by RAF KATIGBAK

After weathering years of zoning-ordinance battles, security issues and allegations of illegal activity, it looks like Montreal's afterhours are facing another hurdle: their customers, or more precisely, the lack of them.

"It's no secret that afterhours are struggling," claims one club promoter who spoke on the grounds of anonymity. "People just don't really go out as much any more, and if they do, it's not to large afterhours." After the recent announcement that Aria will be starting a fixed-price policy on weekends ($10 cover on Fridays, $15 on Saturdays, which are free for ladies) and Stereo's full-page ads describing how to get reduced entry into the legendary club, most regulars are leaping out of their peek-a-boo latex one-pieces with joy at the reduction, while others are left scratching their coiffed heads at the bigger picture. Have promoters turned a new leaf and are now trying to look out for the little guy? Or is this a desperate effort to boost waning ticket sales?

While the first scenario is about as likely as having an Amish guy hook up your high-speed Internet, Montrealers should cut promoters some slack. After all, we have it pretty good as it is. Compared to metropolises like Toronto and New York, Montreal shows are notoriously cheap. But for some reason, people still complain. Strangest thing overheard at an indie show: "Five-dollar cover, are you sure? I don't really want to see the opening act, so can I just give you $2.50 instead?" Puhlease! Why not skip the five-dollar vegan organic date spelt bar today and drop a few shekels on these guys?

Sure, there are cities like Rome, where it's always been cheap to see a show, but their history of free entertainment dates back to the gladiators in 264 B.C. What's our excuse? Then again, if Montreal decided to reintroduce gladiator battles, where DJs armed with razor-sharp vinyl duel to the death in a giant sand pit, I'd no doubt pay big money to see that (Sasha vs. Digweed? My money would be on Digweed, he's gotta have at least 20 pounds on the guy... release the lions!).

Also, in a city where it seems everyone and their best friend's sister's hairdresser's pet Chihuahua is on the guestlist, promoters don't have an easy time making enough to pay their acts.

Luckily, there are nights like Saphir's Mix Thursdays, where promoters and local DJs band together like the four musketeers (without the gay puffy shirts) for a night of awesome DJ-ness. Tonight, Thursday, July 21, Sean Kosa, Keph, Poontz and Axionfigga deliver. If you're looking for a smaller gigs than the massive three-day Evolution Radar One 8 party in St-Sylvestre-de-Lobinière this weekend (www.rayjunior.com), on Saturday, NYC's DJ Unknown - who helped his burg get out of its late-'90s funk - will be partying it up at Blizzarts' Voyeur night with Bliss and Jordan Dare. Also, speaking of NYC electro (love it or lump it), the godfather of electrotra$h DJ Larry Tee will be dropping wax at the Mile End Bar this Friday, so mark it up! Also on Friday, for $6, Blue Dog's Junglist Friday welcomes DJ Impulse direct from Hotlanta with EZP and Subframe from T.O.

FORGET THE LIONS, RELEASE THE FUN-FUR CLUB KIDS WHO DID WAY TOO MUCH SPEED! Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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