by RAF KATIGBAK

Anyone out there that knows of great new spaces should drop me an e-mail. Last week's ass-rockin' sweat-fest that was the Georges Leningrad/Numbers show marked the opening of the show space El Salon (run by the Sala Rossa/Casa del Popolo crew), a fine church-basement-like addition to the string of new hotspots to hit the city recently.

On the afterhours tip, Gravity's chic rounded design was followed by Circus' elegant and classy interior, while Velvet became one of the best places to check out electronic music near the Old Port. On Valentine's Day, the Neon party revealed a new modular layout at the SAT that allowed for more intimate events, while right across the street, the temporary art space Pavilion hosted month-long events that included one-man noise acts, gay indie folk-rockers, a guy who busted out a sick Richard Marx a cappella when his gear crashed, and yet another band with a name that had to do with "wolf."

This Saturday however, it's the Collapse of Pavilion party at Montreal's hottest temporary art space. This is the last time to peep Everybody Else is Wrong, the first North American solo exhibit by the U.K.'s Iain & Jane, and to boogie down at an extended dance party featuring a slew of local DJs and special guest performers in this converted arcade. Things get cooking at around 9 p.m.

Speaking of live locals, Blizzarts Apesh!t weekly will be bumpin' tonight, Feb. 26, with a barrage of Montreal talent. Melon will be mixing hip hop and disco samples over a live set by Radar Sat-1 while Poontz and FatSack will be displaying some mad mixing and turntablist skills. Resident Bliss rounds out a night well worth $4. Alternately tonight, over at Unity II's Kink! night, DJ Frigid's special guest will be none other than Electroclash ringleader DJ Larry Tee.

This Friday, Feb. 27, Montreal's ragga jungle revival shows no signs of slowing down as DJs Nitrous, Regimental, Jahstyle, Mack One and Iznogood converge on four decks and two CD decks. The name of this all-night hoedown is The Ragga Jungle Book (named after the lost Disney sequel where Mowgli moves to Jamaica to become a Rastafarian dancehall toaster, I think), the location is 4445 St-Laurent and it's a fiver at the door.

Hardtek headz are finding their midweek mopes brightened by the sound of free, pounding techno every Wednesday over at Club Syndrome (5557 St-Laurent). Last week, the Neurotik crew hosted the sounds of Mad-K, Logiq + Dunzy, Zone-33 and guests. To find out what's happening this week, check www.zone-33.com.

Before I sign off, there's a crew I want to big up. Since last week, Option Consommateurs have been heating up my nights in a big way. Now, these guys aren't DJs or promoters - in fact, they've got nothing to do with music at all. As part of their government-sponsored energy-saving program, they winter-proofed my freezing-ass apartment, caulking up my windows and installing a water-saving showerhead while giving me the lowdown on how to keep my energy bills down - all for free! To see if your household meets the requirements, call 598-7288. These guys rock!

Shower to the people! Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

>> Music Listings