilman Jones sees Clinton’s nomination as a big step for women in this country and hopes that the Democratic party will be able to rally around her by November. “For someone who has a wife, someone who has a daughter, it gives me that feeling that all things are possible, Jones said “When I was growing up, some of the best fights were in my house with my brother, but when we went on the street, we were together. Similarly, this party was fractured when Hillary was defeated by Obama, but we came together. We have a greater enemy to our country. What kind of a president calls upon the Russians to help him win.” Spirit News asked delegates to discuss impoverished neighborhoods in their own state and describe what they hoped the Democratic platform would do to help people living there. Jason Bloomberg traveled all the way from Cheyenne, Wyoming in an electric car. He is a physician, a delegate, and believes that Donald Trump must not become the next president. “I’m a Hillary delegate, and my co-driver is a Bernie delegate, and together we are the Trumpbusters,” Bloomberg said. “We’ve been busting Trump all across America.” Bloomberg says that even Cheyenne, Wyoming has it’s share of economic issues stemming from impoverished areas of the city. “There is definite economic divide between
north of the freeway and south of the freeway,” Bloomberg said. According to him, he sees the platform as a visionary step to helping bring back these neighborhoods from blight, but believes it will only happen when the local governments take a vested interest in revitalization. We also spoke with Marvin Sutton, an at large alternate delegate from Texas who was in Philadelphia for the first time. According to Sutton, there are many towns and neighborhoods where he lives that would benefit from the programs described in the DNC platform, and touts his own success story as the reason to invest in these communities. “We’re not asking for a handout. Give us a chance to be productive, give us a chance to get a quality education,” Sutton said. “I grew up in a housing project, and I’m now a productive citizen.” I got a decent education, and now I hold a job that makes over six figures.” Spirit News also interviewed Karla Ortiz. She is the 11 year old daughter of undocumented immigrants. She was born in Las Vegas, and spoke at the convention. She felt empowered by being a part of the DNC, and watching history live. “I’m going to be a lawyer, or I’m going to be the President,” Ortiz said. For her, being up on stage was an amazing experience, and she believes Clinton will help all immigrants not just her. “I felt actually kinda great. I’m a daughter of undocumented parents. [Clinton] said she is going to do everything she could to help everybody not just me,” Ortiz said. Ortiz knows that not all undocumented immigrants are criminals, and hopes people will be able to look past the negative comments and realize that they are humans too. “I feel bad for them, I feel bad for us,” Ortiz said. “They don’t even know the possibilities. They think, but they don’t know.” •
Hillary Clinton/Walter Albasi
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 3, 2016
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 3, 2016 W R I T T E N B Y B O B S T E WA R T
Labor Council
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N O R T H P H I L LY N E I G H B O R H O O D S M E N T I O N E D I N D N C L A B O R C O U N C I L M E E T I N G S
bout 40 percent of kids in Philly go to bed hungry, Rev. Gregory Holston, Pastor at St. Matthew United Methodist church, explained to the Democratic Delegates gathered at the PA Convention Center. He further broke down disturbing poverty and unemployment numbers for various ZIP codes across the Riverwards. But Holston wasn’t seeking food or clothes as handouts. No, this being the DNC Labor Council, he wanted work. Specifically jobs that got paid with union wages. On Monday, Holston showed a map of North Philly where 24 factories used to be. None of them are open now, he explained. But Holston wasn’t the only one with a rap. On Wednesday the council still sounded like a Sunday service. Various dignitaries from the Democratic world picked up where Holston left off. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio started by saying, “Brother and sisters ... the conversation of the country has changed.” He wanted to talk about “raising taxes on the wealthy,” “raising the minimum wage,” and “raising benefits for paid sick leave.” He added, “This is our 1933,” alluding to the New Deal from FDR. Massachusetts U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren came in and stoked the fire as well. “There’s no place I’d rather be than with my union friends,” Warren pointed out. She then discussed the long term benefits of unionism with pensions and the expansion of middle class. “There was a time when we built an America to strengthen America’s workers. After the Great Depression hit we came out of that saying we don’t have to be a boom and bust economy, where people do well for a while and then crashes and everybody gets wiped out,” she said. Later on, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told the story of how labor helped him get his dad, Mario, elected governor in 1982, against all odds versus Ed Koch. Somers Team Halfunionized Page Ad 2 state copy.pdf 5/2/16 “New York state is Spirit the most in the1 United States of America and we are proud of it,” he said.
