by RAF KATIGBAK

After all the hype and kerfuffle, let me proclaim that Sona is back! Sort of. It's back, but in a different form with a different vibe. Confused yet? Overall, my experience last Saturday at the new Sona, in the AMC Forum at Ste-Catherine and Atwater, was great. The staff was friendly and efficient, Laflèche was tearing it up and the general ambience was positive. Without getting into all the aesthetic details (like the cool Aliens-like industrial elevator entranceway), here are some major comparisons between the new and original Sonas. Keep in mind that last week was the inaugural weekend and most bugs are still being worked out.

Size: The new main room is noticeably smaller, with the ceilings seemingly lower than before. Also, the DJ booth is closer to and in plain sight of the dancefloor. I personally like this intimate club style, it facilitates that DJ/crowd interaction that is essential for an off-the-hook night. While the lighting system is nice and simple, the rather minimal décor is more suited to a larger room, so they might want to think of warming up the room somehow (just a thought).

Hygiene: The new Sona is much cleaner. While some of the crowd I interviewed said the "ghetto-ness" of the original added to the vibe, most agreed that clean bathrooms and a nice paint job were a good thing.

Location: A few people polled said that it "didn't feel as underground" as before and I can't help but feel that partying on the top floor of a mall had something to do with that (even though the rest of the mall can only be seen on the walk from the elevator to the club). I think the future success of the new Sona hinges on how well they can make you forget this fact.

While some of the people I talked to had mixed reactions, most of the crowd were Sona loyalists ecstatic their favourite club was back. "I haven't gone out since April when Sona closed," exclaimed one shirtless diehard. "I'm just happy to be out again!" Ultimately, if you're looking for the underground vibe of the original, the new club might not be the right place, but if you're out for a nice clean afterhours experience with good sound, good vibes and a more intimate atmosphere, Sona may be what your looking for.

Friday night is completely bonkers this week, so here are my picks: Switch is a new monthly featuring MisterFrank, Pinky 38, Fizz, Iznogood, the Nitrous, Jahstyle and Mat B at 4445 St-Laurent. Cover is $5 at the door. Over at Stereo, Swansea-based collective Hybrid will be rocking the decks, while over at Aria, German techno emperor Sven Väth will be taking over with his own electro-tech style - expect good beats and DJ booth antics. Rephlex artist DJ Shit and the mysterious MC Squared take over O Patro Vys for some "dancefloor maximum riotness" - if you missed their performance at Flexout many moons ago, then you simply must be there for this. Two words: 3-D glasses.

Saturday, the rightfully hyped Anthony Rother performance at Elektra will be followed by a rare electro-tinged set by Miche & Sultan. Don't miss the chance to catch these guys doing something a little different.

Cameras ready, prepare to flash... Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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