Austin Vegas Dot Com

I have to say this was the first time to the WMCs, my 3rd to South Beach and this has to be the crazyist “conference” in the US. Parties were happening everywhere for a week straight: at hotels, pool patios, balconies, the beach, bars, lounges, and of course the clubs. There was no shortage of places to groove, drink, mingle; so much so we needed a book to circle the daily choices (Thank you The List.

Electronic music fans and clubbers from all over the world congregated here the last week of March to celebrate the worlds bests DJ’s and electronic artists. Parties centered around the hot sands/bodies of South Beach and pay homage to this years winners of (the closest to commercial) awards for best DJ, track, mix, show, party, Mag and artists in the industry. Events ran from Sunday the 20th to Sunday the 27th of March.

With my uncertain work schedule, coordinating a group of 7 people and weathering some unfortunate hotel problems, we had no set plan of action for this week. Here’s how my time developed:

Wed. March 23rd

My week didn’t start in Miami on Wed. like many of my friends did, I was still packin. Ms. Angle, Speedy, RoMess, and ADoll were already on their way out from Cali to drop in that evening to hit up Mansion and get checked in to the hotel.

Thurs. March 24th

I took an early flight to ensure I’d get some beach time Thursday. The flight was long 3 hours and I showed up at the Carlton hotel around 1 pm which my girl LilT booked for us that week. I stopped by the room and found 4 partied ppl just getting ready from the evenings late night. Room was cramped already but I left my gear in the closet as I was told I couldn’t check in till after 4. We walked to the beach and I took the crew by a few spots as they had never been to SoBe before. We went by a few tourist spots like Mangos to have a few rum n cokes with the latin dancers and the old Gianni Versace house. The Beach was HOT! Everyone was out getting their tan on except for me as I just go straight to red when I’m in the sun. Mesh showed us he’s used to the sand and Ms. Angel still has the skills to hook us up with other dudes beers. Thank you!

We headed back soon after the wind started picking up and half the population had meanders back for their afternoon naps. Once back I received some of the worst news of the trip. The hotel had sold our room! There was a new clerk at the desk and she claimed to know nothing. The book which I had seen earlier and which previously had our names in for the reservation, was now conveniently empty of those reservation and I was getting no help from this woman Maria. Apparently this is a common thing in Miami at shady hotels and we found out the hard way. I can not say enough about how terrible the service is here and the even worse condition of these rooms are. NEVER, EVER EVER book a hotel in SoBe at the Carlton hotel and Never book a hotel owned by Miguel Hernandez.

After already putting down money through Travelocity, we put up additional money for a room at the Parisian which ended up working out for us. AC was kickin in strong which probably contributed to my vacation ending flu…. We had a few in our crew itching for Vietnamese so we found Sushi Saigon Which I ended up inhaling - too busy running back n forth between the hotel and restaurant to make sure my other friends made it and found a place to stay.

Our first night out we all decided on Opium Garden for the Eden Recording In the Mix party and Prive for the Groove On Productions Presents George Morel party. And of course the only way to go is big with bottle service. If you’ve never been to Opium, it’s all pretty much out doors. It centered around a garden with an eastern religious feel as you see buhdas and Asian artifacts juxtaposed with hedonistic acts of dancing, flaunting and everything else associated with the club scene. Being humid in Miami it’s not always the most comfortable but when you’re throwing back Grey Goose and Crans like there’s gonna be a shortage, it never matters. We got VIP bands to head over to Prive which is adjacent to Opium and and considered much more high end. All of us were party hopping between the two spots all night enjoying the mix of funk and hip hop at Prive with the hard disco house of Angel Alanis & Jon Pegnato or hard grooves of Dj Dan and Donald Glaude. At one point a miami mouse came out of the near by fields to join us at our table and rock it al be it confused and scared for it’s life as we stomped around it.

Some how we all made it out just before closing and watched the sun come up as we ate breakfast at Jerry’s Deli a block from our hotel on Collins. Even with all the alcohol the eggs benedict wasn’t all that but what do you want at 5:30 am???

Fri. March 25rd

I guess sleep is a necessity on a binge week like this only I hate waking to 2 pm on the clock and thinking I’ve lost the afternoon. We hurried and snacked but rounding the crew as we went down to the Shelborne Hotel for the Wet Grooves Pool party. My only regret is that we didn’t venture away from the party to make it to the eventvibe party but I as did mi amigos have a great time.

We arived and layed out by the pool in good view of the action. Myspace was in the house as well as some other commercial sponsors but I guess if you have to have a host, having the AVN’s Starlet of the year 2004 Stormy Daniels in the house, thats not bad. The DJ schedule was all wacked and I didn’t find out until the end that all the djs I wanted to hear were playing at the end. We listened to some boring trance by local dj Mark Lewis and then some bangin shit from a dutch spin master Markus Shultz. But the highlight was of course Donald Glaude as he rock the whole fuckin hotel down. (Check the Movie of the peak mix - this track also won best Video - Eric Prydz “Call On Me” - Careful, it’s an 8 MB download). Dj Icey ended our time there with some sick breaks and it was time for some down time after dancin in flipflops for 6 hours. Check the photos for some people and group shots

Part of the whole reason we are here this week is the celebration of house music. Part of that is the awards for the best industry picked artists and djs. Here is the complete list of their winners. Being a fan of more underground house music, I wouldn’t put stock in their interpretation for the winners although I do agree with a few choices like: Best internet radio BBC Radio 1 (although I find myself listening more to Soma FM), best dance artist group, and best US Dance label. For commercial sake, I am happy Oakie wasn’t chosen in any of the best DJ categories, however, it’s still a wonder to me how Christopher Lawerence is still winning the best American DJ label. I have always believed that he’s one of the most boring DJs to watch and listen to, yet he’s consistent in the commercial polls so there must be something to him now…

That evening we decided we needed some house… straight up. So it was off to Bash for the Chicago house party. Sneak and Heather - Need I say more… well yeah if you don’t know who these people are. By far this was the funnest party. Just down home, dirty, get down, groovy house music. The people were awesome and still like Miami fashion the drinks were still astronomical… hence… another table.. haha… gotta love it!

Sat. March 26rd

Beach day baby! And it was hot! We got out there with some coolers but you could tell it was tourist day at the beach. The locals were gone and it was all hoods with video cams and no thongs to tape Hahaa… Well I got a little red (I don’t tan unless its just living in the sun). We did celebrate again by hookin up some Sushi on a small strip off … and then nap time before the big club…

It ended up being another one of those battles where everyone had an agenda for what they wanted to do. A girlfriend of ours said she had a hook up at Mansions so rather than wait in line at a few other better opportunities we opted for quick enterence and VIP… Although it wasn’t a breeze we did make it and it turns out it was a party for David Guetta of Fuck Me I’m Famous Records - of which I had just bought two tracks off that label.

The party progressed well but the best room ended up being the private room on the top which was the Camel Cigarette’s smoke shop room. They had breaks n house up there and beside the layers of smoke not much else. Fun times but it definitely contributed to me going over the edge with sickness…

For all the pictures - and there’s plenty of them - go to the gallery.

I’m just too tired to go on with this review of the week an plus I can’t even breath. I’ve been the sickest I have ever been - I was like a crack baby the other night shaking and throwing up from the fever as I’m rocking back n forth in a half filled tub of water and ice. I need a job so I can get health insurance and then just throw drugs at my problems rather than just riding them out like the old days…

I would have to say that the WMCs are the best week party in the states to date. And surprised as I am that it all happens in a red state - I would go back every year… this time more prepared… hmmm… Until the next!