THE NIGHT STUFF
DJs labor after dark for night fans

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Milo Shade plays for the crowd on a recent Friday at e808.com's Summer Session '03, which ends its run tonight. The band also will be playing at Sunday's Labor Day Bash at the Beach House.

Three full days off with ample time to labor on a tan or chill at home to find out what really happens when you turn the AC up to "11."

Conveniently, there's also much happening this Labor Day weekend after dark. Here's a selective guide:

The "must check out" event at the clubs this weekend should be DJ QBert's just-announced Sunday performance at Sweet & Sour Reloaded at Pipeline Café. The San Francisco-based scratch pioneer (and sometime Hawai'i resident) hasn't worked the tables here since 2001, so this oft-put-off return has been long anticipated. Also spinning: DJs Compose, Delve, XL, Rayne, Charles Lee and Dawn. 10 p.m.-4 a.m., 18 and older. More information at www.architechshawaii.com.

After drawing a full summer's worth of crowd support for live island music, e808.com Summer Session '03 takes a final bow this weekend with Resination and Ho'onu'a. The party should be packed, so show up early. Tonight, 9:45 p.m.-4 a.m., at Waterfront Cafe, Aloha Tower Marketplace.

Check out tonight's August edition of Trip The Lights for an emcee topic battle. Emcees signing up will be given a random topic to rhyme on and allowed carte blanche to dis competitors. More importantly, though, this month's TTL will be a benefit for emcee Todd G. Funds raised will go toward helping Todd pay mounting medical bills from recent open-heart surgery. Be sure to offer TTL host Kavet ample props for the good deed. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. at Studio 1.

The folks who regularly bring you Avant Pop! and Alien I.Q. shows will be offering Popular, a "somewhat monthly" that kicks off Sunday night at Club Pauahi. With an emphasis on the "pop" half of the word, promoters are promising "a night devoted to good vibes, dancing, being yourself and letting go." A mixed soundtrack of pop, house, electronic and hip-hop will be spread out by DJs Esake, Matt Ratt and Drift. Entry is $5. 10 p.m.-2 a.m., 18 and older, at 80 S. Pauahi and Fort Street Mall.

And lest we neglect the rest: NIN9, an evening of DJed smooth hip-hop and funky house at Sarento's, Sunday, 10 p.m.-2 a.m., 387-8483; the launch of Matty Liu and The Main Ingredient's Saturday night weekly of hip-hop, soul and dancehall at Jaron's in Kailua, 10 p.m.-2 a.m., 261-4600; Big Tom Presents' The Beach Ball with guest DJ Rob Kaftan from San Francisco Sunday, 10 p.m.-4 a.m. at Mist, 955-4852; BedRoq Bar & Grill's Back To School Bash featuring seven live bands including Hellbound Hounds, Pimpbot, Amplified and Sam's Garage, tonight, from 8 p.m.; KCCN-FM and KXME FM's Labor Day Weekend Sunday Bash at the Beach House will host two stages of live island music from One More Round, Thick Tubes, Milo Shade, Kai Ako & Friends, Ho'onu'a and Koa'uka, 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Entry is $5.

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8005.