We all know that Red Bull is synonomous with clubbing and partying. It makes sense then that they would send a team of Red Bull peeps down to Miami to party and document WMC this year. Our good friend Mason works on the Red Bull on the Move team and he hit Miami in a major way this year. We asked him about it when he got back from his trip and he couldn't remember a thing. Luckily for us, he kept a journal of all 6 days there...
DAY ONE
At LAX airport, had an easy check-in but a weird cab ride, total agro cab driver who wanted to make sure i understood that he was a bad ass and that drivers who cut him off would pay, he drives an old beat up Crown Victoria and doesn't care about it and he'll ram you without thinking about it. So if you are in Los Angeles, don't cut off or flip off a cab driver... it could be that guy.
On the plane, saw Mike Hiratzka who has a new album due out soon with good friend D:Fuse got the sampler called Skyline Lounge with 3 sampler tracks and one exclusive, plan on sharing that with everyone. Also saw Andy Caldwell who was sipping his coffee saying it was a little too early in the morning for him. Sat next to a real nice girl, Isis who is a singer for a house music label out of Spain and lives in L.A. Rocky Balboa was the movie on the flight and it wasn't that bad... I actually thought it was pretty good, despite some of the poor acting and writing, but man, I love Rocky, I can't deny it.
In Miami not hot but terribly breezy and somewhat cold staying at the Loews at 16th and Collins, a great hotel got a nice corner room with a view of the mayhem below. Luis' room is one floor above my own. Grabbed some drinks at the Raleigh pool and discussed the madness before us, then hit up some events went out Shine at Shellborne where Todd Terry and Jazzy Jeff were playing. Saw my old friend Dennis Wheeler of Def Mix who is running Shine. Stayed for awhile and then cut across town to the Large party just in time for Chuck Love's set which was amazing. He was playing live and spinning. Played everything from keys to horns to guitar and sang on his tracks this guy is talented and knows how to do it. After his set Mr. V got on to say a shout out to him and said he did everything back here, he played Trumpet, he played Keyboards, he sang, he played video games great response from the crowd. After that Mr. V came on and destroyed the place stayed awhile longer and decided to head back and on my way out ran into Miguel Migs and Marques Wyatt big hugs all around and hello gotta love WMC run into people you don't normally see everyone is out making rounds.
DAY TWO
Had breakfast with Luis and Sky of BPM (XM) as well as Mike Abrams (XM). Took off after a nice early breakfast and went to the pool to relax and work on scripts and plans and got kicked out of the chairs by some old bitch woman who said you didn't reserve these chairs you have to move these are mine! I reserved them! Okay lady, no worries don't get excited we can move... but the last laugh was on her because we sweated all over her towels. Down to the beach to relax there, no grief try and get rid of my pale look so people don't think I have jaundice. Big afternoon, first off to Pearl to set up for Hi-Tek Soul party and get gear set up to record. Then off to Mandarin Oriental hotel downtown with a great interview and catch-up with Danny Howells who is one of my all time favorite DJ's and someone who has always been so kind and welcoming to doing interviews and recording. He is a class act and an amazing DJ can't wait to hear him tonight he is going to destroy the place! He is the man. After a great interview and a few laughs we were off to Pawnshop for set up of gear in the booth. Finally got through all of that and jumped in a cab back to South Beach... this time the cab was strange the driver had on some African Talk radio station where the man was speaking in French and for about 5 minutes was ranting and ranting. I finally broke the weirdness in the cab by saying doesn't this guy take a breath? Everyone laughed and then we couldn't stop laughing at this radio station, the host was seriously pissed about something and it was almost sounding militant. Strange.
Back in South Beach walking around bump into Jay-J of Shifted Music and then to Monique Bingham and Joe B of King Street Sounds... again gotta love Miami get to see people you normally only talk via email.
