by RAF KATIGBAK

The hype around last Saturday's Fischerspooner show was so thick you could cut it like an ironic mullet. The question remains - did they deliver? Well, sort of (how's that for taking a stand?). On one side you have your average clubber whose typical night out consists of dancing to some dude (or dudette) who's standing there putting one record after the other. For this majority, having costume changes, confetti cannons, wind machines, fake blood, stage diving and a laser light show is a welcome change. Result: a packed house that went totally ape shit. On the other side you have some veterans of the club scene, ex-clubkids, drag queens, promoters and DJs, whose final verdict was "been there done that." One DJ in particular went as far as sending out a rather frigid mass e-mail berating the group as a greedy, cheap, second-rate high school act with no charisma. Comparisons to local club performance troupe House of Pride were in abundance and most of these veterans felt slightly ripped off. The breakdown as I see it is, if it gets the crowd hyped, then it's all good. Sure, the dancers could have been better. Sure, he broke the lip-sync and spent most of the time bitching at the crowd (most of whom loved it). Sure, it might be a gimmick to drop tons of balloons from the sky as a grand finale, but it worked, the crowd went nuts and had a sweaty fun time. My advice to those who thought they could have done better is to do it. And do it better. Be constructive, get creative and give back to the scene. It's the only way to move shit forward.

Okay, so unless you've got something against ancient pagan rituals, y'all know it's All Hallows' Eve this weekend. For some of you, it's the best time of the year and for everyone, it's time to party. Here's a taste of a few small to mid-size late-night treats you may want to indulge in.

Tonight at Parking, DJ Mini's Electro Overdose night hosts a very special guest DJ John Selway. For those of you who don't know, this guy cut his teeth in the studio with the likes of the Horrorist, Deep Dish and Carl Cox. Now he runs two shit-hot electro labels, Serotonin (you know, the guys who put out the first Fischerspooner single) and Memory Boy. Expect electro, disco and new wave insanity! Free shooter for the costumed!

Over at Unity II, DJ Frigid's Kink! night is hosting Attack of the Nymphos! with costumes and Emily Strange giveaways!

Word on the street is on that Friday night horror-show with Dr. Noh and DJs Sarcastic, Rcola and Maskinn at a secret location on the Main. Check www.flatwax.com/drnoh for details or call 847-0374. Also on Friday, the Scream party (915 Ste-Catherine E.) welcomes Israeli psy-trance act Astral Projection and Germany's Nostrum as well as a slew of locals spread over three rooms (trance, hardcore and Jungle). The cost is $45 at the door.

Sunday at Blue Dog, the No Pants Posse host Pants Off 4: Bums Galore with the Kops crew DJs dropping hip hop, electro and all sorts of shit. Check your egos (and pants) at the door!

Creepy for cheapy… Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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