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This was in todays Boston Hearld.
By Dave Wedge
Sunday, May 1, 2005
SOUTH BEACH, MIAMI - As I sat poolside, sipping a cold Dos Equis and watching some of the world's best DJs at the Shelborne Hotel on Collins Avenue, it became clear why thousands flock to this club-packed, beachfront mecca for the Winter Music Conference, actually held this year in the spring.
This weeklong gathering of the electronic music masses is spectacularly indulgent, gloriously overpriced and undeniable around-the-clock fun. From the early afternoon pool parties to the ``rest and recover barbecues'' to the nonstop pulse of the city's many superclubs and ultra-lounges, this is a city that doesn't sleep - and has perfect weather to boot. The event is among the top electronic music draws in the world.
From the moment we got to the Avalon Hotel (rates from about $300 per night during the conference; 800-933-3306; www.southbeachhotels.com) on the beautiful-people-mobbed Ocean Drive, my girlfriend and I could feel the energy.
Street promoters handed out flashy UV-coated fliers advertising bashes featuring virtually every superstar DJ alive - Paul Oakenfold, Carl Cox, Sasha and Digweed, Pete Tong, Sander Kleinenberg, Deep Dish. Pulsing house and techno seemed to pump out of every restaurant, store or bar as pricey cars crawled up and down the palm tree-lined boulevard, pumping out same said electronic beats.
The week is actually a coming together of two conferences: the WMC, which this year celebrated its 20th anniversary, and the 2-year-old M3 Miami Music Multimedia Summit. Both focus heavily on electronic dance music, although underground hip-hop has infiltrated more each year. Among this year's hip-hop acts were the Pharcyde's Fatlip, Mos Def and Kool Keith, as well as a slew of old-school cats, including De La Soul, Newcleus, Biz Markie, Grand Master Melle Mel and pioneering DJs Grandmaster Caz, DJ Kool Herc and Grand wizard Theodore.
Chicago house DJ Heather (Robinson) has played the WMC for eight years, literally running from party to party with her crates of wax to make set times. But still, she said, the chaos and rush is oddly soothing, noting that everyone in the industry blocks off the last full week of March every year for WMC.
``Visually and aurally, all of a sudden you're thrust into this place where everyone is there. People have been waiting for this for a whole year and all that energy is just thrust out.''
Our first night brought us to the Playboy party at Mynt (1921 Collins Ave.), an exclusive, upscale nightspot where on this evening you either had to be press or someone covered by the press to get past the designer suit-clad doormen. After plunking down $21 for an apple martini and a Heineken (no, that's not a misprint), we mingled a bit and met up with Steve Porter, a Boston DJ who recently jumped to the Big Apple but keeps monthly gigs at Hub clubs.
Porter, an Amherst native, made the most of this high-profile gig, spinning a killer set of progressive house and slamming remixes that set the stage for DJs Bad Boy Bill, Chris Fortier and Arman Van Helden.
Still on Boston time, we had a nightcap at Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee's less-than-impressive Rokbar (1905 Collins Ave.) and turned in at about 1 a.m., which is about when most Miami hot spots heat up.
The next morning we had a quality continental breakfast at the Avalon and hit the beach, where I loaded up on 30 SPF because my pasty white skin hadn't seen the sun in a good six months. I strongly recommend forking out the $10 for a cushioned beach chair and another $14 for an umbrella as the sun is beyond strong. More than one or two hours in the Miami sun without any sort of base and your lobsterlike body will be done having fun for the weekend.
After a few hours at the beach, it was cocktail time again, so we landed at Hotel Chelsea (944 Washington Ave.) for a breakbeat party featuring Brockton-born DJ Brazen (real name Geoff Maynard). Despite the early hour, drinks remained pricey - $7 for beer, $10 for cocktails. Brazen, who now calls Fort Lauderdale home, said although the conference provides invaluable networking opportunities for up-and-coming DJs, it is also rife with price-gouging and sketchy promoters. Still, he said, it's a great party
``Everyone came out and had fun and brought out their best,'' he said. ``We had people from all around the world who were just here to hang out, have fun and dance.''
Later we caught banging poolside sets by Florida breaks legend DJ Icey and Richard ``Humpty'' Vission at the Shelborne Hotel (1801 Collins Ave.) before heading to B.E.D. (929 Washington Ave.), another exlusive ultra-lounge/restaurant filled with - what else? - beds.
Beautiful types lounged while dining on crusted and pan seared this-and-that and England's James Holden manned the decks.
``I danced my ass off last night. I danced my ass off the night before and I'm going to dance my ass off tonight,'' said Helen Clarke, B.E.D.'s vivacious public relations queen, with a chuckle. ``There's just too much going on during the conference. Take your vitamins.''
A 2 a.m. trip to try and stay out till sunrise at downtown superclub Space (34 NE 11 St.) was stifled by the 2,000 people waiting to get in. It's probably a good thing - for my health and wallet - that the arrogant doormen were only allowing in patrons willing to cough up a minimum of $2,500 for a table with bottle service.
We spent our final day on the beach, followed by a stroll through some of the art galleries on Lincoln Road. We ended the night with a fantastic seafood dinner at upscale nightclub/restaurant Pearl (1 Ocean Drive). My fish entree was reasonable at $27 but the creative bubbly cocktails at the round champagne bar were $18 a pop. A leisurely walk back to our hotel was the perfect way to wind down from a busy, party-filled long weekend.
Time to start checking flights for next year.
