PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | NOVEMBER 4 - 11, 2021

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Small-time landlords have a rough path in Philly

The landlord’s lament

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FROM THE EDITOR

THE SIREN SONG OF RENT CONTROL

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t’s cheap to believe supply and de- costs, and the interest rate on loans can make mand doesn’t determine prices, but or break a project. “Expenses are going up expensive to act on it. Too many of from a material and labor standpoint, but our local elected officials are flirting they’re also going up from a standpoint of taxwith disaster by pretending housing es, insurance, things like that that you’re not supply won’t affect the cost of rent. thinking about,” Jonas said.

Councilwoman Kendra Brooks, for The way to a more-affordable housing marexample, still believes in the foolishket in the city is two-fold. One: loosen zoning restrictions in Center City so more apartment ness of rent control and made it part of her campaign for City Council. While it’s unlikely units can go up. Two: embrace density.

Density makes local displacement less that City Council will pass rent control legislikely because building more apartments lation, the appeal of it or a “fixed-rate housing lets more people live in a neighborhood. The model,” as Councilwoman María Quiñones available supply of housing is parSánchez has called it in the past, is amount for determining the price a sign that the City doesn’t underof housing. Rent control doesn’t do stand the affordable housing crisis anything to expand the supply of that we face. housing.

Philadelphia needs to build many This emphasis on expanding supmore housing units, and any poliply doesn’t mean that developers cy that isn’t primarily focused on hold all the cards. growing our housing supply will “The big thing is that, in order for do nothing to make rent more afcomms to have the type of housing fordable, or make home ownership they want in their communities, more possible for the average citit’s really important that the develizen. Rent control will not make opment world and the community rents more affordable; it will disgroups get together, create some courage the creation of more houstrust, and work together toward ing. solutions,” Jonas said. “And the Rent control is an expensive solutions are probably things that political fantasy. It doesn’t lower @ANTHONYHENNEN are a little uncomfortable for both.” the average rent, it degrades the Neighborhood groups influence quality of existing housing, and it these projects and can ask for (or demand) mistakes an effect for a root cause. The real changes. What’s important is to keep in mind problem is that limited supply drives up pricthe tradeoffs. A few more neighbors might es because it’s effectively illegal to build more apartments. When a lot of people want a few change the aesthetic look of a block and bring a bit more traffic. apartments, the only way to lower the price is But more housing can also bring more tax to build more apartments. revenue to support the neighborhood, more If the city builds more apartments, the business opportunities, and greater political overall price of housing falls. This is the inpower to resolve local problems. escapable fact of housing prices that many Less housing means fewer people living in people, from opponents of “gentrification” to a neighborhood who could otherwise make it elected officials, want to ignore. a better place to live. Squashing new housing Currently, zoning restrictions and the diffiexcludes new families who would otherwise culty of getting new housing approved make live there. it financially impossible to build almost anyPhiladelphia has an opportunity to grow thing but “luxury” housing. The difficulty tax revenue, create jobs, and welcome a diof getting zoning variances, the approval of neighborhood groups, permits and licenses, verse mix of people to enrich the city. The key lies in building more housing, not freezing and dodging the deadly scythe of councilmanrent. ic prerogative to get housing built in Center Philadelphia has plenty of room, and exCity means that developers look to build elsepanding the housing supply doesn’t mean radwhere. ical, earth-shaking change. It can be as small When new housing is kept out of Center City, it will get built somewhere else, and as allowing a block of two-story rowhouses to become three-story rowhouses, or a block those who can afford Center City prices will of three-story buildings to become a block of snatch it up.

Rent control doesn’t change this. Four four-story buildings. Some people may argue that this is the Manhattanization of the city. things drive “everything in the real estate Actually, not building an extra story or two business,” said Gary A. Jonas Jr., partner at will be the Manhattanization of Philadelphia: the HOW Group, which focuses on new conIt will make the city an oasis for the wealthy, struction and adaptive reuse projects. The market price of rent, construction costs, land driving everyone else outside city limits.

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A PW EVENT Jose Garces’ new restaurant, Hook & Master, has opened in the city’s Olde Kensington neighborhood. Hook & Master merges a traditional Chicago-style pizzeria with a tiki-inspired lounge to create a unique and elevated dining experience. In partnership with Chef Steven Seibel, Hook & Master’s menu features a variety of pizzas – from thin and crispy Tavern-Style pizza that Garces grew up eating in Chicago, to the more traditional Chicago Pan Style Pizza, along with an assortment of Brooklyn-style pies. Along with the pizza offerings, menu highlights include antipasti-style seafood dishes and finely curated tiki-inspired cocktails.

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The current number of homicide victims year-to-date under Mayor Jim Kenney and District Attorney Larry Krasner’s leadership. This represents an 11 percent increase over the same time last year and is higher than the annual number of homicides that took place in 2007 through 2019.

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Kidnappers, robbers and

murderers

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TOP: Kathryn Canavan said her favorite story in her book is the 1926 Olney Bank and Trust robbery, a daring daylight stickup. Image | Courtesy of Kathryn Canavan BOTTOM: Kathryn Canavan’s ‘True Crime Philadelphia: From First Bank Robbery To the Real-Life Killers Who Inspired Boardwalk Empire’ takes a look at early crimes in the city.

Image | Courtesy of Kathryn Canavan

A look back at Philly’s early true crime

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napped for ransom. No parent ever worried hiladelphia is known as a “city of it would happen,” Canavan said. “There was firsts.” Philadelphia was the first a popular song about Charley. He was written planned city in America. Philly had the first stock exchange, first into a Broadway play. His case inspired the admonition, ‘Never take candy from a stranger.’ penitentiary, first Thanksgiving Before the kidnapping, parents weren’t wired Day parade, and so on. to be on the alert for someone trying to take Philadelphia also has the dutheir children. No police officer had ever been bious distinction of having the first kidnapping and the first bank robbery. These stories assigned a ransom case.”

