Butter and butterfly

A perennial joy of club culture is the phenomenon of the “new spot.” It can be an entirely new business, such as when Velvet came roaring out of an Old Port basement last year; an old space rebranded, as with the past year or so of hipper bookings at Belmont; a reconfigured industrial space operating illegally, as were many of the best spots in 2007–2008; or an unknown cabaret of some sort tinkering with its business strategy before defining its clientele. Either way, whether or not it lasts—and let’s be honest, these things rarely do—the new spot gives clubbers a fresh and exciting experience for a while.

Enter Papillion. Apparently open for a number of months, but neither hither nor thither with a discontinued attempt at exotic dancing lounge and who knows what else, Papillion is now—at least on Friday nights—courting the house and techno world at large, thanks to Jonah’s Ear, Justin Dallegret, manager of Neon’s visual identity, and Andrew Tay of U&I.

The spot is lovably tacky with mirrors, embossed paisley wallpaper, nice wall-mounted, fabric-shade Victorian lamps, hideous racy paintings of seminude women, pleather couches and marble tables with big candles, gaudy vases, carpeted floors and a fireplace. If you look hard enough, there’s even a little kissing cranny. The sound system is okey-dokey, the beer is unreasonably expensive and the spot could probably hold 125 people comfortably. 1071 Beaver Hall, near Square Victoria. Check it out.

Also important to note this weekend is the appearance of 2009’s biggest revelation, Hudson Mohawke, whose bulletproof debut IDM hip hop electro crossover LP Butter has decisively marked him as one of the most interesting producers around right now. That’s at Belmont on Saturday night, and Hovatron and Lunice will be on tap. FYI, Josh Wink hits Circus Friday night too.

SOME SNARKY QUEBEC-MEDIA QUASI-CELEBRITYSPOTTING
TO BE DONE TOO! jack.oatmon@gmail.com