by SCOTT C

Nothing like a couple weeks of back to back Christmas parties to get you limbered up for the holidays. By the time I get to my parents’ place in about a week and a half, I won’t be able to do anything except sleep. Good thing my mother loves me, regardless of how responsive I am.

This Friday, Dec. 16, the gang down at Ninja Tune’s Montreal office have decided to have a little holiday do down at Casa del Popolo. Hell’s Bells will feature Ninja staff DJs Luv, Bodkin, Superultramega, Tashish, DJLS and Hatrick playing all night long. It’s a free night, but they’re accepting non-perishable food items at the door. ’Tis the season.

Those of you who keep a keen eye on the crap rack at your local Videotron may have noticed Yamakasi 2 on the shelf. The sequel, based on Luc Besson’s 2001 flick Yamakasi: Les Samurais des temps modernes, focuses on a group of dudes who like to employ the principles of urban freestyle, or “parkour,” and a plot loosely built around the action. Parkour involves making your way through the city with a certain amount of precision and acrobatic style, resembling something between ninja stealth and Spiderman.

Montreal graffiti writer and MC Monk-e has finished a new video for “Esprit de combat,” which features Montreal’s own Fast Motion crew showcasing their parkour talents. I had to watch it a few times in a row to believe my eyes, but you can see for yourself if you go to www.fast-motion.tv and look in the links section. Fast Motion has been very busy not only with their urban gymnastics, but with every manner of stunt work you can think of. Truly, you won’t believe your eyes.

After a wicked show featuring Kalmunity and Nomadic Massive last week, make way for spoken word artists Stephen Thomas, Kaie Kellough and trumpeter Jason “Blackbird” Selman as they present their show, 3 the Hard Way, on Sunday, Dec.18, at Main Hall. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show at 8 p.m. sharp. Tix are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

There was a time when Jojo Flores and Christian Pronovost sharing the decks over the course of one night was enough to start fistfights left and right, but as we approach the end of 2005, this is no longer the case. These two Montreal originals team up to drop some nuggets and jam all night long tonight, Thursday, Dec. 15, over at Jello, so if you want to hear the good stuff, make some time for that.

Seven reasons it’s like that:
1. Moonstarr Moonstarr Remixes (PTR)
2. DJ Kobal La Macchina Funk Mix (CDR)
3. Ty & Kory “That Girl 2004” (CDR)
4. Robert Jay “Alcohol” (Ubiquity)
5. Stereotyp feat. Brother Culture “Pon Remote” (G-Stone)
6. Sharon Brooks A Taste of Life (independent)
7. Kardinal Offishall “Mr. Officer” (EMI)

LEATHER PANTS, PLEASE! fathead@videotron.ca

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