Canavan said her favorite story and others about early crime in in the book is the 1926 Olney Bank Philly are told vividly in Kathryn and Trust robbery, a daring dayCanavan’s “True Crime Philadellight stickup. phia: From First Bank Robbery To “Four heavily armed bandits the Real-Life Killers Who Inspired were already driving away with Boardwalk Empire.” the loot – almost $1.2 million in toI reached out to Canavan and day’s money – when the people of asked her why she wrote the book.

Philadelphia put their thumb on “An editor from Lyons Press the scale,” Canavan said. “They asked if I’d be interested in reborrowed guns and knives and searching the true crime history ran into the bullets to help the of Philadelphia,” Canavan replied. sole police officer on the scene. A “There were three centuries of hemechanic, a night watchman and roes and villains and vexing chara poultry salesman, all strangers acters.” until that morning, decided to tail How would you describe the first the robbers together. Two men bank robbery? laying a gas pipe decided to give “One of the most interesting PAULDAVISONCRIME.COM chase instead. A man who had things about the robbery is that been trying to sell his touring car the bank was in the basement of drove it into the gunfight instead.”

Carpenters’ Hall where the First One of the most interesting stories in the Continental Congress was held 34 years earlier. The story takes on more urgency because book is the largest mass murder plot in U.S. it all happened in August 1798, just as people history.

“It was the largest murder case in city hiswere fleeing the city because yellow fever was rampant,” Canavan said. “One of the two tory. The ring’s standard tools were hexes, thieves succumbed to the fever before he could love potions, the evil eye and arsenic sprinspend his half of the money and the other one kled on spaghetti. When they ran out of arsenic, they resorted to bludgeoning with sandhelped himself to both halves.”

How would you describe America’s first bags, ill-fated fishing trips and hit-and-run accidents. They even tried to buy live typhoid kidnapping? germs. Their goal was to collect life insurance “The kidnapping of Charley Ross is the most sensational crime in Philadelphia his- payouts, and police estimated the ring netted tory to this day. Up until that day in German- nearly $100,000 during the Depression. Their town no American child had ever been kid- partners in crime were unhappy homemakers

PAUL DAVIS

who would insure their husbands,” Canavan said. “The ring had its own doctors, undertakers, insurance agents and even a matchmaking service for arsenic widows.”

Canavan said that 27 suspects were convicted and 15 served life sentences. Two cousins went to the electric chair.

How would you describe serial killer H.H. Holmes?

“Holmes is a man who would murder his own business partner for insurance money and then kill three of the man’s children to get all the heirs out of the picture,” Canavan said. “He was married to three women at the same time.”

Canavan said he was caught and hanged here at Moyamensing Prison due to efforts of a Philadelphia detective named Frank Geyer.

“Even celebrated crooks like H.H. Holmes were no match for everyday Philadelphians. Clever, everyday Philadelphians have been tripping up criminals for more than 300 years,” Canavan said. “When civil rights leader Octavius Catto was assassinated on South Street, a 61-year-old brickmaker jumped off a trolley car and chased down the 21-year-old shooter.

The bandits who robbed the Olney Bank and Trust branch were already driving away with the money bags from the most lucrative holdup in city history when fearless Philadelphians stepped up and stopped them.”

Canavan added that it was a passerby who spotted bank robber Willie Sutton just 180 seconds after he tunneled out of Eastern State.

“Philadelphians are a resourceful bunch, whether committing crimes or stopping them.”

Next week: Kathryn Canavan on early organized crime in Philadelphia.

Paul Davis’ Crime Beat column appears here each week. He can be contacted via pauldavisoncrime.com.

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | NOVEMBER 4 - 11, 2021

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T

he future of renting in Philadelphia will be controlled

by Big Rental. Small-time landlords are disappearing from the city, for a variety of reasons.

While some may rejoice, the change augurs a future where low to moderate-income housing gets scarce and families struggle as corporate policy stays inflexible.

Small landlords have been squeezed by higher taxes, more regulations, and the complexity of following every new change to stay compli-

NOVEMBER 4 - 11, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

ant – but the pandemic made their problems worse. Many tenants couldn’t afford to pay full rent, and the lack of revenue going to the landlord put them in a financial bind. Then, when federal relief did come, it mostly went to large companies. Many landlords didn’t qualify for earlier rounds of relief, and when relief finally did arrive, few small landlords were made whole.

As a result, landlords are deferring maintenance that would keep housing stock viable long-term, or selling to get out of the market entirely.

A report from Harvard’s Joint Center for

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PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY Housing Studies and Penn’s Housing Initiative drives the point home: In 2019, 3.5% of listed rental properties were for sale. By 2020, it jumped to 20.9%. Deferred maintenance jumped from 5.4% to 35.7%.

While tenant evictions also went up, from 17.8% to 25.6%, extensions on rent payments drastically increased, from 19% to 68.6%.

These increases don’t mean that small-time landlords (or larger ones) are exiting the market yet, but it does show dissatisfaction and a trend that could be a problem in the near future.

Small-time landlords are “very, very disappointed with the federal government. And we’re also disappointed with the state as well,” Greg Wertman, president of HAPCO, said. “It’s been well-publicized through many, many, many studies and it was the mom-andpops and your low-end renters that took this whole thing on the chin.”

One big problem from COVID was that, when federal relief money came, it prioritized large rental companies. The first round of federal relief disqualified landlords who filed 1099 tax forms; aid went to landlords who drew a salary from their rentals. But if a landlord only has a few units, the revenue isn’t enough on which to draw a salary – small-time landlords lose out on federal aid, but large companies reap the benefits.

