BeatBox

For some time now, the hipster aristocracy has communicated solely through expressions of blissful irony. Yes, this is the age in which the impresarios of cool reminisce about their Transformers lunchboxes, "rock with their cock out" to G'n'f'n'R, and dress like Mallory from Family Ties. The rationale is fairly straight-ahead: Today's Starbucks culture sucks, so let's just replay the '80s. Except now, in lieu of sucking on Capri Suns and trading Garbage Pail Kids, we swap Parliaments, hit dance parties, and drink $1 Pabst. And so welcome, children of post-postCold War disillusionment, to "Rocket," the Cat Club's weekly ironirock meltdown. The front room finds a rotating cast of DJs spinning Reagan-era pop classics and a fair share of indie danceables (Strokes, Electric Six, et al.), while the back room offers old-school club tracks from Boys both Fat and Beastie. On Saturday nights, the place fills with Brat Packlovin' cuties who enjoy $1 cans. Leave your paralegal worries behind as you hit the dance floor to shake your moneymaker down memory lane (or just stand around and talk about how totally fat she looks in horizontal stripes -- like, oh my God). Admission at the Cat Club (1190 Folsom at Eighth Street, S.F.) is free before 10 p.m., $5 after. Drink specials galore. Call 431-3332 or visit www.catclubsf.com.
-- Nate Cavalieri

A while back, a visiting friend of mine from London pegged the long-running weekly happy hour party "Qoöl" as a "techno/trance hoedown." Years later, it's still an apt description for Jondi & Spesh's positive (and positively packed) party -- well, except that the event takes place in the well-heeled environs of a popular SOMA gallery rather than in a hay-filled barn. Still, it's one of the only places in town to get steamy and sweaty before 7 p.m. on a Wednesday. Here, you can get on down and dirty and still get to bed early. This week's party features DJs Nicholas Bennison, Hyper D, Jondi, Dave D, Gil, and Pleasure Sean spinning from 5 to 9:45 p.m. at 111 Minna Gallery, 111 Minna (at Second Street), S.F. Admission is $5; call 974-1719 or visit www.looq.com.
-- Tamara Palmer