by RAF KATIGBAK

Here we are, only a couple of weeks into 2004, and it looks like Montreal is showing no signs of slowing down or freezing up. With a whole slew of new crew alliances, nights, guest DJs, clubs and parties to talk about, Montreal has started the year with a bang, so let's cut to the chase and get down to the nitty-gritty.

The Wednesday-night Mix Sessions at the SAT return for another round of A/V tomfoolery as special local musical guests collab with local visuals crews. Next Wednesday, Jan. 21, Les Passagers and FYTV.NET will take care of the eye candy as Jean-Michel Nguyen, Eloi Brunelle, Olivié and Christian Thibault provide the sexy tech-house, deep house and electro ear candy (Colombian nose candy not included). Things get going around 7 p.m. and it's free!

Tonight, the Kink Crew at Unity II will be hosting an Art Fetish night where artists Zïlon, N and Fabrice Landry will be creating three "art fetish-themed" canvases throughout the course of night. These works of art will then be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Don't miss it!

The Grill was chill but Apesh!t is it! After three solid years of rockin' all things breaky, the regular Thursday-night Blizzarts throwdown the Grill will now be known as Apesh!t, as DJ Bliss takes the reins from co-conspirator DJ T'cha (who'll be on a six-month hiatus in Brazil). Expect the usual breakbeat-inspired sounds as well as some other surprises (including a last-Thursday-of-the-month party with the Broken Crew and special guests).

The nightclub Velvet (420 St-Gabriel, near the Old Port) is quickly making a name for itself as one of the places to catch some of the younger up-and-coming DJs and crews on the Montreal scene. This Thursday, catch the IDJ crew at Velvet as they lay down a pre-emptive strike for their upcoming IDJ party that's going down on Saturday (featuring Mana, Stabba and Regimental, info for that party is at 401-6774).

Over at Parking's Overdose night, catch the master of puppets himself, Thomas Lord of the Marionettes, as he joins resident DJ Mini for another night of electro-punk madness. As always, it's a cheap cover and cheap drinks - what more could you ask for?

January 16, drop by Blue Dog for Junglist Friday as residents Stabba, MC Y, Corey K, Mayday, Rcola and Stalker welcome a special guest, Hostile Recordings artist Negative. Expect some hard-steppin' Brooklyn-brawler beats from the dark side of D&B. It's three bucks before midnight and six after.

Just when you thought you had the Montreal afterhours landscape pegged, another club pops up out of nowhere offering everything a clubber could want. Boasting three rooms and "the most beautiful afterhours décor" yet (think gold details and red velvet curtains), Circus Afterhours (915 Ste-Catherine E., entry on St-Timothée St.) may be the classiest place to shake your booty after 3 a.m. More info to come soon…

Resolutions schmesolutions! Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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