Outtakes
Volar date for Toxic Avenger
The Parisian electro scene has produced some interesting figures - think Miss Kitten, Justice and the raunchy Uffie for example - but one of the strangest is arguably the Toxic Avenger, a masked marauder influenced as much by 1980s thrash bands as the electronic offerings of his peers.
The man behind the mask is Simon DeLacroix, and his releases on hip Paris label Ed Banger - also home to Justice and Busy P - are lo-fi concoctions of distorted synthesiser rock going by titles such as Stage Divin', Take It Like a Man and Love with Chloe Sevigny.
DeLacroix spent his teenage years in punk and hardcore metal bands before he started to make music with a cheap computer, but was not satisfied with the results until one day he added some distortion and discovered the sound that would make his name.
After donning a freaky mask and taking his name from an 80s B-movie, his Toxic Avenger solo project was born, and he has since also become a member of electro rock band the Black Milk and hip hop outfit Ed Wood is Dead.
The Toxic Avenger (top right) will now follow in the footsteps of countrymen Justice by appearing at Volar at the excellent series of Par-Ici monthly French music nights on December 28. Entry is free for members and HK$200 for non-members.
Party down with Santa at Heat
Christmas purists may take issue with the illustration of Santa Claus slugging from a bottle of booze on the flyer, but those who fancy a bit of revelry over the festive season will probably be tempted by the High on Santa event at Heat in Wan Chai on December 22.
Headlined by Hong Kong-based Dutch DJ Janno, the club night will focus on the euphoric sounds of trance and progressive house, and will be one of the larger events in what is so far shaping up to be a reasonably tame silly season.
Janno Vaartjes studied sound design and music technology at the London University of the Arts, and turned his hand to electronic music production under the influence of trance giants Armin van Buuren, Sasha and Markus Schulz. Since moving to Hong Kong, Vaartjes has performed regularly at the local Trancedesire parties, as well as in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, dropping a range of hands-in-the-air anthems.
At High on Santa, Vaartjes will be supported by Belgian trance DJ Christof, Miami progressive house DJ Preston and local electro spinner Bikash. The party at Heat - located at 54-62 Lockhart Road - starts at 11pm and tickets at the door cost HK$120.
Kwun Tong showcasing metal hearts
Darkness Pool, Pit Bull, Thorn Slaughter ... with band names like this on the bill, you can be sure you're not in for a night of easy listening.
Hong Kong's independent music scene now has more metal bands than you can shake a spiked leather wristband at, and some of the best will be gathering at an event titled New Generation of Metal Hearts this Saturday at Live House in Kwun Tong.
Darkness Pool won this year's local Heartbeat Band Sound Competition and were regional finalists in the 2007 World Battle of the Bands.
Thorn Slaughter, meanwhile, approach their craft from a more extreme angle.
At this weekend's show, these two standout bands will be joined by like-minded acts Dark Fringe, Zodiac and Crazimals.
Live House can be found at Room L215, 3/F Phase 2 Kwun Tong Industrial Building and tickets for the show, which starts at 7.30pm, cost HK$50.