Cuomo lamented the changing world and the lack of help in adapting to it. “This whole concept of ‘we’re gonna move from the manufacturing job to the high tech intellectual jobs,’ that's a beautiful concept. Very nice. Unfortunately... when you go from a manufacturing economy that now employs mil-
lions of people ... what happens to the [displaced workers]? And there’s never been and answer.” Many of the speakers claimed Hillary Clinton could be the answer. Only time — and one very contentious election — will tell if that is truly the case. •
Sen. Elizabth Warren/Bob Stewart
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 3, 2016 WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HANISCO
Philadelphia Orchestra PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA PERFORMS FREE CHAMBER CONCERT AT SCHMIDT’S COMMONS
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n Sunday, July 24, the Philadelphia Orchestra hosted a free outdoor chamber concert at Schmidt’s Commons (formerly the Piazza at Schmidt’s). During the two-hour concert, musicians from the orchestra performed in small chamber-sized groups that represented all four major instrument families. Between performances, the musicians stepped out from behind their instruments and spoke to the crowd about the different styles of music they were hearing. The event was part of the orchestra’s neighborhood concert series, which was revived in 2000 in an attempt to bring music into new communities and break down perceived barriers that might prevent many Philadelphians from connecting with the orchestra on a regular basis. That spirit of breaking down barriers was on full display as I looked around at those in attendance for the Sunday evening concert. The audience was filled with an eclectic mix of new parents with their dancing toddlers, bearded twenty-somethings sipping beer, and Northern Liberties’ many dog owners and their four-legged friends. It was certainly not a crowd you would expect to see packing into the Kimmel Center each and every night. Reaching new audiences like this is an important area of focus for the orchestra, according to Jeremy Rothman, Vice President of Artistic Planning for The Philadelphia Orchestra. He expanded on this initiative in a recent interview with Spirit News. “In April, the Orchestra launched a new initiative called 'HEAR' focused on Health, Education, Access and Research. HEAR is a portfolio of integrated initiatives that promotes wellness, champions music education, eliminates barriers to accessing the orchestra, and maximizes impact through research,” he said. Community-based concerts like the one at Schmidt’s Commons are central to the HEAR initiative, Rothman explained. “Neighborhood concerts are key to the 'Access' part of our work as we provide opportunities to bring communities together and experience the Orchestra as a whole, as smaller ensembles, or as individual musicians. Whether it is Girard College, Penn’s Landing, or the Piazza at Schmidt’s Commons, we are building an offstage presence as strong as its onstage one. This is an orchestra of and for Philadelphia that is flexible and dynamic in how it connects with listeners,” he said.
Of course, leaving the confines of the Kimmel Center presents a number of added challenges for musicians and audiences alike. There were competing sounds during the outdoor performance — barking dogs, revving bus engines, the buzz of a helicopter overhead. Not to mention that Philadelphia has been in the grips of a brutal heatwave. Rothman said that the musicians and the audience seemed to take it all in stride. “We are fortunate to have some of the world’s best musicians in our orchestra. They are also great people who understand the value of bringing beauty to a new neighborhood. Sometimes the elements aren’t perfect – but that’s what makes each live performance so unique. At one moment a noise might seem distracting. At another it could actually add an element of humor or serendipity where you least expect it,” he said. Overall, the concert was a huge success in Rothman’s eyes and he would be eager to see the orchestra return to Northern Liberties in the near future, given the chance. “Over 500 people braved the heat and enjoyed 'The Northern Liberties Guide to the Orchestra' with a chamber group from each instrument family performing (brass, woodwinds, percussion, and strings). It was a fabulous atmosphere for a concert. The backdrop of the Schmidt’s sign, surrounded by outdoor restaurants and apartments gave it a really intimate, special feeling. All of us were delighted and hope to return in the future to build on this success as well as continuing to find new neighborhoods to visit,” he said. •
All photos by Michael Hanisco
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 3, 2016 WRITTEN BY JORDYN CORDNER
the way of peace JOHN LEWIS PRE-RELEASES GRAPHIC NOVEL AT AMALGAM COMICS
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n Wednesday, June 27 a large and diverse crowd gathered inside of Amalgam Comics (2578 Frankford Avenue) for a special pre-release and signing of congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis’s third installment of his autobiographical graphic novel March. Co-written by Andrew Aydin, the comic chronicles the struggles and triumphs of Lewis’s long history in civil rights activism. According to Ariell Johnson, owner of Amalgam, Lewis’s team reached out to her events coordinator to set up the signing, which was specifically meant to coincide with Lewis’s trip to the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Philadelphia this week. It took months of planning. “It was such an honor meeting him. It’s so unreal,” Johnson said. “I still haven’t wrapped my mind around it. It’s been [very busy], just kind of ripping and running, so I don’t think it’s had a minute to really settle.” “As a black woman, the fact that he was standing up for me even though I wasn’t born yet, and [...] the things that they achieved got