Parties featuring the fabulous Metro Area have become a rare breed - it seems we get a chance to hear Morgan Geist and Darshan Jesrani play together only a few times a year. This week is a special one, then, as they're slated to play not one but TWO events in the NYC area - as far as I know, the first since their live set at Love in June. That night was a blast but surprisingly underattended - hopefully the same won't happen this week. (Especially they'll be playing on two of NYC's best soundsystems.)

On Tuesday (i.e. tomorrow), Metro Area will be at APT for a Hurricane Katrina fundraiser, with the excellent Derrick Carter also on the bill. Word is the night will be heavy on disco, which should be fun. There is a minimum donation of $8 at the door. Given the cause, the musical talent, and APT's kickin' new soundsystem, this event is not to be missed!

But in case you do miss it, or if you're looking for a second round, head over to Love on Saturday (10/1) for another night with Metro Area. I was really impressed with Love in June - killer sound (again), plus a big dancefloor and a wild crawlspace of cushions.

Oh and in case you're wondering why I seem to foam at the mouth at any mention of Metro Area news, perhaps a sample MP3 will do the trick. Samples are tricky with Metro Area, their lone full-length, because I think its greatest strength is its balance - each track brings out a different element of their sound, in sum becoming "a deceptively intricate maze of tight machine rhythms, tumbling bongos, smacking handclaps, warm keyboard stabs, zapping synths, tickling pianos, lively loops of flute, guitar flicks, and seesawing strings." (AMG's words, not mine.) But as the first song on the record, "Dance Reaction" (MP3) is as good a selection as any - check it out.