by RAF KATIGBAK

This week is absolutely mental! With so many places to party, DJs to freak on, and good causes to support, I feel as confused, elated, unhinged and dangerous as Tom Cruise on a talk show. Seriously, though, has anyone seen this guy recently? I mean, everyone has a right to his or her own beliefs (even if that includes the belief that we are descended from an evil intergalactic warlord named Xenu who kidnapped billions of alien life forms, chained them near Earth's volcanoes and blew them the frig up with nuclear weapons), but come on, Tom, you're getting creepy. Nobody really cares if you are secretly gay (um, hello? We all saw Top Gun - guys with names like Styker, Maverick and Ace climbing into "cockpits" and saying things like "you can be my wingman anytime!"), but this is really off the radar.

Speaking of gay cruises, this Friday, July 29 at 6 p.m., at the Quai King-Edward in the Old Port, Lesbians on Ecstasy will be hopping on board the Cavalier Maxime with Bell Orchestre and a handful of topnotch DJs for the Love Boat, a four-hour sunset cocktail cruise to raise funds for Project 10 and Gris, organizations that advocate against hate crimes. Tickets are $40 in advance and $60 at the gate. For more info, email lina@vertu-inc.com.

As an aside, for those who like to get dressed up, Lezzies on X will be shooting their video this Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. Here's the concept: "Gay clone zombies are taking over and turning all the radical queers into gay clones with their evil corporate beer and overpriced water! Who will save them? Fortunately Cockwolf, Hoser Dyke and Miss Kitty Galore have come to save us all through the magic of dance." Email lezziesonx@hotmail.com for deets.

Of course, it being Pride weekend, there's no shortage of good causes you can get down to. On Saturday night at the SAT, celebrate the release of Om Records' new reBOOT benefit CD with DJ Marques Wyatt and guests Tony Desypris, Fred Everything and Miss Molly. The album was created to raise funds and awareness benefiting children in South Africa orphaned by AIDS, and features unreleased tracks by names like Mark Farina, Louis Vega and Miguel Migs. Tix are $10 in advance at Nest (3673 St-Dominique) or Inbeat.

On the local tip, the Face à Face Listening and Intervention Centre is throwing a mega-shindig at the Main Hall next Tuesday, Aug. 2. The night will be hosted by Kidnapper Films star Matt "Just because I wear thick-rimmed glasses doesn't necessarily mean I like emo music" Silver and features some Kidnapper skits and musical support from electro funksters Tony Ezzy and the Masters of the Universe, as well as Moustache, Beaver and DJ Shit. Tickets are only $6 at the door! Be there!

This Friday, Toronto's experimental electro-rock hip-hop mavericks Stop Die Resuscitate will be hitting the Green Room with Vancouver's No Luck Club. I've heard great things about both these guys live, so be sure to check 'em out!

Remember trip hop? That moody, soulful sound that was best heard through a haze of chronic? Well, Icelandic stars Gus Gus will be dropping some serious moods at the Café Campus on Monday. So break out your vintage Massive Attack T-shirt and get ready to spark a fat "dooby joint," or whatever you kids call it today!

WHAT IS UP, MY PEEPS? ARE YOU ON POT? Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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