Soul Clap & Dance-Off at Nomad Gallery

Two prodigious party debutsthis week, each backed by music men with the chops to make ya hop. The Soul Clap & Dance-Off comes to L.A. from NYC for an eve of 45-rpm soul sizzlin’ and expressive dance (from you). There’s a midnight dance contest — to be judged by Don Bolles, No Age’s Randy Randall and Intoxica Radio’s Howie Pyro — and a $100 prize, so bring your boldest James Brown “Sex Machine” moves. New York Night Train clubbin’ conductor/DJ Jonathan Toubin spins the grooves for this event, sponsored by LA Record and Panache Booking. At Nomad Gallery, 1992 Blake Ave., dwntwn; $5. www.newyorknighttrain.com. Pyro will be a busy boy that eve, as he also has the debut of his own new club with his Illuminoids bandmate, Jells Mayhem, called Illumination Radio. The N.Y.-bred, L.A.-based bassist (D Generation, Danzig) has found a groovy new Glendale venue to showcase his and Mayhem’s DJ/VJ guises, with electro-driven dance-floor experiments, including rock and indie mixes, mash-ups, bootlegs and more. Should be illuminating to say the least. At the Brand Lounge, 154 S. Brand Blvd. (818) 551-5553; free. www.myspace.com/illuminationradio.