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>> Ottawa’s Jokers of the Scene
pack fresh jams for the new year

REAL FUNNY: Jokers of the Scene

by JACK OATMON

In an age where digital kipple knows no bounds and public access seems limitless, Warhol’s 15 minutes are starting to look excessive in length. Once things are in, they are, by definition, out. So with all us hungry little flies buzzing erratically around all the shit that’s out there, ironic juxtaposition and subcultural ADD have become the order of the day. Hence the team-up, the crossover appeal and the mash-up that define our times.

The clever artists this year were the ones mining that potential sea of information while staying abreast of the swift current of ephemeral doo-doo. Ottawa’s Linus Booth, aka DJ Booth, and Chris MacIntyre, aka Chameleonic, who comprise Jokers of the Scene and can be held responsible for Ottawa’s Disorganized parties, are two such savvy scoundrels, making groovy gold out of all the kitsch like some sort of funky King Midas.

“From what we see, things are definitely riding a trend right now,” says Booth, “which of course can be good and bad. We’re definitely seeing that this is becoming the in-vogue style of music with 15- and 16-year-old kids. Inevitably with that sort of thing, there’s gonna be a backlash. It’s just a matter of trying to avoid getting trapped in any trends, and to avoid putting too much into one thing or one scene. Luckily for us, with the record labels that we’re dealing with, there are four or five of them and one’s more of a boutique hipster label, one’s a minimal techno label, there’s an experimental one, there’s an indie one.”

Stylistically, the duo is amongst the now-familiar vanguard of producers splicing the vapid gleam of hip hop with house music’s raw, pulsing drive and dragging it through a glitzy veneer of electro, all the while sure to discombobulate every sample beyond comprehension.

“I think we’re trying to spread ourselves over a bunch of different genres,” continues Booth, “work with a bunch of different artists and DJ different kinds of parties so we can outlive any sort of trend that may arise. Because this is all almost at its peak. I think 2008 is going to be the tipping point, so getting beyond that is ultimately our goal.”

Dodging the downfalls of the fads shouldn’t prove to be a huge difficulty for these cats, what with original jams coming out on A-Trak’s label Fool’s Gold and a handsome little pile of remixes slotted for future release on Mental Groove, Mad Decent and S.L.U., among others. What’s more, the exposure promises to add to Canada’s blooming profile on the international electronic music scene.

“Every year, there seems to be a couple more names added to the list of Canadians that are doing something in this whole electronic DJ circle. And they’re making big names for themselves. It’s not just a localized thing. They’re doing it worldwide. It’s nice to be a part of. And because that community in this country is sorta small, everybody works well with each other for the most part.”

With Crystal Castles, Drop the Lime, Guns & Bombs,
Jordan Dare, Thomas Von Party and Peer Pressure
and Nu Ravers on the Blocks DJs at the I Love Neon
New Year’s Eve party at SAT on Monday,
Dec. 31, 9 p.m., $39.50–$55