us to where we are now,” Johnson added. “We’re not in a perfect place, and there’s still much more work to do, but even the fact that I’m able to own this business.” Johnson told Spirit News that one woman who attended the book signing was close to tears when she thanked Amalgam for hosting the event. Johnson believes that many are honored to have the congressman visit their neighborhood. “I think even if you don’t fully get it now, in ten years, you’ll understand what a big deal that was,” Johnson said. “That he would show a little additional love to Philly is really cool.” One of those honored by the congressman’s presence was attendee Deirdre, 20. She was part of “a student group that [used similar techniques] and based its charter on SNCC’s charter,” so, for her, the event was very important as a way to recognize and remember the work of people like Lewis. “We’re meeting someone who is a historical legend. He is part of America’s great tapestry of demonstrations and civil rights legislation,” Deirdre said. “[It reminds the community that] a lot of this is bigger than ourselves.” Vernette Carroll, another attendee, found the event particularly significant. Carroll first met Lewis when she was 16, participating in the civil rights movement in Arkansas while Lewis was the chairman of SNCC. “I was at the first march on Washington,” Caroll recounted. “I was at all the demonstrations in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, I went to jail, [was] hit over the head… we were trying to integrate a restaurant at the time and the state trooper said, ‘No, you can’t come in,’ and then they started beating us over the head. [...] We did pay a price, a real big price. I was only a teenager.” Carroll says that in her opinion, activists of today should maintain respect, and “have to come together and know that everyone is the same. When you see flowers, they [all look different] but they’re all the same. Just different colors. There’s no such thing as race. When you need blood, they’re going to ask for type. They’re not going to ask for race.” Carroll moved to Philadelphia in 1969. She was planning to write to Lewis and travel to Washington D.C. to see him before learning that he would be in Philadelphia this week. “It feels awesome [to meet him again],” Carroll said. “I didn’t think he would remember me but he said he did.” Carroll plans to write a book based on her experiences, using snippets she has of newspapers and photographs from her time as an activist saved in a scrapbook. She brought the scrapbook and a young photo of herself to show Lewis, in remembrance of their shared and individual experiences. The March series, now in its third installment, draws from the experiences of Lewis and heavily relies on his recollections and input to take shape. According to Top Shelf Comix, the first installment became a “#1 New York Times and Washington Post bestseller and an award-winning landmark in the graphic novel field. The sequel, March: Book Two, was released in January 2015.” Leigh Walton, editor of the March book series, was skeptical of the idea of the books at first. He wary of the age-old celebrity comic cliche in which artists create the story and celebrities detachedly sign the cover (does anybody remember William Shatner's Man O War graphic novel?). Walton said that after talking with Aydin, it was clear that they would struggle to keep up with Lewis’s vigor and workhorse actions. He finds it reflective of Lewis’s abilities to lead so victoriously in the civil rights movement. Walton believes that the approach to effective protest must be specific, creative and convincing. “Essentially the technique of non-violence is to make injustice intolerable,” Walton Vernette Carroll/Jordyn Cordner
Lewis, Johnson and Aiydan. /Jordyn Cordner
said. “[In March,] the congressman is dedicated to dramatizing things and expressing them in a clear and universally understandable way, so that when a third party is watching you confront an agent of injustice or an unjust situation, they are forced to acknowledge, ‘This is not right, I have to stand up and do something about this, how can I stay neutral?’ It’s a way to yank people out of their complacency, to dramatize the conflict of right and wrong.” As the event came to its conclusion, Spirit News was able to pull Congressman Lewis aside for an interview. We asked Lewis what advice he has for young people in America today. “Young people… should use March as a guide, as a road map,” Lewis said. “Before we went on any sit-in, any march, we studied, we prepared ourselves. We studied the way of peace, the way of love, the way of non-violence. We were disciplined we had the dos and don’ts of the sit in movement, things like be orderly, sit up straight, don’t talk back, and abide by the way of peace, the way of love, the way of non-violence, and respect everybody. Respect the police officers, respect the opposition, and never hate, for hate is too heavy a burden to bear.” He added: “It’s very moving to see these principles dramatized through graphics. It makes it real. People can be inspired, people can feel it, almost touch it. [Youth can see that if] the young people more than 50 years ago can do it, in a non-violent fashion, we can do it.” •
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 3, 2016 COMMUNITY
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m eet ing s Wednesday, August 3, 7PM PROPAC MEETING The meeting takes place at 7PM at the Columbia Social Club, 3529 Almond St. For more information, visit PROPAC’s Facebook page. Thursday, August 4 HARROWGATE CIVIC MEETING Includes a neighborhood update, town watch update, Friends of Harrowgate Park update, 24th District update and stats Heitzman Recreation Center 3631 Amber St., at 6:30PM. Wednesday, August 17 FNA MONTHLY MEETING Join the conversation around beautification events, neighborhood news, safety, and zoning at the monthly membership meeting at Fishtown Rec Center (1202 E Montgomery Ave).
