R.I.P. Upstage

After 22 years as a dance club and band venue, The Upstage in Oakland said a dark farewell last week, sending its goth and new wave nights off to other clubs.

DJ E-Z Lou [Ortego] signed off with a final '80s Night last Thursday, spinning to a crowd of older fans and newcomers that topped 500. Ortego got his start at the Upstage in 1986 under the wing of the house DJ, the late and legendary Harry the Wire. Ortego left for a while to work at Metropol and Houlihan's, but brought his new wave back to the Upstage in 1995.

He takes his Thursday '80s Nights to Prive (formerly Rosebud) in the Strip, beginning tonight. Ortego also fills the South Side with '80s music, spinning at Club Cafe on Tuesdays, Z Lounge on Wednesdays and the Smiling Moose on Sundays.

"It's more on the punk side, for the people who hang out there," he says of the Moose.

Does he ever get tired of '80s music?

"No," he says firmly. "I think it's one of the best genres of music that ever came out." He lists his favorite bands as New Order, Depeche Mode and the Pet Shop Boys.

Beginning Jan. 10, the Ceremony goth night will move to Pegasus, 818 Liberty Ave., Downtown.

Meanwhile, it's the end of an era on the second floor of 3609 Forbes Ave., which will be converted to office space.

More press for Wiz and Girl Talk

The national accolades continue to roll in for breakout Pittsburgh artists Wiz Khalifa and Girl Talk.

Khalifa was named one of the best new artists of 2006 on allhiphop.com, along with Rick Ross, Lupe Fiasco, Ray Cash, Termanology. The site wrote, "What Ray Cash is to Cleveland, Wiz is to neighboring Pittsburgh -- only he's not backed by a major, yet ... 'Show and Prove,' a fiery street album with curb-serving anthems, city pride, and soulful production, is getting Wiz attention from everybody. Wiz is the truth."

Girl Talk's "Night Ripper," which landed on the Rolling Stone and Pitchfork lists, hit No. 13 on Blender magazine's "50 Greatest CDs of 2006." Blender wrote of the mashup: "It sounds like something out of a rock-geek fantasy camp: LCD Soundsystem on the turntables, Elastica and Stevie Wonder trading riffs, Britney and Ludacris taking turns rocking the mic."

Sokolow's 'Violins'

Julie Sokolow's latest record, "Something About Violins," is receiving national attention. This week, the indie site Pitchfork gave it a 7.6 (out of 10) and noted "Sokolow, a Pittsburgh native living in New York City, plays up this lo-fi sensibility, keeping instruments to a minimum (typically, just her voice and guitar) and basking in that airy hiss to create a sound that's not unlike early Cat Power or Julie Doiron."

Shows of note

Slavic Soul Party, billed as "New York's official No. 1 band for BalkanSoulGypsyFunk," returns to Gooski's Saturday at 10 p.m. with Pete Spynda.

Strangers In This Land -- a band led by Sweetwater Arts Center guitar instructor and troubadour Rodan Weikert -- plays the Sewickley venue Friday at 7 p.m., mixing gospel blues, country blues and bluegrass. Admission is $15; $10 for members.

Moondog's and Undercurrents team up for a Teen Night Event Sunday at the Blawnox club from 5 to 9 p.m. with After The Fall, Level SD, Dagger-mouth, Orion, Plan of Action and Catgut Tonic. Tickets are $7 in advance; $9 at the door. E-mail mmoscato@undercurrents.com for tickets or call 412-657-0027.

Gil Mantera's Party Dream, a Youngstown duo that must be seen to be believed, mixes up new wave, hard rock and disco at the 31st Street Pub Tuesday at 9 p.m. with Lord Grunge, Vale and Year, and Pfunkt. Admission is $7.