WMC 09: A different shade of Oakenfold

WMC 09 - March 27

British superstar DJ Paul Oakenfold -- who arrived in Miami on Thursday and spun that night till 5 a.m. at Mokai -- had a night off from behind the decks Friday. But instead of going off and doing his own thing, Oakie decided to do something a little different.

He teamed up with 944 magazine and Jose Cuervo's "Live Notoriously Well'' campaign for an event to help kick off the Platino Penthouse at the Sagamore Hotel.

The entourage stormed into Love/Hate in Miami Beach (the joint made famous by the Miami Ink crew) and randomly picked out two guys for a night of VIP treatment. They scored a limo ride to the Sagamore with Oakenfold for free table and bottle service all night.

WMC 09: Ultra begins

WMC 09 - March 27

The Ultra Music Festival, the fabulous freak show that has highlighted WMC for the past 11 years, kicked off late Friday afternoon at Bicentennial Park, the perfect place for dance-music fans to roam from tent to tent, stage to stage in search of the right groove.

It's also a chance for those with an outrageous fashion sense to show off: Hundreds of revelers were decked out in garish, futuristic Day-Glo colors, space boots, wigs, masks - you name it. It's a people-watcher's dream.

Early birds got a treat, as techno and house pioneer Josh Wink, who has performed at WMC for the past 17 years, filled one of the main tents from 5 to 6 p.m. with deep, penetrating bass. Also hot were the booming beats of Loco Dice vs. Luciano, the trippy tech-house of Kevens and old-school beats of DJ Romero. 

WMC 09: B-Live takes us back

WMC 09 - March 26

The '80s were back in full force at the Bacardi B-Live Pool Party at Blade at Fontainebleau Miami Beach.  Asymmetrical haircuts abounded, Richard Simmons shorts covered plenty of behinds, neon bikinis left and right.  A crew of boys even went as far as to bring back the high top fade, Kid 'n Play-style.  One of them was rocking a Gumby, the lopsided high top that imitates the noggin of our favorite little green ball of clay.

There was plenty of crack, just like in the '80s, but not the kind you're thinking of.  The crack at this party was peeking over the tops of the models' miniscule bikini bottoms.

All this reminiscing gets you thirsty, so Bacardi was taking care of everyone with mojitos, daiquiris, Cuba Libres and a specialty bar where the mixologist asked us, "If you could go on vacation right now, where would you want to go?"  My co-worker said "Puerto Rico", so that was an easy one.  The mixologist came back with a fresh concoction filled with lemon juice, ginger beer, mint and, of course, Bacardi. 

She should have faked him out and said something like Detroit or Albuquerque.  (I wonder what Detroit would taste like in cocktail form? Actually, no, I don't.)

So while we are sipping on our Puerto Rico-inspired beverages, who do we spot but the ultimate '80s DJ, DJ Jazzy Jeff, off in his VIP corral.  He looked just like he did when I would see him as Will's irresponsible, yet lovable friend on "The Fresh Prince." We missed his set and I couldn't get over it the rest of the evening.  

Watching this model's pasties fall off didn't even make it better.

WMC 09: Simple surprises

WMC 09 - March 26

A few events Thursday perfectly summed up the essence of what Winter Music Conference should be:

At the Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach, the Armani Exchange Sirius XM Penthouse party was a classy, energetic but elegant bash with cutting-edge beats, tasty hors d'oeuvres passed around (potato puffs!), and free Fiji bottled water, Heineken and Belvedere vodka drinks. German electronic dance music legend Paul van Dyk (he hates it when you call his music "trance," but that's really the closest explanation) kicked things off with a fairly chilled-out set, at least compared to the main-room mania he inspires at his favorite big-club haunts like Space.

Afterward, a young, blonde DJ from L.A. named Yvonne Black (nope, we've never heard of her, either) absolutely slayed everyone with filthy tech, tribal and progressive house beats, including the coolest dance version of R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion" imaginable. Patrons including celebrity DJs Tracy Young and Paul Oakenfold comfortably migrated from the outdoor rooftop -- which overlooked the Raleigh pool, the ocean beyond that, and the crazies hopped up on goofballs at the Shelborne pool next door -- to the intimate but not-too-packed indoor bar area. An incredibly cool scene.

The Remix Hotel, normally known as the National a couple doors to the south, was almost as fantastic (open bar would have helped, though $7 per beer is far from outrageous by SoBe standards). The DJ (couldn't tell who he was, but he looked similar to our beloved local hero Ivano Bellini because of the lack of hair) commanded a huge stage out back beyond the pool, with mesmerizing visuals on the 20-foot video screen behind him. His mixes - best was a thumping version of "Funky Town" - reverberated behind the stage throughout the walkway all the way back to the hotel, creating a happy cacophony that had the whole area buzzing.

On Lincoln Road at Lenox Avenue, the music outside Segafredo cafe created constant, spontaneous, joyful dancing by people passing by. A DJ spun jazzy, soulful beats while a live trumpet player provided some tasty improv during the breaks in the vocals, jamming among the dancers, who ranged in age from 3 to probably 83 (one elderly gentleman was really getting his groove on with an undulating young woman).

If the megaclubs and their obscene cover charges (if you can get the doorman to look your way) and thousand-dollar table service turn you off, seek out scenes like these.  