events Wednesday, August 3 NERD NITE Nerd Nite #64 will take place at Frankford Hall (1210 Frankford Ave.) from 7:30-10PM. Join us for talks by three lovely, nerdy ladies who will be sharing some very niche expertise with you. They include: Kelly McCarthy with “Mapping the Arctic from 1500 Feet: A Glimpse into our Changing Earth," Katie Bohri presenting on ””Smoking Grass for the Environment - Managing native grasslands with fire," and Kae Lani Kennedy will discuss “The Secret Life of Beanie Babies.” The cover is $5. Wednesday, August 3 ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS Come meet and mingle with Engineers Without Borders Philadelphia! Part networking event, part drinks with friends (drinks optional). This is a great opportunity for members old and new, as well as anyone interested in our initiatives, to come hang out. Leaders will be present to field questions about our projects, membership, and how EWB Philly can help develop your career. New and non-members strongly encouraged to attend! Casual dress. The event will take place from 6-8PM at Frankford Hall. RSVP to receive updates. Friday, August 5, 6PM THE FAITHFUL LAURENTIANS Please join us Aug. 5, 2016 6 PM at Unsung Heroes Art Gallery 2024 Arizona Street 19125 Light refreshment will be served. We will also be taking orders for our t-shirts. All are welcome. Friday, August 5, 6-8PM LUTHERAN SETTLEMENT HOUSE PARTY ON THE DECK Lutheran Settlement House is having a First Friday party on the deck. All are invited, and it is part of our effort to connect more with the Fishtown neighborhood and build community. There will be free food and drinks, games, music, and artwork by our seniors. Saturday, August 6, 6:30-8:30 PM TWILIGHT GARDEN TOUR The evening at Greensgrow Farm (2501 East Cumberland St) will include curated, small group tours of the nursery that are designed to inform and inspire you. Enjoy seasonal fruit, locally made cheeses and refreshments. Philadelphia Brewing Company and Rowhouse Spirits will be serving beer and spirits made just blocks from the farm.
Jazz pianist, Patrick Fitzgerald will play throughout the twilight. Tickets are $35. For tickets or more information, contact events@greensgrow.org. Sunday, August 7, 2:45PM THE SEWING CIRCLE OF PHILADELPHIA Join The Sewing Circle of Philadelphia on the first Sunday of every month at the Coral Street Arts House (2446 Coral Street). They are looking to build a tight knit community and impact the surrounding community in creative and contributory ways. For further information and to RSVP contact Scott Bickmore at scottbickmore@yahoo.com or (215)-990-5150. Sunday, August 7 EIGHTH ANNUAL 2ND STREET FESTIVAL The 2nd Street Festival, held between American and Green Sts. will feature over 150 vendors and food trucks. Additionally, the bars and restaurants along 2nd St. will be serving beer and cocktails in outdoor tents. Art Star will host its Craft Bazaar on the block between Fairmount Ave. and Green St. Volunteers Needed (free beer and tshirt included) - sign up at http://www.volunteersignup.org/BQAH4 Tuesday, August 9 THE MAKING OF THE ARCHIVE COLLECTIVE Join us at 6:30PM in the PPAC gallery (1400 N. American St., #103,) for a discussion on the role of archives and working in the community through arts driven projects Curator Kaila Brooks, Project Coordinator Lori Waselchuk, and Archive Researcher Alysson Biermaier will host a panel entitled “The Making of Archive Collective.” Moderated by Temple Contemporary’s Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs, Robert Blackson, the team will share the process of behind the creation of this unique visual narrative. Wednesday, August 10 MOVIE NIGHT Join the Friends of Penn Treaty Park and the Philadelphia Parks and Rec Department for a spooky, family fun movie under the stars and the film Hotel Transylvania 2. Bring your blankets or chairs for a great night out, starting at 7:30PM. Saturday, August 13 FISHTOWN COMMUNITY SOFTBALL GAME Come join the Alumni as we get set to play our annual "Fishtown Community Softball Game." The game will be played immediately following the scholarship presentations at 12:00. Interested in playing? Send an e-mail to bcg62152@gmail.com., or show up at Hetzell playground. The cost of $25.00 to play in the game will include a shirt and also a picnic afterwards. Saturday, August 13, 10AM - 2PM GIRL SCOUT CAR WASH At Frank Glavin Playground, 2600 E Westmoreland St. Outside clean only, Car – $7; SUV’s – $10, larger vehicles if can access to clean – $15. Refreshments will be sold, as will the popular MegZ fragrant candles. Please stop by and help this great group of girls, earn their way to Disney World next summer. Another event scheduled for Saturday Sept. 10 – same time and place. Saturday, August 13 KENSINGTON GARDENS Join us for a pop-up beer garden event at the site of the store, starting at 5PM. More information about the beer garden is available on the Kensington Gardens website.
Saturday, August 13 PUPS AND CUPS A favorite activity, especially in the summer months, is going to a sidewalk café with your pup. We are introducing a continuing education course for people who have already attended a training class with their dogs but would like to bone up (excuse the pun) on this very specific behavior. If you’re interested in your pup learning sidewalk behaviors, attend this class from 11:30AM-12:30PM at the PSPCA Fishtown (1546 Frankford Ave.)
