by RAF KATIGBAK

The more I think about it, the more I get excited about the things that are going on in Montreal. I'm not talking about the "car and light truck extravaganza" currently underway at the Palais des Congrès, but more precisely the DJ/producer talent waiting to explode on a bigger scale. Local producer Rcola's demo is chock-a-block with refined D&B, Jordan Dare and the Kosa brothers' testoste-rap project Evening kills shit every time they play, ragga junglists Chopstick Dubplate are repping with a top-a-top mix CD, Lesbians on Ecstasy have a shiny new split 12" with the Unireverse and straight-up rock the house everywhere they go, the duo formerly known as dB are sitting on a 12-track pot o' gold and have just started work on an EP's worth of new material and so many other young creative types are also bringing their own shit to the table. But how do you do it? Once you have something recorded, what then? Well, this Sunday, Jan 25, at O Patro Vys, a selection of panellists will try and find some answers as they host the Indie Think Tank Forum 1.0, "a live, interactive panellist-style forum on marketing and distributing your indie CD." Featuring label owners, journalists, musicians and more, the whole shebang starts at 2 p.m. and space is limited, so make sure you register at thinktank@timrideout.com.

Gonzo rap shenaniganist Ghetto Nuns will be performing at Café Chaos tonight, Thursday, Jan. 22. If you missed his last show at Foufs, you need to check this guy out - he's like full-on mental punk rock with rap skills (and not in an Insane Clown Posse kind of way).

As you should all know by now, local minimal-house label Musique Risquée has also been representing the Montreal techno underground for a little while now, with a couple of amazing 12" releases to date. Easily one of the best monthlies to shake your ass at, their Soirée Risquée is on again at O Patro Vys. DJs Vincent Lemieux and Akufen bring the noise to the hungry punters on Friday, Jan. 23.

That same night, Unity II launches College Night. Their original idea, to give people a three-hour algebra exam and then submit them to humiliating frosh drills, was scrapped in favour of R&B, hip hop, house, and '80s pop. Free for students all night with ID, and free for non-students (you know who you are) before 11 p.m. Hosted by Kiki, Dream and Miss Vicky, with drink specials all night.

The Center Records store may be closed (booooo!) but that won't stop Philgood from providing the masses with quality music behind the decks. This Friday, Jan. 23, you can catch the electro-tech wiz over at Stereobar's Remedy night alongside resident Noah Pred, or every Wednesday at his new residency over at les Folies, your choice.

Velvet Club's local techno lineup this week has Yaz and Creator doing their funky techno thing on Thursday, Francis Face and One working the prog-house angle on Friday and Lady Melodie and B. Weiser spinning something they like to call "porn house" on Saturday. Sassy!

A Dan, a clan, a canal… Canada! Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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