| Catching up for Christmas
With November giving way to the Christmas season, it’s a good opportunity to take another look at what’s shaking the walls of local dance halls. Despite all the hoopla of Calgary’s modernity, the battle for dancefloor supremacy is largely controlled by the borg of Top 40 drones and Drink Special Sallys. In an effort to connect the dots of diversity, here’s a run-down of variations on the theme.
There are a few minor rearrangements in the fabric of Cowtown’s latenight revue – namely, the closure of Emerald Café, the development of Shadow Afterhours into a full-scale nightclub and the Escape's metamorphosis into Area 51. Shadow now offers a Friday, Saturday and Monday lineup during regular business hours, while the renamed and refurbished Area 51 stays close to the formula of its previous namesake.
Before the borg fully takes over, hip-hop fans can still indulge in a few dedicated nights. The Beatmatrix celebrates its sixth anniversary on Friday, November 30, although PJ and the Boys have pulled up stakes and moved into Pandemonium, where they are joined by stalwart DJ supreme, Jon Landry.
The Alliance Sound Crew now holds court at the Palace on Fridays and at Shadow on Mondays. For a deeper hip-hop touch, Pump provides the soundscape at Cherry on Fridays and the perennial favourite Melo D mans the decks at The Night Gallery on Wednesdays. Both Dean Clarke and Al Testa can be found in the basement of the Embassy every Saturday as part of the Bridge. Of particular interest, Wayne B, another formative contributor to Calgary’s hip-hop community, has moved back to town and can be found at Roxy on Wednesdays with DJ Shabba.
Although drum ’n’ bass has yet to fully capture the hearts and minds of Calgarians, Fever provides the flow on Wednesdays at Pandemonium as part of the Fehrenheit collective, and J Jonus Jordon offers up his Liquid Funk every Sunday in the red-soaked room of Cherry Lounge.
Meanwhile, trance is in something of a recession, giving way to a progressive flavour, but a few nights remain for the black-light inclined. Katalyst Productions chimes in on Thursdays at the Embassy, featuring a diverse lineup of Mark Thomas, Shindoshi, Pete Wylde and Mixed Signals in a psychedelicized basement setting. Pauly Dee and Anthem can still be found at the Warehouse on Saturday for the weekly episode of the all night Blissed. Shadow has Matt B on Fridays in the basement and Jay Klos on Saturdays in the same locale, both laying down a progressive format.
Fans of 4/4 can indulge heavily on the weekends, when no fewer than six events take on the weekend warrior. Fluid Fridays at Shadow bring in Jon Delerious and Domenic G for a night that ranges from deep to intense house. Special Agent continues to master the ceremonies of the late night venture that is Horizon, held after hours at the Warehouse. For a deeper touch on Friday, indulgence can be found at the Sambuca Lounge, where the Dub-Bode collective gathers for Oxygen, featuring Skot Dub, Carly Phassion and live instruments and vocalists.
On Saturdays, Calgary’s spiritual godfather, Rice, has your house hook up at Cherry Lounge with Eargasm. Emes and Grimes take a break from the breaks at The Night Gallery to lay down a night of house in the basement of Embassy on Saturdays (as part of The Bridge). Also on Saturdays, Nic-E and Phunk increase the pressure at Shadow with forays into all manner of house. If you’re still not housed out, Sunday Skool at The Night Gallery with DJ Rice is the stalwart of the local scene on Sunday – often imitated but never replicated.
Pandemonium has the mid-week beat refuge of Fehrenheit, with Domenic G and Jon Delerious residing, often with a featured out-of-town guest.
The beatopia of Hai Karate provides the breaks along with some drum ’n’ bass, house and hip hop for those interested on Thursdays at The Night Gallery. On November 29, Matt The Alien and Perfect Combination are the featured guests of Grimes and Emes, and the emphasis will be on the drum and bass side of the equation.
Last, but certainly not least, reggae nights continue – despite the snow – on Mondays at The Night Gallery (with Leo C and DJewel Davidson) and on Tuesdays at the Castle Pub (Dub at the Pub featuring High and I).
Finally, for a truly "unique" and eclectic experience with a rhumba sequencer, Bamboo Tiki Lounge hosts the perverse stylings of DJ Honey Kruller on Fridays. |
