Madden men

Rocker twins Joel (left) and Benji Madden were at the Roxy Thursday night, but if girlfriends Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton were in the house, they kept it on the down-low. The Good Charlotte boys took over the turntables for the Trojan Evolve Music With a Mission event, while partygoers got free condoms and sexual health schooling.

Marky Mark and Donnie Wahlberg left their fans and friends hanging Thursday night, as three original members of the Funky Bunch hit Harp for the band's CD-release party. The Wahlberg brothers were expected to show, along with New Kid Jordan Knight, said booking agent Billy Dufresne. "They gave us the stiff arm. Since the New Kids started they haven't been in contact with some of their friends, it's just been so crazy." But Scott Ross, Terry Yancey, and Hector Barros rocked the house, aided by our favorite "America's Best Dance Crew" runners-up, Status Quo. "They brought down the house," Dufresne said.

Clark Gregg was all amped up for his movie's opening yesterday. The born-in-Boston director said releasing "Choke" "is kind of like a debutante ball for your only daughter, and all the meanest people in the world are going to judge her dress." But he was undeniably excited to bring the twisted tale of sex addiction and scams, based on Chuck Palahniuk's novel, to the big screen after seven long years. "I still felt like it was going to be the most expensive home movie ever," said Gregg, who stars with Julia Louis-Dreyfus on "The New Adventures of Old Christine." "But I fell in love with it; it felt like my cup of naughty tea." Gregg, who grew up all around New England, still vacations every summer with his actress wife, Jennifer Grey, on the Vineyard, where they were married eight years ago.

Real estate magnate Dick Concannon is on the mend with broken ribs and a punctured lung at Mass General, recovering from a slip down the stairs following the 10th annual "Literati Scene" bash he threw with his wife, Smoki Bacon. The party drew 200 book lovers to the couple's Back Bay townhouse Wednesday night, including Bacon's son-in-law and former gubernatorial candidate Chris Gabrieli and her daughter, tax attorney Hilary Gabrieli; "According to Tip" author Dick Flavin, who was arm-in-arm with filmmaker Joanna Datillo; former "Bozo the Clown" Frank Avruch; British Vice Consul Joseph Pickerill; and authors Eve LaPlante, Alison Barnet, Joshua Kendall, and Jane Holtz Kay.

Angry Canadians bombarded Perez Hilton's gossip site with comments yesterday. Why? Because he posted this quote that Joey McIntyre gave to Rolling Stone's Rock Daily after this week's New Kids on the Block show in East Rutherford, N.J.: "Canada was a warm-up - a good place to get the kinks out," Joey Mac said. Our northern neighbors must have been a little miffed that they paid full price to watch rehearsals.

Life's been good for Amesbury's Jack Ferraiolo (inset). In June, the head writer on PBS's "WordGirl" won an Emmy for outstanding writing in animation, along with Peggy Nicoll. Now, he's got a new book, "The Big Splash." He said the mystery, which features characters with names like Vinnie Biggs and Nicky Fingers, was inspired by old radio detective shows. "It's Sam Spade mixed with 'The Godfather,' which takes place in a middle school," joked Ferraiolo, who will appear today at the Wellesley Booksmith. "They take each other out with squirt guns. I had a few people tell me, 'Kids won't get noir.' But I disagree. I think they can appreciate a turn of phrase or tough customers who are loyal."

Famed jazz trumpeter Chris Botti got a cut and color from stylist Mari Joe at The Loft Salon yesterday. The gracious musician chatted about his world travels and called himself a "high-class hippie." . . . Former mayor Kevin White celebrated his 78th birthday with his wife, Kathryn, and friends George Regan, Bob Crane, and Bob Beal at Anthony's Pier 4 and Grill 23 Thursday.

Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.