Thursday, August 18 HAPPY HOUR TO BENEFIT FRIENDS OF PTP, FNA & FACT Join the Friends of Penn Treaty Park and Parks on Tap for the only event of its kind in the area. Parks on Tap is hosting beer gardens in parks throughout Philadelphia. They have selected Penn Treaty Park as one of their sites this year. The event will run from August 18-21. August 18th night will feature a Happy Hour fundraiser for 3 neighborhood groups - Friends of Penn Treaty Park, FNA & FACT. Come out and have a drink in our waterfront treasure.
Thursday, August 25 DAVID BOWIE TRIBUTE NIGHT Tall Short People will be performing The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in its glorious entirety. 4 Lads Insane will bring their eclectic sound and interpret songs from throughout Bowie's career. The event will take place at Ortlieb’s (847 N 3rd St.) at 8PM. For more information and for tickets, visit ortliebslounge. ticketfly.com.
Thursday, August 25, 8PM CAT-A-STROPHE AT THE PAPERMILL THEATER (2825 ORMES ST.) Cat-A-Strophe is coming to Philadelphia August 25: A new play written by playwright Yoel Wulfhart will premier at the Paper Mill Theater. Cat-A-Strophe is what would happen if Samuel Beckett, Dario Fo and Hannoch Levin cowrote a sitcom. Tickets are $15. For more information, contact the Papermill Theater at thepapermilltheater@gmail.com.
June 28-August 4 SUMMER PROGRAMS AT BEACON (2364 E. CUMBERLAND STREET BETWEEN MEMPHIS AND CEDAR) Join us at Beacon this summer from 6/28-8/4 in the yard for two fun programs: Open Yard on Tuesdays from 122pm (games, reading, fort-making & more) and Garden Hour on Thursdays from 2:30-3:30pm (urban gardening education). Both programs are free, drop-in, non-religious, and open to all (children under 5 must be accompanied by an adult). For more info, email info@thewordatbeacon.org or call 215 423 6216.
July 14-August 27 LOCAL COLOR Local Color: Cut Paper Collages, a solo exhibition of artist Joseph Opshinksy’s work, will be on display at the Hall in Crane Arts (1400 N. American St.). Receptions will be held on July 14 and August 11 from 6-9PM.
June 27-September 1 2016 EVA RUBIN MEMORIAL WINDOW BOX AND PLANTER CONTEST Once again the FNA is holding a window box and planter contest to reward the best flower boxes helping to keep the neighborhood green and beautiful. The contest entry deadline is September 1st. Submit entries to beautification@fishtown.org, or to FNA’s Facebook or Instagram page with the tag #FNA-
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 3, 2016 FlowerBox. Be sure to include a photograph and the address.
September 30-October 2 SEAN MURPHY FIELD OF DREAMS The Sean Murphy Fall Classic will be played on Friday, Sep. 20 - Sun., Oct 2. All Games will be played at Shissler Rec (Berks and Blair Sts.) in Fishtown. Opening ceremonies will start at 6PM on Sep. 30. We will be unveiling a mural of Sean to start the festivities. The weekend will include the following activities: Baseball tourney, food - vendors, kids activities, concessions, live music, golf ball a drop with a chance to win $10,000, Beef and Beer, raffled y items. All proceeds will be used to renovate our neighboro hood fields and provide a scholarship to local kids. f For more info, or if you want to make a donation, please con, tact Billy Gorey (215-901-2017 or goldenbeargarage@gmail. A com) or Dave Doc (267-312-5869 or djdave05doc@aol.com)
Thursdays POWERS PARKS FARMER’S MARKET Come attend the Farmers’ Market on Thursdays from 3-7PM at Powers Park (Ann & Almond Streets). Fresh food r available from local farms and kitchens. - More information (vendors, etc.) is available on the Powy ers Park Conservancy Facebook page. s h 2016 CAMPBELL SQUARE EVENTS - While every effort will be made to reschedule events can. celled by bad weather, we cannot guarantee that alternate dates will be scheduled. Please call John at 267-886-8799 or Susan at 215-426-3766 on event dates for possible cancellations, or check us out on facebook at Friends of Campbell Square. l Aug. 17th, Weds., 7-9PM BIG HOUSE BAND - Sept.9th, Friday, 7-9PM DOO WOP NIGHT (tentative) d Sept. 18th, Sunday, 8AM-l:30PM FALL FLEA MARKET e . RESURRECTION BOWLING LEAGUE . Resurrection Bowling League is looking for male and female bowlers, individuals and teams. The league bowls on Tuesday nights at 8:30 PM at Thunderbird Alley on Holme Ave. League play begins Tuesday, September 6, 2016. Anyone interested in bowling, please call Joe Gessner 215w 725-3556 or Kathy Pearce 215-802-6912. t - LEPRECHAUNS SIGN UPS - Leprechauns Sports Association is now accepting registration for Football and Cheerleading. This is open to - boys ages 5-14 and girls age 6-14. The clubhouse will be opened Wednesday nights from 6-8 pm and Saturday mornings 10 am-12 pm. The clubhouse is located at 2973 Gaul Street 19134. For more information call 215-423-6309 Check out our website http://leprechaunsysa.wix.com/leps#!blog/chi3, or find us on facebook.https://www.facebook.com/Lepred chauns-Sports-Association-347773417784/ n Wednesday g PRESCHOOL STORYTIME AT RICHMOND LIBRARY - This program is intended for children ages 1-4 and their - caregiver. Siblings are always welcome. Daycares should call for separate appointments. Richmond Branch of the 5 Free Library, 2987 Almond Street.
