by RAF KATIGBAK

With another Thanksgiving behind us, we can all enjoy the post-binge ritual of unbuckling our belts. But wait! Before you sink into a tryptophanic stupor, remember that here in Montreal, there’s no rest for the wicked (nor the morbidly obese), and that the club scene runneth over like an electronic horn-o-plenty. So get up, put on your dancing shoes, grab a box of cereal and let’s go to a rave!

Wait—grab a box of cereal? What the hell does that mean, you ask? Well, every Thursday night from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m., Discphunktional Records will be hosting les Alpha Beatz, a weekly party at Chill Montreal to raise money to help schoolkids get that oh-so-important first meal of the day. Too many kids don’t get their dose of choco-frosted sugar bombs in the morning, and as we all know, without the proper fuel there ain’t no fancy book learnin’. This week Sarcastic, DJ Bind, Poontz, Rhys Taylor, Nter and Charles Iz will be dropping some wax for this noble pursuit. Admission is $5, or two boxes of cereal, at the door.

Sarcastic is a busy boy tonight, as his Mix Thursdays come through with another solid night of local DJ talent. This time, it’s a teary-eyed farewell as rumours swirl of DJ Fishead hanging up his headphones. Expect a shit-hot wet ’n’ wild tag team between the Canadian hardcore mixmaster vet and Tobias C. Van Veen, as well as sets by Galaksy, Bass Facial, Tipsy T and Pinky 38.

If you miss Sarcastic at either of those gigs, don’t fret as his new Tuesday-night event with Jasmine, the Grapevine, will be kicking off next week. Vinyl (the former Luba Lounge) is the space, and the sound will be an eclectic mix of cutting-edge downtempo music, from trip hop, hip hop, grime, dubstep, bhangra and ambient drum & bass to funk, soul, R&B, classic rock and psychedelia.

Speaking of Jasmine, the local Women on Wax regular will be making some minimal techno dub noise this Saturday at Esperanza with the Permutations event. Also on hand will be Pimilk, Cyan and ex-Montrealer/ex-Torontonian/ex-Montrealer-again naw with a special live set. Cover is a measly $3, so check it out!

The new label Mile End Records will be hosting a huge launch this Saturday at the SAT. Founded by Bombay’s Patrick Dream and MIXART Studio’s Kirk Coleman, Mile End Records promises to be the international voice for the city’s soul, house and funk talent. This season, MER is slated to release two CDs, one by Jello Bar’s Shane Phillips and the other a compilation of local house entitled Chez Nous: Montreal House Vol. 1, as well as a 12-inch featuring Angel Moraes and Roy Davis Jr. The party kicks in with DJ Vivi-ann, Miguel Graça and Angel Moraes. Cover is $8.

Finally, for the 2005-2006 season, one Thursday a month, the art gallery Galerie B-312 (372 Ste-Catherine W., # 403) will be opening its doors to the unwashed live-music masses. Tonight, check out Ghislain Poirier with his backing band, Vander on bass and Christian Olsen on drums. Sort of like a grime/hip hop version of Rush, but not really. Five dollar cover, doors open at 8 p.m.

ROLL THE BONES… Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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