by RAF KATIGBAK

Monday has unofficially become the night to rock out. At least it seemed so last week. Now I'm not talking about Avril Lavigne's riveting Monday afternoon performance at Carrefour Laval (part of her covertly named "Top-Secret Cross-Canada Mall Tour"), but how two of the Smiths rocked the crowd of goth guys, rock chicks and Britpop fanboys with a solid dose of classic garage, Northern soul, Britpop and Detroit rock, while boys and girls alike groped some serious ass at the Sala Rossa Slowdance benefit. Blizzarts Monday monthly Rock Night was also in full swing while France's DJ Alor provided ambient IDM glitchscapes over at Laïka. I, for one, was ecstatic to see Montrealers "oot and aboot" on a weeknight, eager to shake off that winter hibernation numbness.

This Monday, 2HQD Productions brings us another reason to hit the scene as two major acts on the post-rock IDM folktronica scene take the stage at the SAT. For those of you who haven't heard Chicago's Greg Davis before, his last album, Curling Pond Woods, is a great slice of experimental pop-tronic with heavy Beach Boys and Incredible String Band influences. Also on the bill is Marumari, who is no slouch either when it comes to bleary-eyed bedroom beats.

Tonight, get out the saucers of milk 'cause it's a DJ catfight over at Unity II as special guest DJ Plastik Patrik goes head to head with resident DJ Frigid. Expect a night of "Kink or Kill" with deadly electro, glam and good old-fashioned fist-pumping rock (as well as some "lutte érotique"). Incidentally, Frigid is also putting out an open call to electro/alternative/rock bands for his KINK! compilation, to be released early this summer. Let him know about your project and/or send him an mp3. Check out www.djfrigid.com for details.

Also Thursday night, from 5 p.m. till midnight, drop by Buona Notte for the launch of the latest official Bal en Blanc mix CD, White Is Pure 3, mixed by DJ Laflèche. Come and kick off what is certain to be another crazy week of parties.

Quality techno and breakbeats for free is the name of the game over at Casa del Popolo as Frankie Madgenta, Jan Pienkowski and CKUT's Cyan get technophiles ready for the oncoming Jeff Mills onslaught at Aria.

Montreal's house community is a-buzz with activity this weekend as Chicago house legends Derrick Carter and Luke Solomon hit Gravity on Saturday, preceded by Fred Everything at Salon Daomé. Let's hope they have enough energy saved up from Friday night when Chicago producer Mazi (aka Audio Soul Project) will be gracing the decks at Stereobar and, upstairs, none other than superstar duo Saeed and Palash will be taking it afterhours. Wrap it up Sunday at Parking as Patrick Dream welcomes crowd favourite Roy Davis Jr. to the decks. Low cover, cheap drinks, excellent music. What a weekend!

What? Joey Lawrence at Fairview Mall? Whoa! Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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