by JACK OATMON

Monday nights were a funny element of the summers of my youth. I lived in a town where the meager scrapings of excitement available on most days of the week were at best inspirational, aggravating at worst. So as to fill in the early week gaps and spice up the stew a bit, my friends and I invented the Midnight Basketball League. Based on a single line from a zine by Aaron Cometbus (of whom you’ve surely never heard, but rest assured, he’s a phenomenal writer), we would meet at the only lit b-ball court in town every Monday at midnight. The goal was to dress up in themed costumes and play basketball all night while drinking malt liquor and listening to KRS One, Black Flag and the Stooges. Contrary to logic and reason, it got pretty damn popular. The concept popped into my head when I was told about the new Extend Lundi at Academy Dancehall. It starts this week and is guaranteed to be a lot of loud music on an otherwise institutionally chill night of the week. Although nothing could ever be as cool as Midnight B-Ball, Disco Volante wishes the inaugural Extend this Monday, September 25, featuring Romeo Kardec and Clifford Brown, “bonne chance!” Strangely enough, there's also another event planned for that Monday. That's Nicky Click, Minibloc and Massive Asthma at Zoobizarre.

Before we’re all wondering what the heck we’re doing at a bar on a Monday, however, there’s a whole weekend of honest-to-goodness partying to do. That includes, of course, two editions of Piknic Electronik, both Saturday and Sunday. This past weekend there were also two, both of which were fantastic. I sincerely apologize for having neglected to alert you good folks about the extra Piknic last week, but as we say in the biz, “why you be talkin’ ’bout old shit?”

There’s been a bit of talk floating around lately about somebody throwing house parties at the Mansion on Bishop. Jonah has stepped to the plate on it, so in a week we’ll see what’s up with that. The place is absolutely stunning, and imagining a bunch of Plateau weirdos invading for some funky tunes and swanky relaxation is a promoter’s wet dream. It starts not this Thursday, but the 28th. I’ll have the line-up next week. As for this Thursday, September 21, the SAT’s MixSessions are back, now on a monthly basis.

The soon-to-be re-opened Olympia Theatre will be back with a bang in early October. Several nights of progressive programming will feature Diplo, Plaster and the Herbaliser, among others. Future shows planned for the venue run from the Misfits to gospel, according to sources. Let’s keep our eyes peeled on that one. I’m going to check the place out this week, so I’ll let you know. Furthermore, now might be a good time to start listening to Tim Sweeny’s incredible podcast, Beats in Space, in preparation for his return next month.

SLEEP IS NO EXCUSE. jack.oatmon@gmail.com

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