Spurious signals

Part film screening, part beer-swilling, popcorn-throwing, cussword-yelling, cross-eyed cabaret, the Glitch Festival returns to the Kola Note this weekend, bigger and maybe even bolder than ever with 80 shorts on show (hence the cross-eyed-ness). Coming from local indie filmmakers as well as from such foreign locales as France, Spain, Estonia and Iran, Glitch brings together independent works in celebration with a touch of competition too; the top "glitchified" entries are up for generous cash and software prizes. "By ‘glitchified' we mean a mix of comedy, absurdity and even trashiness," explains organizer Frederic Thomas-Dupuis, "and maybe even an unexpected punch."

Spread over three nights, this year's festival is divided into Glitch Fast (Oct. 15, 6:30 p.m.), with no short longer than three minutes, and Glitch Fest (Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m., and Oct. 17, 5:30 p.m.), projecting flicks that run three to 10 minutes. The whole thing plays out simultaneously on three giant screens at the Kola Note (5240 Parc) with a special bonus screen outside the doors on the sidewalk, perhaps competing with the gentleman across the street who often listens to loud Greek radio on his balcony. Nights are $8 a pop or $20 for all three, see www.glitchfest.com for more info and a sampling of shorts. » Matthew Woodley

Weird eggs

Don't let the name fool you, The Rubber Chicken Family Circus is definitely not for the whole family (hint: leave the kids at home). Actually, it's not really a circus either; it's hours of hilarious and often risqué clowning (the exciting theatrical kind, not the played out, heavy make-up, velvet painting, Stephen King, Ringling Brothers stuff of every young person's nightmares kind) complete with a rip-roaring live soundtrack courtesy of Creature, who will also perform original material during intermission.

Forget what you think you know about clown humour (ooooo look at my big shoes, they're soooo big!) and bust a gut over the drunken, chain-smoking, overweight showgirl as portrayed by Holly Uloth and other comedic vignettes by local talents like Amy Sobol, Marc Beauchamp and Jamie Smith. Giving one of the great traditions of circus performance an up-to-date twist, Daehler Productions brings a much-needed rock-show-cabaret vibe to Montreal's burgeoning alternative circus scene. Oct. 18, 8 p.m., and Oct. 23, 1 p.m., at La Sala Rossa (4848 St–Laurent) $8–$10. » Raf Katigbak

Hitting the G-spot

Serious hip hop fans know that the Grafenberg All-Stars, appearing Friday night at Le Swimming, are yet another incarnation of the "Job guys", i.e., Eli Batalion and Jerome Saibil, creators of Job: The Hip Hop Musical, and its sequel, The Demon of the Eternal Recurrence. These same fans also know that the All-Stars are named after the (male) doctor who "discovered" the G-spot (much in the way that Columbus "discovered" America). The point is, these character MCs aim to please. Recently seen at Just for Laughs, Bushman and VowelMovement, as they're known individually, will rock the club at midnight, with help from DJ Mana. The All-Stars may make you laugh, but don't think for a minute that means they're not serious about the music. For a tantalizing taste, check out the sound clips from their upcoming CD on their Web site: www.fdltproductions.com » Amy Barratt

Punkin' pissin' pharmaceuticals

The cozy Pharmacie Esperanza (12 St-Viateur W.), steps up its venue-dom with some rocking launches, starting tonight with the giant-format 10th issue of Fish Piss. The zine features a sprawling section on the music industry, interviews, politics and comics. Oct. 14, 6 p.m.–midnight, free, with special guest DJs spinning 45s all night.

Saturday showcases the Perpetual Motion Roadshow, featuring Toronto multidisciplinary artist Darren O'Donnell, Chicago humourist Jonathan Messinger and L.A. punk rock writer Todd Taylor. A former Flipside editor, he currently edits Razorcake. "I've been actively listening to punk rock since I was 13. I'm 32 - I know what I like. Razorcake focuses on bands that you might not have heard, but have blown us away." He'll be reading from his new book of interviews and essays, Born to Rock. Oct. 16, 8 p.m., pay what you can. » Vincent Tinguely

Is it Art?

DEATH WISHES: Many mark success in life as seizing the present or planning for and establishing a solid future. Thing is, if your afterlife is a catastrophe, it's pretty much all for naught. Do note, we're not talking heaven, hell, or reincarnation as a farmed salmon; this is about maintaining control over what you leave behind. Want Europe's "The Final Countdown" cranked at your funeral service? Do you insist your cat be fed nothing but steak tartar? Now that you're dead, are you finally ready to share your most intimate feelings with people, or simply bid a fond adieu? Well all of this can be done through the intimacy of a secure Web site with a soothing interface, www.privatematters.com. Simply sign up, fill out the "Choices and Wishes" document, die and relax.

ArtsHole

MAD MEDICINE: Conceptual artist Theodore Wan (who once worked under the moniker Theodore Saskatche Wan) can be experienced through his mélange of medical photography, self-portraiture, performance and more at the Liane and Danny Taran Gallery at the Saidye (5170 Côte-Ste-Catherine), opening today, Oct. 14, 5 p.m. with talks by Concordia prof Kim Sawchuck and curator Christine Conley. • PEACE IN PRINT: Peace Under Fire, which documents the work of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), a movement of Palestinian and international activists working toward the end of Israeli occupation, gets launched this Friday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m., at Café Esperanza (5490 St-Laurent). Editor Radhika Sainath will read and Sam Shalabi will play to the tune of $3.

ARTISTAT: Consecutive hours local designers will donate their time and skills, free, to creating graphic and Web work for local services and non-profit orgs as part of the 2004 Tokoro Design-A-Thon, beginning Oct. 23, 9 a.m., at the Association Communautaire du Centre Sud (2093 de la Visitation): 36

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