by SCOTT C

I'm about to jump out the window. While we might be seeing some super-serious shows over the coming weeks, somebody up there is really trying to make it hard for me, and I'm not talking about Rickey D. Whoever decided it would be a good idea to schedule Common for a May 6 show at Metropolis clearly wasn't planning on checking out Roots Manuva across town at la Tulipe on the very same night. While you might be wincing at the $47.50 ticket price for Common, Roots Manuva comes in at a cool $21.50, so I'll leave it up to you. I'll figure something out.

Poke your head in the door at Cabaret this Friday, April 1, and you'll find locals Kobayashi throwing a little do to launch their new CD Strange Lights and Resolutions. For $10, they'll also be joined by Toronto's Quartertones, who've also just released a new LP called Hidden in Plain Sight. If you saw these two groups last time they played la Sala Rossa, you know not to miss this one.

Kid 'n' Play never got the respect they deserved for blessing us with the "pajamma-jammy-jam," but this Saturday, April 2, you can be part of the Pajamma Jam, brought to you by Keith and Karyn, essentially a great party you enjoy in your drawers. Just show up at 417 St-Pierre at 11 p.m. with $10 and your night gear - yes, they have changing rooms there. Old school, soca, house, hip hop and R&B provided by DJs Smokey and Majess. Remember, what happens at the Pajamma Jam, stays at the Pajamma Jam!

If you haven't checked out the jokes galore and hot music on the last Handsome Boy Modeling School LP White People, then I suggest you buckle up. Chest Rockwell and Nathaniel Merriweather (aka Prince Paul and Dan the Automator) are model men for 2005, and you can catch them live at la Tulipe on Thursday, April 14.

Rickey D reminds me of some of the old-school wrestling managers who took talking up their investments very seriously. Rickey's latest project involves none other than Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious 5, live at Jello Bar on Sunday, April 17. For $15, you can witness hip hop history in the flesh, and maybe even get Rickey's autograph in the process. DJ support provided by Majess, Kwite Sane and hopefully Devious.

Lastly, if you're interested, check out The Goods Radio Show with Andy Williams and me, Sundays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on CKUT 90.3 FM. It's a brand new show, so let's build!

Seven reasons mango juice is better:
1. Amerie "One Thing" (Sony)
2. Handsome Boy Modeling School "A Day in the Life" feat. RZA, AG & the Mars Volta (Atlantic)
3. Kobayashi "Shadows" (independent)
4. Manspino Well Enough to be Ill (Select)
5. Nas "I'm a Villain" (CDR)
6. Jeremy Ellis "Bombakiss" (Ubiquity)
7. Beanie Sigel "Bread and Butter" (DefJam)

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT... fathead@videotron.ca

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