But the problem wasn’t only COVID-19.

The pandemic exacerbated problems that had been building for years.

“Philadelphia had the luxury of having a bunch of small people, mom and pops, they would scrape together a couple dollars where they would inherit a property and they became a landlord,” said Jim Sims, a former landlord who sold off his properties a few years ago. “Back in 2010, it wasn’t very hard to comply. Basically, you just had to get a rental license.” But after that, landlords needed more licenses, then the lead laws hit, he said, and the real estate taxes kept changing – doubling, sometimes tripling for some landlords within a few years.

Another fee or a new rule or two, in isolation, aren’t too bad. When they happen all together, within a short time, though, the cost and difficulty to maintain a rental unit goes up.

“No one is looking at the complexity of what they’ve created,” Sims said. “Basically the small mom-and-pop landlord started losing money or just squeaking by.” When those units leave the rental market, it’s hard to replace them with another small landlord.

“If you have one unit, you cannot believe the hoops you jump through” to stay compliant with city laws, Wertman said. Many people don’t bother, and prefer to sell a unit rather than renting it.

The landlord business was “becoming too costly, too unpredictable, and I got out. And that is going to happen to a lot of small people now,” Sims said. “Philadelphia is destroying these small guys.”

The small guys, as a Pew Charitable Trusts

analysis noted, make up a majority of landlords in Philadelphia, though they don’t own a majority of rental units. Roughly 73% of landlords in the city own one or two units, 18% of the city’s rental stock. About 25% of landlords own three to 24 units, about 30% of the rental stock. And 2% of landlords own more than 25 units, but they own more than half of the rental stock.

In a housing market getting more expensive, with less federal or state relief for smaller landlords, and more rules and regulations on every rental unit, the future looks bright for Big Rental. Smaller landlords can’t absorb an economic hit like large companies, nor can they spread costs across their units.

Some safety rules are necessary, even if they carry a high cost. The benefits can be worth the extra burden. The problem is when so many rules and regulations make it impossible to keep housing affordable. It may be wise to reassess the rules and cut what’s outdated or minor. The HAPCO handbook for landlords is more than 360 pages – it’s a sign of the hard task landlords have to stay law-abiding.

When a unit is sold instead of rented out, this puts pressure on low- to moderate-income housing. When the supply of rental units falls but demand doesn’t, prices go up.

For poor or struggling renters, small landlords provide more housing in their price relative to larger companies, who tend to own newer or larger buildings.

If small-time landlords disappear, this also makes it harder for the city to reach its affordability goals. The city’s plan heavily relies on preserving and renovating the existing affordable-housing stock, rather than building new units. If landlords sell off their units and exit the market, what was once for low-income renters will now be for better-off buyers.

Revising the plan to build more units, though, will be a tough one. City Council gets the vapors and faints when they see plans for a four-story apartment building. The city government is run by people who fear new construction, even Habitat for Humanity wants to build affordable housing on a parking lot. Even if the city makes the construction process less complex and lowers the cost of doing business to get low-income and moderate housing built, complaints from neighbors could derail it all.

In Philadelphia, the demand for slightly-more-convenient parking options overrules the need of a poor family getting an affordable apartment. That is the status quo, and that is the tradeoff that City Council prefers. The short-sightedness of this vision should terrify anyone who doesn’t want to force the poor out of Philadelphia.

“I want to see low- to moderate-income housing succeed, but I don’t see the tools there to help it succeed, and that’s the problem. My biggest complaint I have is

there are no tools to help us increase, in the private sector, low- to moderate-income housing,” Sims said.

The struggles of smaller landlords aren’t simply a result of unwise City regulations, either. The financial system is at fault, too.

“The big banks do not want to lend on a small portfolio,” Sims said. “Federal laws changed after 2008 when everything started to collapse; new laws came into play and it put requirements on big banks where, if they were gonna lend money to someone like me [small time landlords], they had to keep certain reserve requirements.”

Those changes meant that if banks lent money to small landlords, they couldn’t lend out as much money as they could with car loans or other financial products. Denying loans to small landlords in favor of larger companies or other loans meant that they could make more money.

The disappearance of the small-time landlord, from a tenant’s perspective, can be a mixed bag. Anecdotally, Stephanie Dorenbosch, Director of Advocacy for the Tenant Union Representative Network, noted that larger companies tend to be more inflexible.

If a tenant is short on rent for the month, a rental company is less likely to work with the tenant on a compromise than a landlord who

7

only owns a few units.

“On the other hand, I also don’t hear about any large companies doing illegal lock-outs or illegal pop-up evictions, or physically throwing tenants out on the street,” Dorenbosch said.

“The larger companies seem to be, generally, more by-the-book. That cuts both ways.

The nice ones are less flexible, but the bad ones are less bad because they’re at least following most rules.”

The small-time landlord is not perfect. Nor are they always a sympathetic figure. The class-war fight over seeing landlords as expropriators misses the big picture, though: The way to get better landlords is by giving them competition.

When tenants have more choices, cruel landlords lose tenants.

Unless dramatic change happens in City Hall, the Pennsylvania General Assembly, or the federal government and the problems of small landlords are taken seriously, the future of Philly is a future of Big Rental and poorly aging low-income housing. Ignoring the plight of the small-time landlord ends with poor families forced to leave the city and higher rents for everyone.

