It’s not often that I have the opportunity to drop the word “zany” free from the shackles of ironic detachment I’ve so self-consciously created. But there’s really no other word that fully encapsulates the sounds– and its mostly glossy noise– of DJing duo Flosstradamus. From the frigid glass-and-steel cage of Chi-town, J2K and Autobot slice and dice your favorite artists’ hit singles into a cartoonish jambalaya that exceeds at turning heads and pricking up ears, such is its novel impact. And that’s the thing– no matter how much you like the dudes—and I like ’em– one has to wonder if they’re capable of anything more than sonic stunts like flipping Lil’ John’s head-crusher “Act a Fool” into a more family-friendly stadium anthem, or Twista’s “Overnight Celebrity” into a soft house groove. Then again, whatever. In some cases, Floss’ versions are preferable to the originals.

Wed., July 16, 8 p.m., 2008