by RAF KATIGBAK

While sales of day-glo fishnet headstockings are steadily on the decline and ironic mullets (aka ape drapes, soccer rockers, short 'n' longs/shlongs, neckwarmers, Kentucky waterfalls or simply the Norco) are nigh on disappearing, it's no secret that the electro-punk invasion has entrenched itself deep in the Montreal club consciousness. This weekend there are several events to get your fill of retro beats and guys in make-up.

Over at the Grey Room (101 Maguire E.) on Saturday, March 27, Toronto's hottest glam-queer-punk-rock night Vazaleen hits Montreal with resident DJ Will Munro and Olympia, WA's "electro-feminist-punk-hip-hop sensations" Scream Club, as well as other entertainment and performances, including infamous Toronto go-go dancers. On Friday over at O Patro Vys, it's another installment of Komputer Inside with DJs Roméo Casio, Sapin and Sound Scientist, and special live performances from Duchess Says and Chernobyl Cha Cha.

Of course, Friday evening you can take it to the a.m. at Gravity with Tiga and Ivan Smagghe's Pleasure From the Bass event.

Lest we forget, Montreal is a house town first and foremost. This weekend, Stereo jockeys for top house afterhours spot with François K and Fred Everything on Friday, while the ever-popular David Morales returns to his throne on Saturday. Thursday night, join Jojo Flores, Bic, Stephane Lacroix and Misayo at Stereobar for the Gotsoul/Therapy Free Tibet Benefit Tour and help raise money for the Canada Tibet Committee, a group rallying for Canada to step in and negotiate peace between China and Tibet.

Following his successful Wednesday Hump nights at Stereobar (anyone catch local Business/Crisco/KOX house hero Christian Farley last week?), DeepJ Max has started Feel Thursdays at Wax Lounge. For more four-on-the-floor action, catch house legend Louie Vega at Central Station on Sunday, March 28, or Portugal's DJ Vibe on Saturday over at Gravity.

On the homegrown tip, on Friday catch Ghislain Poirier and Séba for free over at la Maison de la Culture Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (3755 Botrel) at 8 p.m. sharp - info at 872-2157. Tonight, drop by Casa del Popolo for the Noise Factory showcase with Toronto's Beef Terminal and Montreal's naw and A Vertical Mosaic. Cyan, co-host of CKUT's Modular Systems techno program, will be spinning throughout the night. Speaking of CKUT, don't forget to support community radio by dialling up this week for their annual funding drive. If you're like me and can't get enough of alternative sounds, make a pledge and keep free radio alive!

On the "out there" tip Saturday night, the SAT will host Phéromones, a multi-channel-audio techno extravaganza with Alain Thibault and Nuclear Ramjet. Also on hand will be the Physical Noise Theatre and the You and What Army? collective, live via real-time open-source Internet collaborative doohickey.

On the "so far out there he's orbiting the fifth moon of Endor" tip, on Sunday, Ghetto Nun MC Versus takes his unsane, acid-fuelled folk rock project John School Dropouts to McKibbins Pub on Crescent.

…the I-rock!, coupe Longueuil, hockey hair, Canadian passport, Tennessee tophat, mudflap, yep-nope… Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

>> Music Listings