by RAF KATIGBAK

The good thing about being a geek going into high school is that you never really know you are one. The bad thing is, everyone else does. As we navigate the social gauntlet that is high school, there were two ways geeks learned to deal with the pressure. While a few of the insular ones retreated further into nerddom and come to class dressed in full Star Trek regalia, spouting Klingon swears at their tormentors, most of us realized quickly that debates on the problematic space/time paradoxes created by the crew of the Enterprise in Star Trek IV were best discussed off school property. (Doesn’t anybody realize that revealing the formula of transparent aluminum will almost certainly alter history and lead to a paradox? Duh!)

Thank goodness for the Fantasia festival, an almost month-long excuse for geeks of Montreal and beyond to get together, nerd out on some crazy films, share horror and sci-fi trivia, and stay up waaaaaay past bedtime. It’s a time when all our inner geeks come out of the closet faster than a collection of first-run, mint-in-box Transformer figurines, and masculinity is measured in how many Street Fighter II combos you had mastered back in the day.

Tonight, Thursday, July 7, the Fantasia opening party promises the greatest mix of rock ’n’ roll hipsters, electro-glam fashionistas, Italo disco freaks and nerds, nerds, nerds this town has ever seen as Poxy, DJ Frigid, Gentle Bakemono, DJ Chevy Van and DJ XL5 rock out at the SAT ($9, 9 p.m.) while visuals by Thisisnotdesign, Pillow and Mademoiselle titillate your ocular sockets.

This Friday, keep it spooky with the Ghostly International label show at the Brasserie Bellechasse (195 Bellechasse). If y’all don’t know Ghostly, they’re the Ann Arbour label dedicated to keeping the spirit of Detroit alive and well. Remember that bananas electro comp Disco Nouveau a few years back (featuring Adult., Lowfish, DMX Krew and Solvent)? That was them. The label showcase on Friday features the neo-industrial darkwave sounds of Kill Memory Crash and the disjointed electro of Kero.

Next Wednesday, catch the manic and stormy glee of San Diego’s the Peppermints at the Saphir alongside Dandi Wind. The Peppermints have been described as the biggest, cutest psychedelic temper tantrum you’ve ever seen (which is probably why they were signed to Animal Collective’s label Paw Tracks), and their music is guaranteed to freak you out. Of course, their über-cuteness should also help things move at the kissing booth, which will be installed next to the karaoke machine that particular evening. It’s pay what you can, so no excuses!

Also on Wednesday, electro chanteuse Cheryl Sim comes out of hiding with a brand new line-up (including a hot new keytar-ist!) at Casa del Popolo, $6. Expect new remixes of her sultry, soulful sounds as well as renditions of classic downtempo tracks by Air, Björk and Thievery Corporation.

THAT’S TREKKER, NOT TREKKIE! Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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