It is finally time to head out, a group of us meet up at Pearl @ Nikki Beach for the Hi-Tek Soul party lots of great peeps here and got some great interviews. Had a chance to meet with Stacey Pullen and Lee Burridge as well as get some sets from them to share... also we met with the legend Derek May for the show. Then it was the arrival of the Red Bull Pinz which is a crazy truck driven by a gracious host, Tim. He waited for us and got everyone in the Pinz that had the Move playing on the soundsystem with Mackies in the entire thing... also in the back seat was a Red Bull fridge. We put Lee Burridge and Betty Kang of Plexi PR and crew in the Pinz and took them to B.E.D. - while dropping them off I ran into Villo and Chris Fortier of the Balance Record Pool, old friends and music partners of mine. Now it was off to the Pawnshop for Danny... we all arrived and it was absolutely pouring rain out. When we got into the place it was going off, totally mental and we were able to capture the set to share with everyone. This is a party that is not to be missed, great vibe and Made Event really went the extra mile bringing in a full sound system on top of what was already there. The place was jumping and Danny was in full force loving every minute of it and hitting the horn on the Mac truck DJ booth and igniting the place. Finally left there at about 6AM and back to the hotel to get some sleep, even bigger day ahead tomorrow.
DAY THREE
Up at Noon and organizing gear and preparing for a very long day indeed... while Luis heads to Remix Hotel I’m off to Beach Plaza Hotel for the OM records meet and greet where I am able to catch up with Chuck Love and Colette... also catch up with my SF Peeps from OM and off to Remix Hotel for our first day of live broadcast. Good lineup with Scumfrog and Kaskade and had some great visits from Luke Fair, Hector Romero and Villo of Balance Record Pool. A nice vibe all day and great crowd, the weather actually cooperated for the most part and had a nice broadcast.
Relaxing back at the hotel have to turn it around big night at Y Ultra Lounge / Totem Gardens for OM records party... an amazing line up. Headed out tonight at 10pm and it is now 5:30AM and I am back after an amazing party that had four rooms of music going absolutely off... rammed packed and great sets by Troydon, Bassnectar, Jake Childs, Peter Kruder, Sir Piers, Chuck Love, Farina, Heather and so many more... Gunnar & Lindsay of OM made sure I was well taken care of for interviews and recording... going to be a great show... need rest long day ahead again.
DAY FOUR
Up at Noon off to get some food and head over to Remix Hotel for day two of the live broadcast... big lineup with Minus crew... Ritchie Hawtin, Magda, Gaiser, Troy Pierce and Tiefschwartz.
Amazing day place was rammed packed and the music was spot on... good minimal driving beats - also able to head over to the Smart Bar party at Beach Plaza Hotel and capture Justin Long and Dayhota for the show... full Chicago Style!
Went and had a nice dinner with Luis and friend Peek and then back to the hotel at about midnight to get organized and head out wanted to go see Miguel but passed out from total exhaustion and woke up at 3AM... can’t get hold of anyone... figures now I can’t get back to bed… oh well… tomorrow is another day right?!
DAY FIVE
Lots of things to do today start it all off with a production meeting by the pool and then off to make sure things are set up for recording tonight. Luis is off to Ultra while I’m interviewing Mark Farina at the Sagamore and then to the Townhouse for ESL vs. Supperclub party and then two gigs tonight.
Farina was a great interview... now to race back to the hotel and grab the crew and head to the Townhouse... great rooftop party ahead. Fort Knox Five, Nickodemus, J.Boogie and Ursula 1000 for ESL vs. Supperclub. All friends and good people... place was slow because it kept pouring rain and we were on a rooftop! After two times people were just like fuck it and just danced away despite the weather. Music was pumping and got some great interviews... then I had to run and change and make it over to the Red Bull Fashion tent for a two hour gig with friend DJ Isaiah Martin. A nice time, played some soulful house, then had to run over to Dek 23 for another gig out on the patio for good friends Shifted Music (Jay-J’s) party.
This was by far my favorite party the music was insane all night! Good people great vibe and Ron Carroll destroyed the front room. A long walk back to the hotel, or more or less stumble, it’s 6AM... time for breakfast!
Day Five just rolled into Day Six... its pool time after a few hour nap... time for food and production all day. Grabbed a great dinner with the crew at Tantra although the place is nice it is super expensive like all Miami is… and they had a Drum & Bass DJ who decided it was best to blow the place out... hilarious at this point I was two dirty martini’s deep after a long week so all I could do was laugh... out of South Beach headed back to L.A.... glad WMC only comes once a year.
Red Bull on the Move is dedicated to bringing you closer to the underground. For more articles, videos, photo galleries and other cool stuff, visit their site. www.redbullonthemove.com.
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