by RAF KATIGBAK

Is it me or is there an unusual number of birthday parties going on in the next week? I personally have more than a few friends with B-day celebrations coming up in the next seven days, and I find it more than a little curious. So what's going on with couples having kids this week? More precisely, what's going on nine months prior to this week? Using my highly advanced Gregorian computational scheduling device (i.e. a calendar), I figure that's end of August, so really - no big whoop. No Valentine's Day, no spring fever, no snuggle-up-'cause-it's-cold excuses either. Sure, in the States, August 21 is National Spumoni Ice Cream day, but that's hardly sexy, unless of course you're Ben and/or Jerry. Perhaps the secret lies in other famous people born this week, some kind of pattern that emphasizes musical creativity? Sadly, no. For every Tchaikovsky and Ella Fitzgerald, there was a Carmen Electra and an Adolf Hitler. So why is it that August is such a popular time to get it on? I suppose the question should really be when isn't it a good time to get it on…

Tonight is as good a time as any to drop by Unity II, as DJ Frigid will be lighting up the birthday candles at his Kink! weekly. To celebrate, Frigid will be dropping his new track "Bedroom Session," which will be featured on his soon to be released Kink! mix CD. Also this Thursday, Miles Moore celebrates the big three-oh by launching his new eclectic, deep and soulful weekly Carte Blanche at Quartier Latin. Say happy birthday to Miguel Graça (and his wife), who'll be celebrating their respective birthdays, and his new 12-inch, and the 10th anniversary of his Juno award, this Friday at Mile End Bar. Montreal's minimal Mecca Laïka celebrates five years with a week-long roster of live guests and DJs including Mike Shannon, Lucie, Vincent Lemieux and Frivolous and his Nordic Nomaders.

Thursday is just crazy with things to do, so here's a quick rundown. DJ Sarcastic drops by Blizzarts' Apesh!t to give DJ Bliss a hand. At Mile End Bar, join Soundshaper and Scoy for their Prim & Proper night. Balafré hosts the Angle.Rec launch for An Intricate Course of Deception with live sets from techno heads Aidan Baker, naw, Nathan McNinch and Blunderspublik, with a DJ set from DJ Zeit.

Saturday, of course, techno legends Kraftwerk will no doubt rock the Metropolis - word on the street is that the show is sold out, so all you diehard fans will probably need to pick up tix through other "on-site ticket brokers," wink, wink. Afterwards, the place to be will be Missy Bar, for DJs Amyl Nitrate and Radiowhore's Razzmatazz shindig, where they'll be dropping all sorts of Kraftwerkian originals and offspring.

Hey shorties, it's yer berfdays… Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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