Feet street

by SCOTT C

I can’t say that I was beside myself with excitement when I saw that they were making Sweeney Todd into a movie musical. Maybe it’s just me, but most of the musicals they come out with these days get the bozack, between a lack of imagination and auto-tuning every vocal performance in sight. That’s why I like to exercise my god-given right to check out the opera. You heard me. Frequent readers will recognize that this is nothing new, and that I have a long history with the classics. That said, this Saturday Feb. 2, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville opens at Place des Arts for a run that spans Feb. 6, 9, 11, 14 at 8 p.m., and Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. The Montreal Opera hasn’t tackled Il Barbiere since 2000, and even though I already know that the costumes and sets were designed by a guy named Robert Prevost in 1976, I’m hoping my first experience with this production is a good one. In a nutshell, a lovesick old man wants to make a beautiful young girl his wife, and when a young lion steps in and steals her away at the last minute, the plot thickens. Check out www.operademontreal.com for ticket info and the entire schedule for 2008.

Big thanks to everybody who attended I Heart J Dilla at Casa del Popolo this past Monday night. Nice to see the place bustling with energy so early in the week. Happy belated birthday goes out to that old bastard Sixtoo as well. This Saturday, Feb. 2, is the turn of Pays Play Supa DJs to pay homage, with their Dilla tribute over at Inspecteur Épingle—$5 after midnight.

On Friday, it’s time for another installment of the Kinjo Sessions with DJ Dav over at Salon Daomé. Kinjo Music, the label behind the night, proudly announces release number 8, with three tunes from Romanian outfit T.B.F. The new EP will be available in stores as of Friday the first.

Chicago’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble has been making the trip to Montreal to celebrate Black History Month for several years now, and they return once again for a collaborative effort with our own Kalmunity Vibe Collective on Feb. 13 at la Sala Rossa. The EHE is centred around percussionist Kahil El’Zabar and has included in its ranks Edward Wilkerson Jr., Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre, Joseph Bowie, Atu Harold Murray, and Light Henry Huff. These guys are also one of the longest continuously working jazz outfits around—and it shows. Anybody who witnessed the last time they improvised some new works with the Kalmunity talent will not want to miss this show. Tix are 15 bucks.

Here come the kicks, kids. Nike’s Sneaker Pimps tour hits Montreal on Feb. 9 with a travelling show of 1,500 pairs of rare, limited edition, vintage, celebrity signed and artist-collaboration sneakers, as well as live art by the legendary Futura, Stash and 123 Klan. Top that off with scheduled performances from Black Sheep and local talent and this event is pure sole (wow!). Make a move to Studio Juste Pour Rire with $12 in hand, and you’ll be good. Check out www.sneakerpimps.net for the full lowdown.

A PUZZLE WITHIN AN ENIGMA... fathead@videotron.ca