Vegas schmegas

While most of us are already familiar with some of the strange and wonderful things taking place during the summer months in Montreal, a few days in Las Vegas, during the Fourth of July weekend, have done nothing but solidify my love of la belle province. Easily the high point of my trip was getting tickets to Morris Day and the Time at the Flamingo, featuring all the original band members, including Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The low point of my trip was the hordes of pseudo-patriotic loudmouth dickweeds with drunken, fake-boobed girlfriends lining the streets, not to mention the overabundance of obese, slow-moving tourists looking for a Burger King without a line-up. It’s always nice to come home.

THE HARDEST WORKING MAN IN NEVADA: A Las Vegas entrepreneur

Just so you know, the original Back to Basics mid-week hip hop fix is back up and running at the Blue Dog Motel. DJs DR One, Manzo, Maysr and Redd Dredd bring the pain with classic hip hop and old school for absolutely no cover every Tuesday night. I’m just sayin’.

Expect to hear a bunch of new sounds this Friday, July 11, at la Sala Rossa when Rhythm Nations 2008 presents their Mash Up Edition. Live performances from Chad Michael Stewart, Mad’Moizelle Giraf, Electro-Lise, Sarah MK and Allan Reid will incorporate and explore the sounds of R&B, reggae, pop and rock, with a set by DJ Class on top of it all. Tix are $15, doors are at 8 p.m. and the show at 9 p.m.

Time’s a-tickin’. I know that because once again, it’s time for Inobefest, celebrating yet another birthday of one of Montreal’s party originals. On Saturday, July 12, make a move to Cherry Lounge (417 St-Pierre) and join in the fun for Inobe and Claudy’s b-day jump-off. They’ve been doing this so long that they have it down to a science, manning the decks with Kamaka, B’ugo and the one and only Tony Desypris for maximum effect.

Can’t forget Fred Everything, who returns to Montreal this week to launch his brand new OM Records production LP, Lost Together, with a Lazy Days Session at Academy on Saturday. He’s also here to play a House of Om party at Stereo the following week with DJ Heather, Colette and Andy Caldwell on July 19, so get your fill. The new LP features guests like Brand New Heavies vocalist N’Dea Davenport, good friends Tortured Soul, the legendary Lisa Shaw and MTL voice on the rise Wayne Tennant.

Seven reasons you should listen to Soca Junkies with Eloi Thomas and Milton Primus, every second Friday on CKUT 90.3FM:
1. Iwer George “Over Yuh Head”
2. Bunji Garlin “Fiery”
3. Sean Paul & Destra “Free It Up”
4. Farmer Nappy “Chipping”
5. Shurwayne W “Carnival Please Stay”
6. HD & the Mighty Sparrow “Congo Man”
7. Blaxx “Breathless”

NEVER DID GET TO USE MY TRUNKS....fathead@videotron.ca