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.

"Now it's huge for the crowds, for the general public, who are planning a year in advance for a trip to Miami.'' So what's wrong with that? Ain't nothin' like a party.

I talked with "Bobby" from Chicago -- who's "33, going on 12" -- while he was chilling out toward the back end of the pool area, near the beach.

This is his 7th or 8th consecutive time attending WMC, and he says it's "good every year," though the crowds are "definitely not getting any younger -- it's like a modern-day Woodstock." Bobby said he was having a blast so far this year, and that the Defected party at SET Tuesday night was "rockin'."

Still, he'd like to see more musicianship at WMC, such as "world-renowned jazz artists and Afro-Cuban beats with more improv," plus a few classical music artists "who aren't so classical."

Good luck with that.

-- MICHAEL HAMERSLY