By Dave Wedge
Sunday, May 1, 2005
SOUTH BEACH, MIAMI - As I sat poolside, sipping a cold Dos Equis and watching some of the world's best DJs at the Shelborne Hotel on Collins Avenue, it became clear why thousands flock to this club-packed, beachfront mecca for the Winter Music Conference, actually held this year in the spring.
This weeklong gathering of the electronic music masses is spectacularly indulgent, gloriously overpriced and undeniable around-the-clock fun. From the early afternoon pool parties to the ``rest and recover barbecues'' to the nonstop pulse of the city's many superclubs and ultra-lounges, this is a city that doesn't sleep - and has perfect weather to boot. The event is among the top electronic music draws in the world.
From the moment we got to the Avalon Hotel (rates from about $300 per night during the conference; 800-933-3306; www.southbeachhotels.com) on the beautiful-people-mobbed Ocean Drive, my girlfriend and I could feel the energy.
Street promoters handed out flashy UV-coated fliers advertising bashes featuring virtually every superstar DJ alive - Paul Oakenfold, Carl Cox, Sasha and Digweed, Pete Tong, Sander Kleinenberg, Deep Dish. Pulsing house and techno seemed to pump out of every restaurant, store or bar as pricey cars crawled up and down the palm tree-lined boulevard, pumping out same said electronic beats.
The week is actually a coming together of two conferences: the WMC, which this year celebrated its 20th anniversary, and the 2-year-old M3 Miami Music Multimedia Summit. Both focus heavily on electronic dance music, although underground hip-hop has infiltrated more each year. Among this year's hip-hop acts were the Pharcyde's Fatlip, Mos Def and Kool Keith, as well as a slew of old-school cats, including De La Soul, Newcleus, Biz Markie, Grand Master Melle Mel and pioneering DJs Grandmaster Caz, DJ Kool Herc and Grand wizard Theodore.
Chicago house DJ Heather (Robinson) has played the WMC for eight years, literally running from party to party with her crates of wax to make set times. But still, she said, the chaos and rush is oddly soothing, noting that everyone in the industry blocks off the last full week of March every year for WMC.
``Visually and aurally, all of a sudden you're thrust into this place where everyone is there. People have been waiting for this for a whole year and all that energy is just thrust out.''
Our first night brought us to the Playboy party at Mynt (1921 Collins Ave.), an exclusive, upscale nightspot where on this evening you either had to be press or someone covered by the press to get past the designer suit-clad doormen. After plunking down $21 for an apple martini and a Heineken (no, that's not a misprint), we mingled a bit and met up with Steve Porter, a Boston DJ who recently jumped to the Big Apple but keeps monthly gigs at Hub clubs.
Porter, an Amherst native, made the most of this high-profile gig, spinning a killer set of progressive house and slamming remixes that set the stage for DJs Bad Boy Bill, Chris Fortier and Arman Van Helden.
Still on Boston time, we had a nightcap at Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee's less-than-impressive Rokbar (1905 Collins Ave.) and turned in at about 1 a.m., which is about when most Miami hot spots heat up.
The next morning we had a quality continental breakfast at the Avalon and hit the beach, where I loaded up on 30 SPF because my pasty white skin hadn't seen the sun in a good six months. I strongly recommend forking out the $10 for a cushioned beach chair and another $14 for an umbrella as the sun is beyond strong. More than one or two hours in the Miami sun without any sort of base and your lobsterlike body will be done having fun for the weekend.
After a few hours at the beach, it was cocktail time again, so we landed at Hotel Chelsea (944 Washington Ave.) for a breakbeat party featuring Brockton-born DJ Brazen (real name Geoff Maynard). Despite the early hour, drinks remained pricey - $7 for beer, $10 for cocktails. Brazen, who now calls Fort Lauderdale home, said although the conference provides invaluable networking opportunities for up-and-coming DJs, it is also rife with price-gouging and sketchy promoters. Still, he said, it's a great party
``Everyone came out and had fun and brought out their best,'' he said. ``We had people from all around the world who were just here to hang out, have fun and dance.''
Later we caught banging poolside sets by Florida breaks legend DJ Icey and Richard ``Humpty'' Vission at the Shelborne Hotel (1801 Collins Ave.) before heading to B.E.D. (929 Washington Ave.), another exlusive ultra-lounge/restaurant filled with - what else? - beds.
Beautiful types lounged while dining on crusted and pan seared this-and-that and England's James Holden manned the decks.
``I danced my ass off last night. I danced my ass off the night before and I'm going to dance my ass off tonight,'' said Helen Clarke, B.E.D.'s vivacious public relations queen, with a chuckle. ``There's just too much going on during the conference. Take your vitamins.''
A 2 a.m. trip to try and stay out till sunrise at downtown superclub Space (34 NE 11 St.) was stifled by the 2,000 people waiting to get in. It's probably a good thing - for my health and wallet - that the arrogant doormen were only allowing in patrons willing to cough up a minimum of $2,500 for a table with bottle service.
We spent our final day on the beach, followed by a stroll through some of the art galleries on Lincoln Road. We ended the night with a fantastic seafood dinner at upscale nightclub/restaurant Pearl (1 Ocean Drive). My fish entree was reasonable at $27 but the creative bubbly cocktails at the round champagne bar were $18 a pop. A leisurely walk back to our hotel was the perfect way to wind down from a busy, party-filled long weekend.
Time to start checking flights for next year.
so true
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