by RAF KATIGBAK

If you haven’t already guessed it from all the checkered-flag motifs, slightly overweight American couples clutching maps in their matching Ferrari uniforms, and Euro-trash tanorexics gleefully chatting on their miniature cell phones along the Main, the Grand Prix is in town. For three days in June, Montreal becomes the headquarters to the world’s rich, famous and tacky. But before you go complaining about how impossible it will be to get around this weekend or how your favourite watering hole will be overrun by dudes asking if the bartenders “speak American,” think about the reported millions that small business owners will be making from our lovely guests (seriously, who else is going to buy all those horrible maple-syrup candies and novelty Moose X-ing fridge magnets?). Add to that the fact that it’s the only time affluent Euro-trash and North American white trash can bond over their love of cars that go super fucking fast.

If the sound of tourists revving the engines of their respective rental cars along Ste-Catherine isn’t enough noise for you, there’s always plenty of clubs eagerly willing to drop some beats and wring some tourist dollars from all those Louis Vuitton wallets.

Saturday June 11, Misstress Barbara’s Iturnem label will be pulling out all the stops with a special Grand Prix party at Club Soda. Barbara herself will be doing double duty in both her Misstress and Barbara Brown incarnations, while DJ Mini will be backing her up behind the decks. All the proceeds go to the Quebec Breast Cancer Fund, so don’t be shy, come out and shake that ass! Meanwhile, at the SAT, another local label will be kicking off the Grand Prix in style. Nivoc’s latest electro-tech-rock label offshoot Lipstick Music is kicking another Blow Up party. For all those who missed the last decadent shindig, this one, featuring Jacob Asher, Romeo Kardec, Mateo Murphy and John Michael, should not be passed up.

In my previous incarnation as a tech-house freak, the acronym ADNY always conjured up visions of buttery-smooth house from the chilled-out landscapes of Sweden. The A and D in ADNY, Alexi Delano, will be making his first appearance this Friday, June 10, at the Space 32 party (32 Ste-Catherine W.) with hometown music mogul Tiga. Remember this is a 10 p.m.–3 a.m. affair, so get there early. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

Tonight, Thursday, June 9, Level 4 keeps turning it up for their Mix nights at Saphir. This week, the ever-rotating roster of DJs will include IDJ’s Nitrous alongside Spacekadet, Deliz and Screwhead. This week’s special guest will be Montreal’s resident techno-dub head Scott Monteith who, hot off his latest excursion to Detroit, will no doubt have some seriously deep beats for your brains. Free before midnight.

GO, SPEED RACER, GO! Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

>> Music Listings