by RAF KATIGBAK

Wow, Montrealers have been throwing some outright ragers these last few weeks. First off, kudos go to the Jazz Fest organizers for booking Champion and His G-Strings for this year’s main outdoor event. The show was a wet one, but that didn’t stop thousands of people from showing up and going bananas. While it may not have affected sales of g-strings at the super-sex boutique Seduction down the street, it certainly helped solidify Montreal’s electronic scene in the eyes of the global music community, which is almost as good.

According to my sources, the Fantasia party last Thursday (with DJ Frigid, Gentle Bakemono, DJ Chevyvan and Poxy) was a smashing success. While I was busy filling in DJ duties at an Old Port bar, a few of my Nerd Herd compatriots reported copious amounts of drinking, dancing and (gasp!) talking to girls. As predicted, it was a strange coif-confused concoction of fashion mullets, ponytails, goatees and faux-hawks, with a few roving gangs of Japanese exchange students with Asian blush, rocking out like karaoke kings.

This Friday, July 15, it’s another Montreal mish-mash of styles and artforms as Tiu Ric and Stockface Photostudio present Vision 1.0 at the SAT. Bringing hip hop, techno and house DJs (Keith Dean, Sabeswift, Saban, Sean Kosa and Rob Brown) together under one roof is nothing new, especially if you’re used to going to any of the city’s afterhours clubs. But not all clubs boast an on-the-spot photo studio, live body painting, blacklight art, three giant screens with independent visual art, a breakdance show, a wushu martial arts demonstration and a chance to win a professional photo shoot. Zowee! Fourteen dollars in advance, doors open at 9 p.m.

House heads, rejoice! This Friday, Washington duo Deep Dish will certainly be repping the house vibes at Aria. Okay, so maybe their latest album, George is On, has some painfully self-conscious stoner vocals, but when it comes to rocking the 1200s, they’re always on point. For a taste of classic NYC house, check out Manny Ward at Aria on Saturday. A protégé of Frankie Knuckles, Ward cut his teeth at the legendary Eightball Records and has always been warmly received in this town. Backing him up is up-and-comer Randall Jones from Philadelphia, whose work as a member of the Tigerhook Corporation has been turning progressive heads for the last two years.

A quick note to let people know that this Sunday’s Piknic Electronik, slated for the Jean-Drapeau beach, has been cancelled due to circumstances beyond their control (the World Swimming Championships, specifically). Rather than take a three-week break, the Piknic crew is cinching up their Speedos and returning on July 24 at a new location, the Bassin Bonsecours du Vieux-Port de Montréal, with DJs Yaz, Vega, the Autist and François Le Baron.

Next Wednesday, fans of the Sneaker Freaker afterhours jams should get down to Salon Daomé’s latest weekly joint, Just 4 Kicks, where it’s four tons of fun in your Air Force Ones. DJs Static, Skillnuts and A-Rock promise to rock the breaks, hip hop and funk until your Chuck Taylors get all smelly.

“I DID NOT HAVE 3,000 PAIRS OF SHOES, I HAD 1,060.” – IMELDA MARCOS, 1987. Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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