BRIDESBURG REC CENTER (4625 RICHMOND ST) Zumba – Classes are Mondays and Thursdays from 7-8PM, and the cost is $4. t Beach Photos - Beach photos by <rs. Gooden will be taken n in early June. Save the Gas! Beach photos will be taken at d the Rec in an air conditioned room. Bridesburg Nursery School - Boys and Girls ages 2-4 as of September 1, 2016. 2’s Mon. and Thurs., 3’s Thurs. and Fri., 4’s Mon. and Wed. Food Pantry - Please donate nonperishable food and clothing for needy in the neighborhood. Drop off donar tions at the Rec weekdays from 9AM-9PM. p Scrapbooking – Scrapbooking group meets on Wednesy day evenings from 6:30-9:30PM. The cost is $5 per class and everything will be supplied except a book and photos. o For more information call Miss Jackie at 215-685-1247. -
BY AMY STRAUSS
Liam Wilson DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN BASSIST AND FISHTOWN RESIDENT DISCUSSES UPCOMING SHOW AT KFN
E
arly last month, Kung Fu Necktie flashed the news that Dillinger Escape Plan would be taking stage on August 10. Receiving an instant surge of backlash, comments flooded their event listing ranging from “How is this place going to be standing after this?” to “Is this real?” But, it wasn’t a joke. The 19-year-old band that’s made its rounds at larger venues (Union Transfer, Electric Factory) was coming out of hibernation. As a wolfpack of esteemed thirty-somethings who pioneered a rhythmically complex, dissonant-style of metal and performed maniacally, they hadn’t put out an album since the 2013. That release, "One Of Us Is The Killer,” was their fifth full-length and sold 15,000 U.S. copies in its first week and scored a No. 25 slot on The Billboard 200 chart. Now, after chugging away with high-profile side projects (The Black Queen, Giraffe Tongue Orchestra), they’re back with a promised sixth album, "Dissociation," by October 2016. As the question, “Dillinger Escape Plan is playing … where?”, seemingly repeated with snapback judgement, I tapped the band’s 16-year bassist, Liam Wilson, for a look behind-the-scenes. Wilson, a long-time Fishtown resident, revealed it’s common for Dillinger to undergo an intimate, close-to-home tour before launching a new record. (His bandmates hail from Morris Plains, NJ) “We like to bring it back to our roots,” he said. “It’s about giving something back to diehard fans. [Kung Fu Necktie] is the smallest room we are playing on the tour and we wanted to pick a venue that’s punk — which it is — and is the perfect size. We’ve never played there and it’s going to be gnarly.” Wilson hinted that a single from the forthcoming “Dissociation” may be part of next week’s setlist. “We did things differently this time,” he said, in relation to producing the album. “We allowed the album to be more of an open-source, working with different people and delegating outside of our usual nucleus. I’m excited and relieved, and I do feel we are making a statement and taking a step forward.” Earlier this year, Ben Weinman, Dillinger’s founding member and guitarist, went on the record to tease that it’s super-heavy, definitely dark and weirder than the last record. Wilson confirms that he and his bandmates, “have gone through the most life-changing, emotionally dredging times in our lives since our childhoods. We were all processing some heavy adult reality checks—coming of age, gripping with aging, gripping with the highs and lows of life. We went through moments of frustration and doubt [during the album’s production], and questioned if we could make anything good out of it. But, all of a sudden, we made this amazing art and we realized we should just trust that process.” Wilson wasn’t a founding member of Dillinger—but it sure feels like it. He become a part of the internationally known band in 2000, then a University of the Arts student with a side gig at Rock & Roll Plus (he was hired by Mike Supermodel, owner of Jinxed stores; Diplo worked across the street at Inferno) and a hobby bassist. He attributes his “in” with the band to his friend Jim Winters, a Liam Wilson of Dillinger Escape Plan /Amy Strauss