@ANTHONYHENNEN

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | NOVEMBER 4 - 11, 2021

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GOSSIP

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Image | the blowup

ICEPACK

I

LOVE

for sanitation workers PTC plans a trash theater spectacular

NOVEMBER 4 - 11, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

The Story of JC Dobbs,” the film is a mustf you’re wearing your “Hey, I voted on Tuesday, and all I got was this see for those who care about what is called lazy, hubris-filled District Attorney “the evolution of Philadelphia’s fertile music again” T-shirt, welcome to anothand arts subculture in the 1970s. If 304 South er week in Philadelphia where you Street is indeed reopening (and honestly, I’ve can shoplift all that you like. This heard this a dozen times since its last owner, Election Week’s special? Pocket beloved South Street habitue Heshey Schlachover the usual $50 limit and get terman, sold it to Ron Dangler and Angelo your recently confiscated ATV back Rullo between the end of 2020 and the top of on the street by the weekend, now 2021), please just take care of it. Once upon a with a free, full tank of gas. And while I may time, it meant a lot to a lot of people. not be confident, at all, in our incumbent, secA trash theater spectacular ond-round DA, I am fairly confident that this Now that locals have finally found some area’s election/voting administrators – the long overdue respect for Philly’s trash people people at the polls and behind the polls – are (if, and until they strike; then everyone will playing and plying their trade according to be pissed the fuck off), Philadelphia Theatre Hoyle, that there isn’t the sort-of chicanery Company is gearing its return to live stagthat voting officials are often accused of to es to such love with a world premiere trash forge stolen elections and breed partisan toxic theater spectacular, “The Garbologists” by environments on either side. playwright Lindsay Joelle. While the play itSazón’s future self starts its run on Nov. 11, look for PTC to One of the things that made my father’s manage several community programs and residence at an area rehab/assisted partnerships – including a city-wide living center toward the end of his life #supportsanitationworkers campaign enjoyable and flavor-filled was the trato show love for Philly’s sanitation BY: A.D. dition-tweaked Venezuelan menu and workers, a special night for sanitation AMOROSI the homemade chocolate delights at workers and their families, a famous Sazón on Spring Garden Street across local artist working on turning trash from Union Transfer. I could stop in cans into art, and a special event with that colorful corner spot for arepas, hallacas Ya Fav Trashman, the Philly blogger/Instaand homemade chocolate desserts – anything grammer/Tweeter responsible for all this ad– and my dad would be pleased. Give it up for oration.

St. Alphonso’s Pancake Breakfast Where I KOP gets its pizza fix Stole the Margarine. Anyway, Sazón is leaving Why should Chancellor Street and the Calthe block and the corner space at 10th, forced lowhill area in Philly get all the wood-fired, out by a landlord who sided with pot-smoking wonderful Vetri Pizzeria fun? Master Mark’s neighbors who made dining and working at tony Maurizio mozzarella home is hitting up Sazón impossible (Sazón stopped paying rent the King of Prussia Town Center with 100in protest, but last week a judge found in favor plus seats across its new indoor and outdoor of the landlord). Don’t fear too much though: environs. Boom.

Sazón Restaurant & Café 2 is readying a new, New Lil Uzi Vert track fully stocked ghost kitchen for a take-out and Not sure how he got away with doing it so delivery deal fresh out of 1308 W. Girard. My quietly, the usually loud and proud Philly father, Alphonso, would be pleased. rapper, producer, stylish ATV driver and New music space? forehead gem enthusiast/multi-platinum Stop me if you’ve heard this one, but I’m superstar Lil Uzi Vert dropped a new track, hearing words and rumors about fresh, live “Demon High,” over the weekend at all DSPs music activity coming out of the old, historand streaming services, and with production ic JC Dobbs/Pontiac Grill/The Legendary help from Pro Logic, a mixologist associate of Dobbs space on South Street. Apparently, Meek Mill and Post Malone. Dag. there was archival documentary footage beNew restaurant ing shot out of the 304 South Street space – a Kudos to Philadelphia Magazine’s food revolutionary, Philly hot spot which, in one editor Alex Tewfik for putting money where guise or another, played host to Nirvana, Ruone’s mouth is – literally and figuratively, as fus Wainwright, George Thorogood, Tool, G. a diner and as a critic – for getting away from Love & Special Sauce, Kenn Kweder, Tommy the culinary editorial desk, and into openConwell, Mikey Wild and more bathroom coke ing an actual restaurant: Mish Mish on East snorting than one room could handle. CharmPassyunk Avenue. ingly documented by the late, great George Masked Philly: Dave Hause Manney with his “Meet Me on South Street: In Icepack’s way too-long and now,

GOSSIP

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

RIGHT: Philly's Dave Hause and his family are pictured hanging out in Santa Barbara.

Image | Courtesy of the Hause family.

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way, way overly complex and continuing saga of asking mask-donning local celebrities what they’ve been up to, beyond the pale, during C-19 – from lockdown to the current reopening, present-day unmasking and re-masking, worrying about Delta variants, freaking out about Fauci’s call for a potential third round of vax shots mere five months after the last, new mask and vax card mandates, ignored or not ignored (I mean why did I wait in line at the Convention Center if you’re not asking to see my card?), and the possibility of mix-andmatching vaccines which is weird, right? – I reached out this week to Dave Hause.

Hause has forever been this city’s most literate (think Tom Petty meets Social Distortion, but smarter), notably working class (what the hell does this even mean now?) punk poet with cherished bands/brands such as Paint It Black, The Loved Ones and The Falcon. With his first solo single (“Melanin”) and debut solo album 10 years ago, Resolutions, Hause has made his own way. Now, together with his multi-instrumentalist brother Tim, more acoustic than electric guitars, and his own label, Dave Hause continues the solo challenge with his newly-released, self-released LP Blood Harmony.

