Transport v. 13: Mecániko, Scatterbrainmane, DJ Sarnal Key, Language Models

Fri 11/28/25
8:00PM
18+
music
$10

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1:1 Square 9:16 Portrait

What: A dark room for dancing with big sound. A rhythm – a repetition that moves.

Where: From here to there, from square to sphere, from see to hear, from sneer to smile.

How: From lethargy to energy. From stand and watch to wiggle your crotch.

Why: From being alone to becoming one of all, falling into step with a patient, repetitive movement that, so far, has lasted centuries.

When & Who…

8: DJ Sarnal Key introduces gentle reality testing that’s groovy, lush, and pleasing to the touch. Open up; you can trust this Language Model.

930: Scatterbrainmane joins all the way from Alaska with live synthesis that draws tendrils of air into wiggling correspondence until they’re recognizable, only in relation to each other, as music. Shake free and lose it: you can trust this Language Model.

1030: Mecániko returns to Cactus Club for their second Transport! Uptempo percussion that rips up whatever it doesn’t pound to mush, and does it all with a seductive sway of the hips. You don’t need to know why you like it – you can trust this Language Model.

1230: Language Models brings heavy, pulsating kicks, dripping wet with the mutual desire of complementary elements. Desire is connection, never lack; about that, you can trust this Language Model.

Show Lineup

Mecániko

(Chicago)
Genre: DJ

Julio Cordova of Agua de Rosas and Will Mitchell of Liquid City Motors join forces for ridiculous percussive adventures that tease the boundaries of coherence.

Mecániko’s original releases swing and stutter, jerk and creep, and thump thumpthump thump thump. Inspired by tribal, dembow, techno, and raptor house rhythms. Manufactured with all the saltiest Midwest sweat.

 

Scatterbrainmane

(Milwaukee)
Genre: IDM

Head Chef of Midwest synth outfit Golfshoe Music and full-on IDM wizard casting patient spells in the neighborhoods.

DJ Sarnal Key

(Milwaukee)
Genre: DJ

Multiformat DJ spinning dream groove electronics to connect the air and the ground.

Language Models

(Concord, NH)
Genre: DJ

Language Models is a dancer, DJ, and and multi-instrumentalist born in the signature black boxes of Midwest raves. lost track of how many sweaty years on hypnotic underground dance floors have culminated in a thriving relationship with vinyl turntables: these percussive elements buttered with those bass grooves to keep dance floors locked late into the night. Fluent in house & techno and progressive & disco, and open to anything: all music is dance music.

Language Models hosts Open Decks, a Cactus+ Program that makes professional DJ equipment available with guidance to both aspiring and practicing DJs. Open Decks occurs twice each month: the 1st Saturday with digital formats, and the 3rd Saturday with vinyl.

Language Models also hosts Transport, Cactus Club’s own late-night dance party series that focuses on the psychedelic sounds of Midwest house and techno, classic and cutting edge. Transport brings DJs from throughout the region to share the the variety of this rich tradition on the Cactus dance floor.

Language Models is optimistically curious about the political potential of dance music events. If you’re curious about just how curious, feel free to check out the dissertation.

For booking, contact languagemodelsmusic@gmail.com.