Where’s Chewbacca?

by SCOTT C

On Saturday, Dec. 1, the gallery space at Off the Hook (1021A Ste-Catherine W.) harnesses the power of the force for an 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Star Wars marathon, presented in conjunction with Marc Ecko Cut & Sew. Marc Ecko and George Lucas, you say? That’s right, the urban fashion mogul has teamed up with perhaps the world’s most recognizable motion-picture franchise to create a limited edition line of t-shirts, hoodies and jackets, available at Off the Hook’s Pop Up Shop for the month of December. Gear-heads and Star Wars types are welcome to come and hash it out for all six Star Wars movies, with the bravest and most dedicated Jedi nerd, the one who lasts for the duration of the marathon, walking home with a special Marc Ecko prize pack. There’ll also be a little party to commemorate the launch of this line at Off the Hook, complete with music from DJ L’Étiquette. If you e-mail marathon@offthehook.ca and let them know you’ll be there, you’ll have a much better chance of seeing Harry D and Boba Fett trying to pick up girls by the jeans section. Look for special appearances from Gusto, Catwalk McGee and Paul 107 in the flesh.

The Payz Play DJs are getting set to celebrate two years of their Pow Wow night at l’Inspecteur Épingle (4051 St-Hubert) on Dec. 2. Residents DJ Naes and DJ Ephiks welcome one of Montreal’s hardest working DJs, Ghislain Poirier, into the fold to mark this milestone. Expect to hear some new and classic sounds on this $5 night.

Montreal’s Afrokats label has finally gotten around to releasing Coming Out from funk and soul dons Floyd Lawson and the Hearts of Stone. The album, originally recorded in 1976, remained unreleased and was used largely as a promotional tool to garner gigs in North America and Europe at the time. Afrokats has remastered this unheard classic for the masses to experience for the first time. Check out www.afrokats.com for the whole story.

Slim Williams is set to play a live show at Théâtre Corona on Dec. 6, complete with a 12-piece orchestra and friends like Daniel Lavoie, Dutch Robinson and Nancy Martinez backing him up. Tix are $20 in advance at all Admission outlets.

Sixtoo and the 5mh MCs take over Sing Sing on Friday, Nov. 30, billed as the official after-party for Sake and Kel’s show at Artothèque on the same night. Check out www.00ggallery.com for all the details, but free entrance and $10 pitchers pretty much say it all.

Half of les Architeks, and all-around Montreal hip hop man Stratège has just dropped a solo record called, interestingly enough, Back en solo. He’s got a launch party coming up on Monday, Dec. 3 at Petit Campus, where he’ll show exactly where he’s coming from with this new piece. He takes care of some of the production on the record, along with Mr. Vane, Khujo and longtime partner in crime Ray Ray, who, for the record, he has absolutely no beef with.

Seven reasons to become a priest:
1. Erykah Badu “Honey” (Universal)
2. Bumps Beats, Breaks, Raw Drums (Stones Throw)
3. Paul MacInnes “You Don’t Know Me” (CDR)
4. Wajeed “Proud” (Fat City)
5. ESG “My Love for You” (Soul Jazz)
6. LAL “Saturn” (Dimlite remix) (Public Transit)
7. Aaron Jerome “Light Night Mission” (BBE)

Luke, I am your father...
fathead@videotron.ca