Now living in sunny Santa Barbara, California, with his wife and two children, Hause informs me that his last 20 months-plus have meant being able to focus on being a dad. “My wife had our twins in January of 2019, and we released our last record, Kick, in April 2019,” says Hause. “We toured extensively throughout 2019, the boys turned 1 and then we did two substantial tours in early 2020, one of which got cut short by COVID. Once it set in that we weren’t going to play another show for a considerable amount of time, I honed in on being a dad. Connecting with the boys, reading about parenting, taking them out for long walks, playing in the park, just being immersed in that world and lifestyle; it was a huge gift. I never would’ve taken that kind of break from the road, I would have continued

to work like I always had, but this forced me to get very slow, very still, and just be their dad.

We are so lucky we didn’t get sick, and that the boys were that age when the world shut down.”

Rock on, Hauses.

Dave is fine with wearing the mask, and as an again-touring musician, is fond of air-flight masking. “I especially like it on planes, you can’t smell the unpleasantness of modern air travel and people are less apt to chatter with you when you’re masked. I think I’ll always do plane mask from here on out. The vax too, is cool, a tremendous solution to this giant, worldwide problem in such a short period of time. It’s a place we can point to in recent times where the government was able to successfully do something good for the citizens.

Nothing makes it more aggravated than these nitwit, green belt, internet researchers who are anti-vax. Letting crazy steer sane is a real pain in the ass.”

As one who tours, Hause, of course, wants to go back to “buy a ticket, walk into the show without a weapon and come party.” And while he doesn’t believe that he has the leverage of arena-stage artists, Hause’s hope “is that promoters/venues take that bull by the horns to keep things safe so we can go on with the show.”

As for the folksy, still punkish power and might of his new Blood Harmony? Dave Hause is as modest as he is wise. “I think Tim and I just wrote the best songs we could write at the beginning of the year, and the main rule we follow is to make something we would want to listen to. The tone of the songs dictated the production, and Will Hoge and the incredible cast of players we had play on the record interpreted them better than they even sounded in my head. It was a quantum leap for us forward, being able to go down every creative path we wanted to with a group of players like that. “

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PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | NOVEMBER 4 - 11, 2021

10

MUSIC

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Philly band The Dead Pockets dropped their first-ever single last month. Image | Emily Mechling and Emily Flagg

Rocking T

ON NOVEMBER 4 - 11, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

The Dead Pockets are working on their first EP

ake some Rolling Stones, mix get any replies from a singer, but they got one in a little Kings of Leon and a from another guitar player, Matt Kelly. We dash of the Allman Brothers, three jammed a lot, and it just worked really and you get Philly band The well. We started writing songs fairly quickDead Pockets. ly and our influences were pretty much the The Dead Pockets started in same. late 2018 and formed through After a month, we were looking for a drumword of mouth, family and mer, but both Chuck and Johnny already had craigslist. They are in the prothis guy named Bill Carley in the back of their cess of writing and minds. They weren’t sure if he’d recording their first EP, and released want to join since he was already in BY: EUGENE their first-ever single, “Sunday a band, but we asked him to come ZENYATTA Drip,” on Oct. 22. by anyway. We all knew something They have gained a small preswas there, so Bill thankfully stuck ence on social media with their around. After that, it took a year or “Lodi” cover by CCR on YouTube, and from two to find our current singer, James Morotheir first live show. zin, who was a friend of the band and never PW recently caught up with the band to talk told anyone that he sang. He came by just to about its music and new release. jam, and we knew we found our guy after goHow did The Dead Pockets form? How ing through a few failed attempts in search of did you come up with the name? a singer.

It started out with two cousins, Chuck The name The Dead Pockets came from Haegele (guitar) and Johnny Brennan (bass), just goofing around in our group chat. A lot looking for a singer on craigslist. They didn’t of dumb names were mentioned, but Chuck

MUSIC

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11

The Dead Pockets are influenced by such groups as The Rolling Stones, Kings of Leon and Allman Brothers.

Image | Emily Mechling and Emily Flagg

said something about a quiet long stretch of a road/highway with nobody on it and that’s called a “dead pocket.” We all liked that and added “The” in front of it, just because, why not? Later on though, after telling our friends and family, Matt’s mom said, “Oh, is that your band name because you guys are broke?” Well, we didn’t really think about that, but we guess so, thanks for reminding us.

Talk a little about your writing process and the inspirations behind your music.

When we write our tunes, we try to complement each other. Whoever has the main idea, whether it be chords, a riff, a melody or even a whole structure of a song, that person is sort of the “quarterback” and rest of the band helps move the ball up the field.

Sometimes it takes an hour to finish a song, sometimes it takes a few weeks, and other times we scrap it because we aren’t getting anywhere with it. If it’s taking too long and feels forced, we normally just move onto

something else.

The guitarists, Matt and Chuck, sort of have this unwritten rule where if one writes the song, the other does the leads and vice versa. Sometimes that doesn’t always pan out, but this way nobody steps on anyone’s toes and it makes the song writing process go much smoother. Our main inspirations come from ‘60s and ‘70s rock and blues. The Stones are a huge influence for us, as well as CCR, The Guess Who, Guns N Roses, Kings of Leon, Sturgil Simpson, etc., but we generally take ideas from all types of music both modern and vintage.

You are in the process of writing and recording your first EP and released your first-ever single, “Sunday Drip” on Oct. 22. Talk a little about how the single came together and how the album is progressing. How will people be able to hear both of them?

“Sunday Drip” was written from the first batch of tunes without our singer James.

This was when we were in between singers and weren’t happy with the results we were getting. This song had a few melody ideas but it just wasn’t working out, so we decided to put the song on hold. Until, when James came around, he added a whole new vibe to the tune. James and Matt fleshed out the new lyrics and melody and it was one of the first songs we fully wrote as a band, so we had to release it as our first single. It also features a sort of “guitar battle” going on in the middle of the song that shows how competitive the guitarists can be, in the best way possible.