Just walk around town, to the SoBe hotels or up and down Lincoln Road - you never know what you'll find.

-- MICHAEL HAMERSLY

WMC 09: Some talent with your coffee?

WMC 09 – March 25

Opening day of Winter Music Conference and I decided to hit up several spots, including the Armani lounge at the Raleigh Hotel (always a solid networking party with some good vibes – more on this later), and the Ultra Records party atop the Gansevoort South (for the first hour of this event imagine the White Room or Vagabond had the roof ripped off and all their regulars were hanging poolside, grooving in their neon 80s fashions.)

Then I passed by the Shelborne Pool Party, which we captured in all its glory in a previous blog post. But it was the Café Bustelo store at the Gansevoort South later that night that provided the best find! There, spinning for just over a dozen people, was DJ Ben Watt, noted for his Deep House chill grooves and for being one-half of the duo Everything But The Girl. (Remember the song Missing from 1995 – that’s him!)

As he played from 8 – 11 p.m., just a handful of fans gathered and had some coffee or water and just sat back and relaxed and enjoyed the vibe. Now I have to admit I didn’t know too much about Ben Watt, and CoolGirl had to pull him up on Facebook to verify that it was really him, but as Roberto told me, “Imagine if in 10 years Tiesto was playing here. That’s how big this guy is, and how amazing that he is playing right here!”

As he played, people streamed by on their way to the hotel rooftop or the nightclub Louis. They would look in and see a DJ playing, surprised a coffee shop would get into the WMC act. But no one stopped, and probably didn’t have an idea of the talent that was spinning.

Watt, from London, said he arrived in Miami today, and wanted something to do when he got off the plane. (He’s booked to play at the Shore Club on Thursday night.) So he agreed to do the gig at the coffee store. When he finished his set (right at 11 pm sharp) he got a standing ovation from the 13 or so people, chatted with some, took some photos, and then walked off to his hotel. No bodyguards. No public relations people. Just one guy and his laptop.

Only in Miami (during WMC).

WMC 09: Bring on the VJs

WMC 09 March 25

Ten top visual talents from across the globe competed head to head in a VJ challenge as about 200 spectators looked on at WMC 2009.

Hosts VJ Psyberpixie and Felix Sama introduced the rules and, alongside judges consisting of Lars Schlichting (DVJ Vision-Advanced Visual Stimulation), Dan Tait, Johnny Duece (DVDJs) and myself (Experience Jockey), had the unenviable job of ranking some of the best visual talent on display at the Winter Music Conference - VJ Challenge. Click here for photos.

Two VJ booths contained a pair of interlinked Pioneer SVM-1000 mixers - stage left featuring 3 DVJs, stage right featuring a sole DVJ and space for laptops and accessories.

WMC 09: And so it begins

WMC 09 - March 25

Madness ruled Wednesday at the Shelborne Hotel pool -- beer (at $10 a pop) was flowing and bikinis glowing as hundreds of sweaty bodies hopped up and down blissfully to throbbing tribal and house beats.

The scene definitely had the feel of an extended Spring Break, where getting wasted and posing provocatively for pictures with friends often took precedent over actually paying attention to whether or not the music was actually decent.

Which it was. Veteran local DJ Ivano Bellini has said that the focus of Winter Music Conference over the years has changed from a chance for house-music industry professionals to network and exchange their promos.

Spending some time with a Kardashian

This past Friday night proved to be a packed night at SET as hundreds of fashionistas and their arm candy of choice stopped by for the 944 magazine hosted soiree, “Flavors of Fashion”, featuring a fashion show by LeI Marco collection and an array of signature cocktails featuring Grey Goose vodka flavors in celebration of spring styles and current cover girl, reality star and socialite Kourtney Kardashian.

Even though the “Keeping up with the Kardashians” star caused quite the stir as fans shot pictures of her when she arrived wearing a short Cavalli dress at the event, the sweet and friendly starlet stopped for a few to chat with the media – even stopping to smile and snap pictures with some – to tell us what she loves about Miami’s vibrant nightlife scene.

What do you love most about Miami?
I am obsessed with Miami! I come here at every chance I get with my sisters. The weather is amazing; there are good restaurants, great beaches and a great nightlife scene. I love it when it’s really relaxed and there are hardly any people and hot, perfect for the beach. But it is great to see the party scene when it’s crowded.

Do you look forward to coming here a lot?
Yes, definitely at any chance we get! Currently we are obsessed with the Fontainebleau, it’s a great hotel and we’ve been staying there. I actually got this Cavalli dress at the hotel’s boutique tonight; it is so cute and has a great selection.

Do you have any other favorite boutiques in Miami that you would recommend ladies visit?
I love Atrium.  They have the best bikinis and cover ups on the beach. I love them! It’s a great store.

What are some of your favorite Miami restaurants?
I love Sultan Kabob on the beach, it’s delicious. When my sisters are down here with me I love to go there. I’m also obsessed with Nobu and Prime 112, like many people. The sweet potato mash is out of this world! There are some places I’m dying to try out, though, such as Phillipe and Prime Italian. I want to go to Phillipe so bad!
I was here a couple of weeks ago for a benefit with my sisters and Kim and Reggie said they loved Prime Italian. Been dying to try it ever since!

So, should we expect you back in Miami soon?
Yes! We have so many friends here and it’s the perfect place to come relax.

- Aurora L. Rodriguez