OPOPO @ CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK
With Misteur Valaire, Camouflage Nights, The Cansecos, The Russian Futurists. Thu, Mar 6. Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College. $8 advance, wristbands accepted.
It used to be an annual ritual: every CMW, I would find myself bitching about the lack of fresh, future-minded showcases. Not so this year. Inventive Montreal electronic-jazz five-piece Misteur Valaire kicks it off, followed by three local duos who serve up wicked, hooky variations on the meeting of pop, rock and electronics. At 1am, infectious T.O. trio Opopo will hit the room with slamming beats, heavy bass and raw charisma. I predict that these guys will have audiences stage-diving to their rock-rave assault.

DAMIAN LAZARUS
With DJs Nitin & Jonny White, Alicia Hush. Thu, Mar 6. The Social, 1100 Queen W. $10 before 11pm.
The more I hear and read by this man, the more I love Damian Lazarus. Not only does the London-based DJ, producer and one-time music editor of Dazed and Confused magazine run the solid Crosstown Rebels label, he plays some of the deepest, most personal and interesting techno, house and electro one could hope to discover. Check Lazarus’ many mix CDs and his consistently wicked LazPod offerings for a taste. Even better, peep his MySpace for three quirky new originals that will whet your aural appetite for Lazarus’ forthcoming debut artist album.

MOBY @ SOHO FRIDAYS
With DJs Manzone & Strong. Fri, Mar 7. This Is London, 364 Richmond W. Cover TBD.
Just when it seemed that electronic music’s most famous Christian vegan had mellowed into singer/songwriter la-la land, Mr. Richard Melville Hall returns with Last Night, his sixth studio album, described as “a love letter to dance music in New York City.” Hearing is believing. Out April 1, the vocal-heavy recording moves between epic, piano-driven rave anthems, deep Euro-disco, new-school hip-hop and, yes, a few overly polished ambient bits. Download an album sampler mixed by the man himself at RCRDLBL.com, and do not sleep on this rare opportunity to hear Moby DJ in an intimate venue. He’ll also give a CMW interview the next day at the Fairmont Royal York at 5:15pm.

DJ REKHA @ POP MONTREAL SHOWCASE
With Rawalpindi, Giselle Numba One, more. Sat, Mar 8. Drake Underground, 1150 Queen W. $5 before midnight, $10 after. CMW wristbands accepted.
As always, the folks behind the Pop Montreal fest have programmed a quality show. There are some actual Montrealers — including pop-hop experimentalist Giselle Numba One; klez-hopper Socalled; and don DJ Khiasma — but the late-night party action will go into overdrive at 2am when NYC’s DJ Rekha hits the decks. One of the key North American DJs playing a huge blend of South Asian sounds, the pioneering spinner has hosted the infamous Basement Bhangra party for the past decade and turned out an acclaimed, celebratory mix CD of the same name late last year.
 
JELO @ ACTIVATE
Sat, Mar 8. Footwork, 425 Adelaide W.  $15 before midnight.
Hometown hero Jelo is going to run things for seven hours solid. Jelo, for those unfamiliar, is a seriously enthusiastic and technically gifted party-rocker who blends electro, techno, house, breaks and more. His star continues to rise internationally after last year’s heavily charted collab with Deadmau5, “The Reward is Cheese,” and his own remix of Nelly Furtado’s “Maneater.” “Donkey Punch,” Jelo’s new track with Hatiras, is storming dancefloors now, and forthcoming remixes of Dylan Rhymes and DJ Dan are likely to do the same. Ain’t no stopping him now.