For the rest of the EP, we have about six completed songs and a few that need to be worked out and finalized. We will begin recording in mid-November. You can hear our songs on all listening platforms like Spotify, Apple Music etc, but follow us on our Instagram and YouTube pages where we post sneak peeks of our upcoming releases.

What’s ahead for you after the EP drops? Any live shows in the works?

Once we get the EP recorded and mixed, we will definitely be looking to book some shows in the greater Philadelphia area. We played our first show a few months back at Two Ton Brewing Company with a band called ELI and Powder Valley Bang. So hopefully we can get something together with those guys again in the future. Also go check them out, they are both killer bands!

What are the best ways for your fans to stay current with what you’re doing?

If you want to stay updated with our music and live shows, follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Also subscribe to our YouTube channel to see additional original songs, behind-the-scenes content, and acoustic covers of some of our favorite tunes. We appreciate our followers and all of the support from our friends and family, we couldn’t do it without ya. Looking forward to what the future holds with this great group of guys, The Dead Pockets.

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | NOVEMBER 4 - 11, 2021

12

PERFORMANCE

Philly’s Benmio McCrea made a wise decision when he passed on clown college. He’s had a lengthy run in theater, films and TV shows, with more to come.

Image | David Zaugh

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‘It all started

IN PHILLY’ Benmio McCrea talks acting, CAPA and clown college

P

gogue. At Congregation Rodeph Shalom, they would take songs from Broadway musicals and change the lyrics to tell the story of Purim. That’s where I first got a taste of being on stage. Later, while in high school, I had a dance scholarship at Philadelphia Civic Ballet, and I also performed with Opera Ebony at the Academy of Music.

Another funny story while in high school: I was accepted into Ringling Bros next.

Clown College when they came to McCrea studied film at NYU and town looking for talent. Me and my BY: EUGENE was a classmate with Aaron Sorkin then-classmate and now-cheesesteak ZENYATTA and Vanessa Williams at Syracuse kingpin Tony Luke auditioned for University. it together. I didn’t go, though, as it Growing up in Philadelphia, he atmeant I’d have to leave our performtended Philadelphia High School for the Cre- ing arts high school and travel to Florida. ative and Performing Arts and made his New How has growing up in Philly, its acting York stage debut in Sam Shepard’s “The Tooth scene, culture, etc., impacted you as an acof Crime” at Ellen Stuart’s LaMama ETC Thetor? atre.

Philly is where it all started. The first proPW recently caught up with McCrea to talk fessional play I ever saw was a 1976 Drama about growing up in Philly and his career.

Guild production of Moliere’s “The Miser” When did you first become interested in at the Walnut Street Theatre. I was 14 and truly in awe of that show. It was amazing and acting? Were there any Philly groups you participated in during your younger days gut-bustingly funny. Seeing that play planted here? a bigger seed in me wanting to act.

I’ve been performing and acting on some As an inner city kid without a father, I was level since elementary school. Here in Philly lucky to have the mentorship of a “Big Brothin the early ‘70s, my sister and I used to go er” named David Gutin. We were connected by door-to-door giving our neighbors little shows. a Big Brother program run by The AssociaWe’d give you a whole show for a dollar… or tion for Jewish Children. Lucky for me, David a half a show for 50 cents. Mostly song and was an avid theater-goer and went to all the dance kind of stuff. My mother had a record Broadway shows in New York. Not long after album of the musical “South Pacific,” and I re“The Miser,” he took me to see the original member doing some of those songs.

Broadway production of “A Chorus Line.”

Actually, we picked up some of our chops And I’ve enjoyed plenty of other theater by performing in Purim plays at our synaoutings in Philly. The Forrest Theatre, The

NOVEMBER 4 - 11, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

hiladelphia native Benmio McCrea is an actor and producer, known for roles in “Bosch,” “Aquarium” and “Criminal Minds.” He also recently starred in an episode of Fox’s “911.”

But he’s far from through, as he has new movies coming out this year and

Academy of Music, Freedom Theatre and so many others. Philadelphia is a great town for theater. In 1978 the city opened The Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA). I’m proud to have been in its very first graduating class. Attending a conservatory-type of school like CAPA was a dream come true. I received great training in theater and dance. It really laid the foundation for everything I’ve done professionally and, to a certain extent, who I am as a person.

What’s been your favorite role and why?

Are there any “dream” roles you’d like to play?

I earned my Equity Card playing the “Ref” in Sam Shepard’s “The Tooth of Crime” at LaMama Theater in New York. At the time, I was still a theater student at Syracuse University.

We did that show at Syracuse Stage before it moved to New York. And what a mind-blowing experience it was to be so young and travel with it to New York City. It will always mark the moment I became a professional actor. I got to work with an amazing cast and the exceptionally talented and innovative director George Ferencz. Sadly, Mr. Ferencz passed this year. I’m also grateful to have been at LaMama with Ellen Stewart as its artistic director. She was quite a force. As far as dream roles… I haven’t had the opportunity to do any of the August Wilson plays yet. So there’s that.

How did you spend your time during the pandemic, when production, like everything else, was pretty much shut down?

My whole focus these days is film and television. During the early part of the shutdown, I simply used that time to prepare myself for

PERFORMANCE

ARE YOU READING THIS?

the changes that happened in the industry. Everything went virtual, including auditions. So I went ahead and upgraded my home studio for that.

What are some of your most recent roles?

What’s coming up for you?

I have a few things in the can for Amazon, Apple and Sony Pictures I can’t talk about yet. But recent appearances include roles on Freeform’s “Good Trouble” and FOX’s “911.”

