Bringing back Carlton

by MORGAN STEIKER

Okay, so exit the neon spandex, Flock of Seagulls haircuts and Adidas jumpsuits. Enter grungy plaid shirts, Carhartt hoodies and Fresh Prince references. That’s right my friends, the ’80s renaissance is over. Make room for the ’90s revival. Every time we usher in a new decade, there’s also a new decade to be nostalgic about and the gap is getting smaller and smaller. Soon enough, bringing back the Bush years will be avant-garde.

Here are a few examples of the ’90s revival this week. Tonight, you can catch me at le Social for I Love College, the House Party-themed jam organized by the Saint Woods folks celebrating all things ’90s. The parents are out of town. Flattops optional.

Tomorrow afternoon, for all you sneaker heads and more particularly, Jordan aficionados, KN Urban Hip Hop (490 Promenade du Centropolis, Laval) is hosting a Q&A and sneaker-signing session with Gentry Humphrey, the director of the Jordan brand. Here’s a chance for you to meet and ask questions of the man responsible for the (’90s!) retro releases, colour ways and all-round direction of hip hop’s finest footwear. I actually just copped a new pair of fat laces for my Jordan VIIs and I’m feeling to bust them out this weekend if the weather permits.

MASSIVE BACKTRACK: Tricky

Friday night, you have the choice between two more journeys down the early ’90s. Hitch a ride through U.K. trip hop with pioneer Tricky, who’ll be performing his latest Knowle West Boy at la Tulipe, or you can go check out le Belmont, where the Lone

Catalysts are offering their laid-back, golden-era brand of rap, also rooted in our new favourite decade. Same night, you can warm up at Party Animals at Academy, featuring the Mad Kids, DJ Mikey Wild, DJ Noiky and an opening set by MM. X. Anything animal-related is welcome, which includes leopards prints, bunny ears or alligator shoes.

The legendary Harlem Globetrotters are coming to the Bell Centre on Sunday afternoon for the Montreal stop of their Spinning the Globe World tour. They’ll be here for an afternoon of good ol’ b-ball tricks and also to present Globetrotter University, a youth-oriented program that promotes a healthy lifestyle. Nothing really ’90s there.

Sunday afternoon is also your chance to go peep day two of Cabane à sucre électronik at Parc Jean-Drapeau, featuring main man Diplo sharing the stage with Fluokids, featuring Pharrell, and Nu Ravers on the Block. This special Piknic Électronik will feature sugar-shack activities and a “brunch des sucres” at the restaurant Hélène de Champlain, located near the site, from noon to six.

Somali-Canadian T.dot transplant K’naan will be at les Saints on the same night to perform cuts from his latest album Troubadour, which has been garnering a lot of buzz these days and includes a track with another early ’90s staple, Chubb Rock.

Lastly for this busy week, on Tuesday, go get your lesson in lovin’ from Sébastien Tellier at Cabaret, where he’ll be taking you on a “sexual odyssey” through his latest opus, Sexuality, co-produced by Guy-Manuel de Homem Christo of Daft Punk.

I’M TAKING IT BACK, COME FOLLOW ME…
DABEATSEEKER@GMAIL.COM