LA Weekly

Mike Stewart and Bruce Perdew have been doing clubs longer than many of the regulars at their current crop (Blue Mondays, Clockwork Orange) have been alive, and the key to their survival seems to be mixing menacing atmosphere with old and new sound selections. Arguably their darkest and sexiest promotion, the industrial lasher Perversion, was due for a re-fresh, and this week marks its debut in a new home: Boardner's. Over at that club's old stomping grounds, the Evil Club Empire (as they're known) presents a new, more mainstream party called Pump Up the Volume, making use of the space's expansive layout, with pop and hip-hop in the main room, '80s and '90s in the front lounge and electro in the back. Wonder if the force will be with them this time? Perversion now at Boardner's, 1652 N. Cherokee Ave., Hlywd.; Pump Up the Volume at The Ruby, 7070 Hollywood Blvd.; Hlywd.; every Thurs., 10 p.m. www.evilclubempire.com.

On Saturday, it's another face-off between reigning electronic megaclubs Avaland and Giant. Avaland has conceptual electro-funkster Felix da Housecat while Giant offers progressive dance dynamo Dubfire, a.k.a. Ali Shirazinia from Deep Dish. Both are capable of Jedi-like mind tricks when it comes commanding dance floors. Giant at Vanguard, 6021 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.; Sat., Feb. 23, 10 p.m. www.giantclub.com. Avaland at Avalon, 1735 Vine St., Hlywd.; Sat., Feb. 23, 10 p.m. www.avalonhollywood.com.