Also, my wife and I currently appear together in a national commercial for “Cologuard.” It was fun to work with her for the first time… particularly during the pandemic.

Any advice for aspiring actors?

For newcomers aspiring for a career in film and TV, for a quick start, get clear on how you’d most likely be cast – not necessarily how you want to be cast. Play to your essence, play to your strengths. Take an on-camera scene study class and an on-camera audition class.

If you don’t have any tape, create a short reel on your own. Then use that tape to search for an agent. I have a mentee that I helped get an agent by doing a simple two-person scene at a kitchen table. For aspiring actors that have been at it for a while and for newcomers alike, I’d say “increase your focus, create a clear vision about what you want and take concrete action each day towards that goal.”

What are the best ways for your fans to stay current with what you’re doing?

My website is also going through an upgrade – Benmio.com will be a one-stop shop of all the latest and greatest info.

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BELOW: Benmio McCrea recently appeared in an episode of ‘911’ and has more projects in the works. Image | David Zaugh

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PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | NOVEMBER 4 - 11, 2021

14

THE RUNDOWN

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THE RUNDOWN Image | Nathan Ansell

FIRST PERSON ARTS FESTIVAL

The 20th anniversary of The First Person Arts Festival Kicks off Nov. 10. For details on all of the exciting events, visit firstpersonarts.org, but here are a few of the things we’ll be checking out.

Storytelling In The Workplace 20th Anniversary LIVE Stories have power beyond entertainment. They can StorySlam at World Cafe Live Finding the Funny: A workshop with Alyssa Al-Dookhi

Join comedian Alyssa Al-Dookhi (Netflix, CNN) for a twohour storytelling workshop. Alyssa will guide you through where humor comes from and how to inject it into your work and daily life. Guests will be introduced to the comedic parts of speech, joke structures, and the rhythm of comedy.

By the end of the session, participants will leave with their very own jokes that they’ve written, workshopped, and can take out into the world. Nov. 10.

connect us in a professional setting and improve team outcomes. During this workshop with the First Person Arts Director of Applied Storytelling Dr. Neil Bardhan, participants will learn how to identify, create, deploy, and edit their own personal narratives in a workplace setting. Specific applications that will be discussed include: networking, presentations, and leadership settings. Nov. 11.

Curtis Institute of Music StorySlam

First Person Arts and Curtis Institute of Music are teaming up for the Family Concert Series. This interactive concert celebrates the power of music and storytelling working as one. Curtis students and Community Artist Fellows perform works inspired by personal anecdotes and crafted in partnership with professional storytellers from First Person Arts. Nov. 13.

NOVEMBER 4 - 11, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

This GrandSlam returns to World Cafe Live to watch the best storytellers of the last six months battle it out for the title of “Best Storyteller in Philadelphia.”

Slam winners and audience favorites will strut their storytelling stuff along the theme “Caught red handed.”

Nov. 13

Intro to Storytelling with Kevin Allison

In this class, you’ll learn how to select story topics, build suspense, bring dramatic action to life with sensory details, and unpack the larger thematic meanings of your narrative. There will be paired sharing and a few students will be given the opportunity to share aspects of their story with the whole group and receive criticism so that we all can learn together. Each participant will leave with a story that builds upon the principles taught during the class.

Nov. 17.

THE RUNDOWN

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Dan Navarro

Dan Navarro will appear Nov. 19th at The Living Room, 35 East Ardmore Ave., Ardmore. With a career spanning decades and a dozen albums with Lowen & Navarro, Dan Navarro’s career started as a songwriter, most often with Eric Lowen, for artists as diverse as Pat Benatar (the Grammy-nominated “We Belong”) The Bangles, Jackson Browne, Dave Edmunds, The Temptations, Dionne Warwick, The Triplets, Dutch star Marco Borsato, and Austin outlaw legend Rusty Weir. thelivingroomat35east.com

The approaching holidays might mean things slow down for some, but not when it comes to live music. Here are a few shows that should be on your calendar.

Listen up!

Cloak

Cloak will be headlining Kung Fu Necktie on Nov. 5 as unyielding darkness and brutality emerge from the deep south of the United States.

Atlanta-based quartet Cloak blends the styles of black metal, rock ‘n’ roll, and homegrown Southern sludge to create their own unique and menacing sound. The band is embarking on a headlining tour with Demiser. facebook.com

Bren Joy

Nashville-born and bred singersongwriter Bren Joy joins Pink Sweat$ as they embark on the dreamy Pink Moon Tour. Continuing the smooth momentum from their major “Insecure” collaboration that has over 10 million global streams, they hit Philadelphia on Nov. 27 where they’ll be playing at Theatre of Living Arts. venue.tlaphilly.com

Laufey

Twenty-one year old IcelandicChinese singer-songwriter, musician, cellist and pianist Laufey dropped her debut EP Typical of Me this spring – garnering over 10 million streams across all platforms – and recently released “Let You Break My Heart Again” with the Philharmonia Orchestra and “Love Flew Away” with Warner Records artist Adam Melchor.

This fall, she will be supporting Ricky Montgomery and Alexander 23 on tour, stopping in Philadelphia at The Foundry on Nov. 18. thefillmorephilly. com/foundry

Nate Smith

Pat Wictor

Lansdowne Folk Club presents acoustic folk musician Pat Wictor with special guests Bob Beach and Paul Wilkinson on Nov. 18.

Held at the Twentieth Century Club, 84 S. Lansdowne Avenue, doors open at 7pm and the show begins at 7:30. Tickets are $17 when purchased in advance online or with an advanced phone reservation and $20 without an advance reservation. Free on-street parking. For reservations, advance ticket sales or more information visit www.folkclub.org.

