by RAF KATIGBAK

First off, I can hardly keep from dancing my magical, impish, "wicked-show-tonight" jig as one of the weirdest and most interesting pop bands around (and one of my personal faves), Deerhoof, will be visiting la Sala Rossa tonight, Thursday, August 21. If y'all haven't heard these guys before, run out and listen to their latest album Apple O' which totally rocks on that deranged-noise-pop-with-cute-female-Japanese-vocalist tip. Tickets are 10 smackeroos at the door.

Also, one of the medical world's most popular liposuction devices is also the name of one of Canada's fastest rising breaks DJs. Tonight @ the Grill (@ Blizzarts), the Phat Conductor will no doubt impress all with his "lightning fast mixing, ill scratching and fresh dubs." If that don't sound like a party, I don't know what does.

Montreal junglists probably already know what time of the month it is, but just in case: this Friday, August 22, join In Da Jungle residents as they welcome special guests Shaun Doe, Spinal, db vaig and live beatboxing act BDS. Call 401-6774 for info.

From the creators of the über-debauch November Rain party comes a new monthly called Random at Bar Korova, starting this Saturday, August 23. The concept is simple: all of the music will be randomly selected from a massive mp3 playlist through audience interaction and a variety of random prizes will be awarded, such as happy hardcore records, RPG dice and poetry zines written by computers. As well, there will be prizes for most random. Okay, so maybe it's not so simple, but it's certainly gonna be interesting, so drop by!

They say that Sunday is a day of rest, but they also say that there's no rest for the wicked, so why not kick back at Casa del Popolo with one of the most innovative bands to ever come out of Montreal. Soundclash is saxman Erik Hove and turntablist P-Love, who'll no doubt bring the noise in celebration of their newly completed album. Speaking of newly completed albums, a great live act in their own right, dB has put the finishing touches on their album, but they've been left high and dry by the now defunct Toronto label that first signed 'em. So if any of you A&R types are reading this, these guys are opening up for Soundclash, so check 'em out and get 'em a deal already - all they want is a stretch Hummer, Cristal on tap, and gold fronts that spell out "Drew" and "Blake" in diamonds, is that too much to ask?

A couple of new weeklies just showed up on the nightlife radar: Caoutchouc with DJ Luc Raymond and multi-instrumentalist JF Lemieux on Thursdays at Belyza (for $6,) and Friday's Panavision house night with DJ Nic B at Unity II (free before 11 p.m.).

Finally, one of the first DJs ever to mash-up at Saphir's Rockdeep Tuesdays will return to the decks for a visit on Tuesday, August 26. DJ Mini - who's been busy in the studio with local beatmeister David Kristian - will take over the Technics and deliver a set of her crowd-rocking, funky electro breaks. Cover is $4 after 11 p.m.

Anybody got a pair of G-Unit shoes? Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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