local music legend, who tipped Weinman off to the longhaired, Jaco Pastorius-influenced bassist. “In the beginning, when I was a fan and going to see them, the shows were aggressive,” he recalled. “I remember the singer at the time, Dimitri [Minakakis], putting his finger on my forehead and screaming in my face and Ben swinging his guitar. It was scary and it made me feel alive.” Fast-forward to a successful meet-and-greet at the First Unitarian Church and a private listening session of the yet-to-be-released final mix of the “Calculating Infinity” album … and the rest is history. “I just sat in the car and let it wash over me — simultaneously feeling like, ‘there is no way I can do this’ and ‘I have to do this at any cost.’” A few months later, he jumped on a Dillinger tour and was in Europe for a month of shows. If you’ve seen Dillinger’s extreme shows you know it’s as much about the music as the performance itself. “Our business model is to go out there and be the best band on any stage at that time in the world,” Wilson said. “For that one hour, it’s not just to impress you, it’s to put a dent in the universe. If it’s a bigger stage, you have to make your gestures larger for it to communicate.” Dillinger’s goal is always to dissolve the barricade between the band and the crowd. You’ll find frontman Greg Puciato making uncanny stage dives into the audience and hell if that results with some blood. Weinman has a laundry list of injuries from their stage chaos, including a fractured skull, a broken neck and a torn rotator cuff. Then, there’s Wilson, whose is more mild-mannered— and maybe even yoga-inspired. (Think about the warrior one pose if you catch his stance on stage.) The ferocious performances have even caused the Westboro Baptist Church to suggest they need hugs and a security guard to proclaim that they needed anger management. “My response to him was, ‘this is anger management,’” said Wilson. Outside of Dillinger Escape Plan, Wilson busies himself with dad duty — he has a 19-month-old daughter, Ziggy; is an active yogi hitting Grace & Glory Yoga and Amrita; and juggles several musical side projects, including his dark, psychedelic instrumetal band, John Frum. He confesses that Memphis Taproom is his stalwart and anticipates the opening of Fishtown’s Evil Genius Brewing Company taproom. He’s also been known to assist at R5 Productions’ venues and has run the box office — even selling people Dillinger tickets. “They had no idea,” he laughed. “It’s weird to be selling for ‘the man’ for my own band. It’s meta—other people would do that as stunt.” After all his years of touring with Dillinger, what makes him never leave Philadelphia? “There are a millions of ways that going on tour has made me more open-minded, maybe even more critical of America because I’ve seen it from the outside in,” he concluded. “Same thing with Fishtown and Philadelphia: I can see its flaws, but I can also see what I love about it.” Catch Wilson on stage with Dillinger Escape Plan as they perform with The Number Twelve Looks Like You on August 10 at 8 PM at Kung Fu Necktie. •
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 3, 2016 COMMUNITY
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& I NSTA L L ATIONS
LOW RATES FAST SERVICE UPFRONT PRICES LICENSE D
I NSUR E D
B ONDED
S KI L L E D
100-200 AMP BREAKERS TROUBLESHOOT REPAIRS OUTLETS - LIGHTS - SWITCHES
BARRY FISHER
ELECTRICIAN OVER 27 YEARS EXPERIENCE
House wiring, 100 amp circuit breakers, ceiling fans & a/c lines.
THE FINE P RINT:
1 4 2 8 E . S US QUE H AN N A AV E
We reserve the right to edit, refuse or classify any advertisement. Advertising is a privilege which must be protected against misuse. All classified advertisements subject to pre-payment. It is the responsibility of the advertiser to check the advertisements each time it is published. No responsibility is assumed by the newspaper for errors. Errors will be rectified by reinsertion in the following issue only.
215.423.6246 The deadline is Friday at 5pm for display ads, and Monday at 12pm for classifieds. All advertisements must be paid for in advance.
MARKETS
FOR RENT Efficiency 32xx Frankford Ave. $550 + electric Immediate possesion, no pets 215-840-8399
LICENSED & INSURED - LIC #PA040852/16493
215-327-3817 PAY LESS
ROOFING
NEW RUBBER ROOFS MINOR ROOF REPAIRS ALUMINUM ROOF COATING
SHINGLES - GUTTERS - SPOUTS
215-743-8599 FREE ESTIMATES - CALL GERRY
“WE DO IT ALL” 215-396-2206
AD S @S PIRITN E WS . ORG
B&A
APPLIANCES
REPAIRS
Port Richmond - 2BR Townhouse. Central air, hard-wood floors, $975 + utilities. 1st floor 1BR apartment $775/month + utilities. Security check, application fee, NO PETS. 215-425-3086
Rooms for Rent 25xx Frankford Ave. $515 Clean and Furnished 215-941-3000
FOR SALE
WASHERS DRYERS STOVES REFRIGERATORS
Club Charter For Sale Call 267-3257112 Ask for Joe
No Charge With Repair
215-588-1671
AFFORDABLE ELECTRIC FAST SERVICE & LOW RATES LIC. - INS. BONDED
2 1 5 -92 7-1 100
HANDYMAN
PLUMBING - WINDOWS PAINTING - DOORS CARPENTRY - CEILINGS CEMENT - FLOORS
215-743-8599
YOU HAVE A NICE SET OF WHEELS BUT CAN’T FIND A PLACE TO PARK THEM.