Nate Smith just announced a handful of tour dates in support of his new album, “Kinfolk 2.” He’ll be at World Cafe Live (downstairs) on Nov. 10.

His new album came out Sept.

17. It’s the second of a trilogy. The first was nominated for a Grammy. worldcafelive.com

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | NOVEMBER 4 - 11, 2021

NICE RACK

SEX WITH TIMAREE

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Gayborhood

VIOLENCE REACH OUT TO US. Carry PW’s at your spot. drops@philadelphiaweekly.com.

put the knife back up to my throat and said, On the night of Monday July 5, Diego Var“walk away, fucker.’” gas finished his shift at TABU, a popular gayAfter letting the initial shock wear off, borhood bar, and headed to have a post-work Vargas called 911 and filed a report at the drink at Bar X, a nearby spot. (In full transprecinct. “I am aware a lot of people, espeparency: this author has a working relationship with TABU). Vargas, a tall, Hispanic cially in our political climate, are hesitant to work with police,” he says, but he “absoNative New Yorker and first generation American, spends a great deal of time in this part lutely wanted the police involved.”

Vargas is one of several wellof town, as he bartends 4-5 days a known gayborhood nightlife week. workers who have been robbed “Previous to the incident I felt and/or physically assaulted in very safe in the area day or late the area in the past few months. night,” he says, adding he and other A few have taken to social media bartenders would go to after-hours to share their experiences and bars like Pen and Pencil or Voyeur warn others. “and thought nothing of walking “I’m alive but I was jumped around at 3, 4, 5am. A big reality of and mugged by 3 men today. My the gayborhood is everyone knows brain is currently scrambled but each other, especially people in hosI’m ok,” wrote one prominent pitality, so socializing late night is nightlife denizen on his Facebook part of the life.”

Afterward, he walked down DR. TIMAREE page in June.

Spruce toward Broad to catch a cab Another long-time gayborhood and noticed two people walk past @TIMAREE_LEIGH bartender, Alaina Hummel, posted him. Thirty seconds later, he says, in September, “Hey anyone who’s they called out, walking around and he turned to the Gayborhood at find them standing any time, please in front of him. A walk with pepper man, whom Varspray. I was asgas describes as saulted tonight. a heavy-set male Not a big deal but “about 6 feet [tall] it could have been was holding a way worse. I’m knife and was saying it’s not a big pointing it towards deal, but it was. Tome and demandtally terrified.” ed I hand over my In an interview wallet and everywith PW, Hummel thing in my pockshared that this et.” was not the first time they had been assaulted Vargas said the other person, a woman, around a shift. Three years ago, they also had remained largely silent, but smirked as he their bag yanked from them while outside the handed over his cash. “I asked if I could have Bike Stop. Despite these experiences, they say my wallet back,” he says, because it had senthey love living and working in the gaybortimental value. “I thought I could at least try hood. “I can’t really imagine living anywhere to negotiate. The male looked at her and said, else, as I feel like it’s kind of my identity at ‘we have the money let him keep his stupid this point.” wallet.’ She glared at him, and he instantly “This is my neighborhood. I usually can’t

SCHMIT

Where ALL GUYS come together Visit www.squirt.org today to join the action NOVEMBER 4 - 11, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

“According to the online Philadelphia crime stats map, the area between Broad and 9th, from Lombard to Walnut, has experienced 365 reported crimes, including 22 robberies and 12 aggravated assaults.”

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SEX WITH TIMAREE

Diego Vargas was a target of what police believe is a wave of increased violence in the gayborhood.

Image | Jonathan Hernandez

learn more and sign up for early access at nourity.com

nd said,

ear off, t at the e, espehesitant e “abso-

al wellnightlife robbed lted in months. l media ces and

jumped day. My bled but ominent acebook

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leave my house without seeing someone I love ayborhoodand want to hug,” they say. “I’m never lacking el, postedfor someone who will walk me home. And I one who’struly love so many people in this community.” around After these incidents, Hummel chose not orhood atto involve the police. “I felt like it would not e, pleasehave made a difference,” they said, adding, “I th pepperdid post on FB just to tell was as-people to be vigilant.” tonight. While the Philadelg deal butphia Police and Citizens have beenCrime Commission were orse. I’mboth approached for s not a bigcomment on this piece, it was. To-neither replied in time ified.” for publication. Accordinterviewing to the online Phila, Hummeldelphia crime stats map, that thisthe area between Broad assaultedand 9th, from Lombard y also hadto Walnut, has experiutside theenced 365 reported crimes, including 22 robs, they sayberies and 12 aggravated assaults. he gaybor- Notably, this is significantly less crime than anywhereareas of comparable size further north or dentity atsouth on Broad. Vargas, who said he never experienced an incident like this before in Philly ually can’tor in his native New York, thinks that these

crimes are not random. He says that while he was giving his report, “the officer who was taking my statement said they have noticed an increase in violence, and they believe the gayborhood is being ‘targeted.’”

“I don’t believe it’s a coincidence the people who I have heard of being mugged. Other than my friends in hospitality or performers, not a lot of people are carrying around cash at 2, 3am,” he says.

“The incident didn’t traumatize me, so to speak, but it has made me very aware of my surroundings,” he says.

“I think people need a game plan for the end of the night: walk with friends, order your Uber from inside the venue.... Have a game plan because we no longer have the luxury of winging it at 3am, sadly enough, especially in our own neighborhood.”

Have a question for Dr. Timaree? Send an email to asktimaree@philadelphiaweekly.com.

“Have a game plan because we no longer have the luxury of winging it at 3am, sadly enough, especially in our own neighborhood.”

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