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DJs drop by to talk Monster Massive

Annual Halloween underground dance party celebrates 10 years, with wild night at Tommy Africa's
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Team Monster Massive Whistler DJs Infectious, Kid Kicko, Miss Kosmik, Phroh and DJ Deadly. Photo by Cathryn Atkinson

So what do you call a group of DJs in one room? A "trap" of DJs?

Probably not. It felt more like a festival than a trap as five of Whistler's top local talents dropped by the Pique office to talk about the 10th annual Monster Massive, a night of Halloween dance music.

Monster Massive 10 takes place at Tommy Africa's on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 10 p.m. This year, entry is free.

Event organizer DnB DJ Phroh, of Whistler Junglists, brought along DJ Deadly (turntablist beats/deadly soundz), Miss Kosmik (banging bassline), Infectious (DnB/Wild Bunch Sound Crew) and Kid Kicko (breaks/bass/trap) to talk musical shop.

Missing were Mason McMillan (house/Wild Bunch Sound Crew) and rapper MC Lozen, who will emcee on the night.

Phroh described Monster Massive as an event that started off in 2004 and moved around the resort's clubs before it found its current home.

"The first one was a massive sold out show, really good. We did it again and again... we moved the party around from place to place," Phroh recalled.

He said that there aren't many opportunities for the team to have a blowout night together like this.

"We tend to create our events; when I do a show I am known for having a lot of other DJs come in rather than just having me play. I like to give an audience a variety of different styles and flavours," Phroh said.

"There are so many DJs in town. Everybody is really hungry to play a set, and even if we don't get to play a long set, we're going to play that short set really, really good. It creates a really intense vibe of really good music from a broad spectrum.

"This year, Monster Massive is free — it's just show up, come in, have fun."

Giving everyone a chance to introduce themselves, it's clear that being an independent DJ and electronic musician in the resort means close friendships and mutual support.

Infectious has been playing drum&bass in Whistler for eight years.

"I help throw Whistler Junglist nights; if I'm not performing, I'm emceeing. There are a lot of DJs in this town with talent and who should be able to portray themselves, and Phroh has always been the guy to give people that opportunity. And Tommy Africa's is one of the main places that allows that, too," Infectious said.

Sitting next to Infectious, Kid Kicko has spent four years Whistler playing mostly hip hop, trap and ghetto funk, following a career in Ontario and New York City. He also makes videos.

Shuttling between her hometown in Quebec and Whistler, house DJ Miss Kosmik has seen the scene evolve over 18 years.

"Electronic music has been part of my teenage years, growing up. And in Whistler, the Sunday Soul Kitchen was really big back in the day. I think I've only missed two Monster Massives," she laughed.

"The night has changed. It is one of the big events of the year."

Says Phroh, who came to Whistler in 1998 from Toronto: "There's a little bit of notoriety to it. People have been coming to Monster Massive for a lot of years, so there's a lot of talk about it. The main thing is that people really love to dress up and this is the party for getting dressed up to the nines, dance your face off to really good underground music."

And as added incentive, there will be a $50 bar tab laid on for the winner of the best costume.

A Facebook page for the event can be found by searching for Monster Massive 10.

More Whistler Halloween fun

Frightmare on Hawthorne

Whistler's haunted house is back for the third year at 3145 Hawthorne Place in Rio. It runs daily until the day after Halloween, Saturday, Nov. 1. There is a family-friendly opening from 3:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., with Full Scare starting at 7 p.m., which is not suitable for younger children. Prices are $10 for adults and ask for the family rate.

High School Haunted House

Support the Class of 2015 and come out for their Halloween Haunted House fundraiser. It takes place at Whistler Secondary School on Thursday, Oct. 30 from 6:30 p.m to 8:30 p.m. Entry is $4.

Heavy Hitting HorrorFest

The Fairmont hosts this annual celebration of original, scary, short films from Sea to Sky and beyond. Not for the faint hearted and adults only. It takes place on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 a. For more information visit www.heavyhitting.com.

Pumpkin Drop

Wondering what to do with that ghoulish-faced monster you spent two hours carving into the side of a pumpkin? Why not give it a scary ending?

The second annual Pumpkin Drop lets you climb three storeys to throw that ugly guy to his splattering reward. It takes place on Sunday, Nov. 2 at Fire Hall 3 at 1505 Spring Creek Drive, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All proceeds go to the Whistler Children's Centre.

Also check Pique's listings for other events , starting on page 74.