Rocky horror

Phantasmagoric fun at Spooky Boogie Night

by LORRAINE CARPENTER

Undead at Café Chaos, it's Sunday night! Thanks to Evil Productions, fans of horror and B-movies can gather once a week for free screenings of new indie and old cult features and shorts, free popcorn and a free web of underground rock 'n' roll spun by DJs Wax, Joey Bang Bang and Nick Evil.

"It's becoming more and more popular because it's the only place in Montreal where you can watch a movie for free, smoke cigarettes and drink beer," says Wax, the Evil Productions father figure who local rock 'n' rollers may recognize as the long-haired guy in the top hat who drives a hearse.

He's also the lead guitarist and songwriter in the Evil Boys From Hell, the glam punk ghouls who founded Evil Productions to support Montreal filmmakers, clubs and bands, including their own. Apart from the Evil Boys, local acts CPC Gangbangs and Flesh have played Evil soirées, which also take place at Baloo's and (coming soon) two other local venues.

"In the '80s and '90s, the rock 'n' roll scene had less bands but a very good following for club nights," says Wax. "Now we have a lot of bands but the crowd is smaller. It's still there, it just needs more exposure so that's what we're trying to do, give a chance to the rock 'n' roll scene to emerge again."

Wax and co., who play garage, rockabilly, surf, punk, glam and goth in their DJ sets, invite like-minded local bands to contact them through their Web site (www.evilproductions.ca.tc), where you can also find the Spooky Boogie schedule and Evil Boys news. Not only is there no pay-to-play fee for Spooky Boogie Night, but the bands (not the promoters) are guaranteed payment by the bar, which ascends in increments with the number of warm bodies in the house. This way, everyone involved will work to draw the biggest crowds possible, and there will never be a cover charge.

Similarly, the Evil ones - who are currently making connections with the Fantasia and Spasm festivals - welcome correspondence from Quebec producers, directors and actors seeking venues to screen their stuff. Filmmakers into horror, gore and exploitation have friends in Evil Productions... Mel Gibson aside.

Spooky Boogie Night at Café Chaos on Sundays, movies at 8pm, music at 10pm, free. Evil Night of Rock 'n' Roll at Baloo's on Tuesdays, 10pm, free