by RAF KATIGBAK

First off, allow me to apologize in advance for any strangeness or inconsistencies in this week’s column. As I write these words, I am deep in my fifth day of what has been my worst case of strep throat ever. Not only does my high, fluctuating fever have me sweating like Bobby Brown, but it also makes me prone to bouts of delusion, which at times can be slightly confusing. For instance, as I type this, I don’t know why my computer’s keyboard keeps morphing from regular letters to faces from the cast of Full House (J is for John Stamos), or why that damn midget in the corner keeps throwing little pickles at me. But I do know this: the show must go on. So let’s get to it.

It seems we can say goodbye to yet another fun space as the owners of the Sputnik club have announced that they are closing the doors for good. The move comes as a surprise to many of the Saturday night regulars who have been steadily filling up the space every weekend since its opening a little over a month ago. Now under new ownership, the space is rumoured to re-open as a funk and R&B bar that may or may not be called the Hot Spot.

The owners of Sputnik might not have a good track record for keeping a club open (remember Ministry?), but the new owners of the old Ministry space (now Unity II) seem to have found that elusive recipe for nightclub success. They’ve got their House Thursdays (DJs Stéfane Lippé and DJ Norm), Digital City Fridays (electro DJs Philgood and Soundshaper and live performances with Mina Dadiva and their “digital dancers”), Muscle Beach Saturdays (classic, Unity-style funky house with DJ Stephan Grondin and Stéfane Lippé) and Encore Sundays with tek/house DJs Maüs and Soundshaper and DJ Puppa Sacha dropping pure R&B in the Bamboo Bar. Unity has something for almost everyone each week, so pick a sound and boogie!

For something a little out of the ordinary drop by the SAT on Saturday, when they will be hosting Out of the Shadows: Movement Phenomenon. The evening will feature DJs (Bliss, Mana, Poontz, Alain Vinet) coupled with choreographers and dancers (George Stamos - no relation to John - plus Tonja Livingstone, Flint Eagle, Victor Quijada, Miko Ruby, Rowat Sobreira) and visuals by Hein?. Bringing together different sounds and dance styles, the theme of the night will be a spirit of fusion and togetherness through dance, so come on out and shake a tailfeather already! Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

After last weeks über-successful launch of albums by homeboys Mike Shannon and Scott Monteith, it seems like O Patro Vys is the place to be. This Saturday, catch tone.net’s DJ Mark Macleod and Propellant Records’ Aras B as they bring their own sounds to the place. $5 in advance, $8 at the door. :

Please forward all home remedies or pickle recipes to: Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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