by RAF KATIGBAK

Yes, February has begun and, if you consider yourself a good significant other, you should already have your plans for that lovey-dovey, huggy-wuggy special day solidified. Restaurant reservation: check. One dozen roses: check. Gimp mask: oiled and ready to go. Of course, with the number of house parties, great DJs and birthday bashes that seem to pop up around this time, it'll be hard to concentrate on remembering your "safe word," much less finding that perfect quiet evening to set aside for romance.

I've been to at least three killer birthday/house parties in the last week, where everybody was desperate to 1) dance their asses off, and 2) leave the party with someone. No surprise there, given that it's cold outside and everybody needs a little human friction to get by. This week's got a few more reasons to say "boner fête" to someone special.

They may call it the terrible twos, but for electro-rock band Lesbians on Ecstasy, if this year is anything like their last, they should be wringing their hands in a "plans for global domination" way right now. Join them as they give the audience some birthday bumps this Saturday, Feb. 5, at Casa del Popolo with guests 1 Speed Bike, DJ Cherry Cola and VJ the Nelson Henricks, for seven bucks.

Also, a fine howdy-do to Laval's Red Lite, which turns a whopping 10 years old this weekend. It's actually hard to believe it's been a decade - where has all the time gone? (Check your serotonin levels for the answer). Celebrate on February 4, 5 and 6 with DJs like Mr. Tribe, Dominic B, Disciple, Eric Prytz and Scott Free vs. DJ Kal.

While it may not be DJ Bliss's birthday yet, the local DJ is coming up on two years of rockin' Saturdays at Blizzarts. The night, which is now being revamped under the moniker Voyeur, will be re-launching on Feb. 5. Expect a similar electro vibe with some flirtations with breaks and acid. For more fresh Bliss-on-the-breaks-brunch tip, check out his downtempo gig at Zenettis (77 Shamrock, near the Jean-Talon Market) from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. It's a perfect place to nurse your spins from the night before.

Also on Saturday, live electro-disco is on the march with 2005 Noisemaker Quebec Connection as he drops a live loft-party set to help launch the third issue of the zine Yalla. The address is 4035 St-Ambroise, Loft 1409, buzzer 409 (near Atwater Market, Lionel-Groulx metro). Tell 'em Disko sent ya! If you haven't seen QC perform yet, make sure you check it out. It's free!

For Chicago house lovers and fans of the Derrick Carter sound, there's only one set to check out this weekend and that's Greenskeepers at Upper Club on Friday, Feb. 4.

Also on the house tip, DJ DeepJ Max has scored a new residency at Sunset Bar (1599 St-Denis), so if progressive and tribal-influenced house is your bag, baby, check out Impulzion every Sunday with DJs NK and Nick Pilon (DeepJ Max is there every second week).

Finally, Living Nightclub is repping the breaks scene this Saturday as they welcome the U.K.'s Lee Coombs and Montreal's Broken Crew for some lowdown dirty funk, acid, electro and old school.

Come out, come out, wherever you are! Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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