Landlords must allow you to make reasonable accommodations to ensure full use of your apartment. Telling you that you can’t install grab bars and ramps is against the law. You can fight back. If you suspect unfair housing practices, contact HUD or your local Fair Housing Center. Everyone deserves a fair chance.
FAIR HOUSING IS THE LAW!
610-604-4411 - FJCSP.COM
ALL MAKES ALL MODELS
24-Hour Emergency Service $10 Charge For Estimate
FAIR HOUSING
JOBS
REAL ESTATE SALES: New or experienced; free training program.
Call Mike Dunphy at 215-840-8399 Drivers: Great Hometime. $1,250 + per week + Monthly Bonuses. Excellent Benefits. Newer Trucks. No Touch. CDL – A 1 yr. exp. 855-842-8498
JUNK CARS Up to $1,100 cash for cars or trucks with bad engines or transmissions. $550 CASH for any complete junk car or truck with or without title. Call 215-669-1000
PARENTS
FOSTER PARENTS Good, Loving homes needed for children of all ages.
PLEASE CALL 215-203-8733 or 1-877-NFI4KID or visit nfi4kids.org
Page 15
The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 3, 2016 B Y B O B S T E WA R T
Help Jerry’s Kids! After 45 years, Walter Pomroy is still devoted to helping Jerry’s Kids and it’s time for him to hit the sidewalk once again. Pomroy, also known as Fishtown’s Good Samaritan, will hold his annual campaign to raise funds for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. He’ll be on the sidewalk at 314 E. Belgrade St. from August 12 to September 5th. Stop by to make a donation and support a worthy cause. If helping kids is not enough to rouse you into action, Pomroy will also be selling hot dogs and soda cans for $1.50.
Meet the delgates WE ASKED THIS DELEGATE IF HE'S EVER HEARD OF BRIDESBURG...
W
e asked delegates if they've ever heard of the neighborhoods we cover. After getting their answer, we described the neighborhood, and asked how the Dem's platform could help communities like ours. Here's one of the folks we spoke with:
AFFORDABLE ELECTRIC INC LOWEST PRICES! “We Do It All” POLICE, FIRE & SENIOR DISCOUNTS
RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL FAST EMERGENCY SERVICE 100 AMP • Breakers Lighting • Outlets • Fuse Repair • Ceiling Fans Switches • Dryer Lines Doorbell Repairs
10% OFF WITH THIS AD
215-722-5993 State License #PA068325 City of Philadelphia Electrical License #17027 We will BEAT ALL ESTIMATES!
NAME: MATT TUCHOW HOMETOWN: SAN FRANCISCO, CA NEIGHBORHOOD: BRIDESBURG HEARD OF IT?: "NO, IT SOUNDS LIKE A SUBURB” PROBLEM: DRAWING INDUSTRY AND ENERGY JOBS TO THE AREA SOLUTION(S): *ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS KEY. *TRAINING FOR JOBS FOR THE NEW ECONOMY. *RETRAINING THOSE ALREADY IN THE WORKFORCE *CHILDREN’S EDUCATION. HELPING THEM TO OBTAIN JOB RELEVANT EDUCATION. BIG DATA AS AN EXAMPLE. TUCHOW DID STUFF LIKE THIS AT HOME FOR GREEN JOBS. THEY TRAINED PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR SKILLSET. AUTO REPAIR FOLKS WERE TRAINED HOW TO RECYCLE MOTOR OIL. LANDSCAPERS LEARNED FORESTRY. •
Is there something going on a that’s a little funky in your neighborhood that you want us look into? Have something juicy you want to leak? Know of something fun or interesting going on that you think we should know about? We rely on sources like you for news that effects our neighborhoods. No tip is a bad tip. Drop us a line at news@spiritnews.org.
The Spirit of the Riverwards – March 2, 2016
the 8th annual
2ND STREET FESTIVAL an ePiC BloCk ParTY in norTHern liBerTies
free to the public!
SUNDAY, AUGUST 7TH noon To 10 Pm • norTH 2nd sTreeT from germanTown To sPring garden
featuring
arT sTar PoP uP • PerformanCes BY PurPles, sHakedown ColleCTive, dJ frosTY, afTer dinner minTs, dJ roYale of sCraTCH aCademY, killerwHale • for full sCHedule, visiT our weBsiTe sTreeT Performers and danCers • kids aCTiviTies • 20 food TruCks • Beer gardens • norTHern liBerTies neigHBorHood assoCiaTion fundraiser TenT To volunTeer or ask quesTions: info@2ndsTfesTival.org • www.2ndsTfesTival.org follow us @2ndsTfesTival on