More and more to appear on these pages in terms of feeback in regards to WMC’08 as days go with IDMW long time friend and partner Valentino Leggio of UDM Show adding his words to the whole…
WMC’08 – ALL MIXED UP by VALENTINO LEGIO of UDM SHOW
"Sun.. Fun & Nothing To Do" must be the new attitude towards WMC! Miami Beach looks like turning itself onto a big theme park during these days with all the big DJ’s and producers on the streets are the attraction to us music lovers… You see ? A bit Like what the various Walt Disney's figures are to the kids and their families when they get to see them in Orlando's or Paris' theme parks!
Unfortunately, too many negatives aspects cover the really pleasent moments you experience during these days. You meet up friends on the streets and instead of feeling their excitement you end up sharing the disappointments and to try to comfort one the other. Anyway, I’ll definitely list the positive experiences I have made. So feel free readin’ the rest if you still feel for it…
How come that those parties thrown by the people that have initially, and I'm talking about 20 years ago, build up the whole conference in the past must now fight to have their own crowd inside the club??? The answers to this could be a few. For instance, hotel rooms cost up to 3 or 4 times more than they did in a recent past. Another reason could be that three or four interesting events are taking place at the same moment. In other words, more parties each year with significantly less people coming to Miami. That can't work!!!
I'm not the kind of person who stays in the hotel room due to the disappointment trying to get over my depression. So I tried to do my best to make this trip worth it. On top I wanna thank God for havin’ some really good time with our friends Michael Fossati (Spiritofhouse.com) and Dwayne Taylor (Paradax Records, L.A.)
Sunday night. The Conference has not even officially started yet and I got to go to Club Blue. My buddies and I were five dancers out of twenty totally including the barmaid. We danced the whole night away to the best music of the whole week. The best soulful garage around delivered courtesy of the Qalamota Records posse. MAXIMUM RESPECT! Same location, 24 hours later. Most of the headz and Industry people have now arrived and everybody was there to party and to greet their friends made over the past years. You can tell because it's hard to get inside. A thousand people trying to get into BLUE with a total capacity of 90… Well, Jellybean Benitez - The man of the night and of the whole week in my opinion - together with Master Kev, Tony Touch and Mr. V were definitely lucky to be playing at the only party in town that night. They justified it big time. Music: A1! People: F***ing Happy!
As the last ones arriving to Miami are checking in into their hotels, we’d already bumped on Tuesday and so with the beginning of the troubles.... Lucky those who made it at Blue on Monday night. At, least they’d got to see their pals once!
People you would meet on the streets were in a hectic mood trying to make it from one party to the other. Small chats and that was it. Sentence of the week: "I'll see you around". Thought of the week: "Yeahhh riiiight".
That night, I made it to Barbara Tucker's Let The Singers Be Heard and also to shortly get to hear Timmy Regisford's last hour at the Shelter Party. With both of the parties, my friends and I’ve been musicallyblessed. Monique Bingham performing "Kissing Strangers" (GOGO Music) live on stage was off the hook. Actually the best track at the moment! I'm telling you I really tried to make it the best time I could have every day. Unfortunately I missed Purple Music party. I would have loved to show support to our Swiss friends Jamie Lewis and upcoming producers Panevino…
"I Love Days Like This... Here Comes The Suuuuuuuuun!!!!!" It's Wednesday morning. The sun is finally shining and we endly all remember we are in Miami Beach. The weather gets better and so the streets gettin’ busier. Now definitely everybody is there!
After meeting some friends for a quick but relaxed lunch, we made sure to go listen to Frankie Feliciano playing in a small club on Washington Avenue. Right after him, none other than Arnold Jarvis grabin’ the microphon and charmin’ the place with the performance of his evergreens... We moved on and headed to King Street Sounds' Party at Yuca on Lincoln. As we got there, it was kind of slow but as I heard from a friend, it got massive later on and rocked until 5am. Well, I guess I had missed my first good party as a result of the problem mentioned above. We went to Gogo Music & Atal Party at the Sagamore Hotel instead. The whole Swiss connection was there together with Ralf GUM who was actually the perfect German host. Thanks to him for the nice music and the very good time we all had.
Thursday: the marathon day! We decided to pass on all of the afternoon parties and just go hang out at the beach. The sun was shining and so it did until Sunday afternoon! Of course we got a tan!We knew from the very beginning that this was to be the night of the nights. We made it as we planned it. First place: Objectivity Party! One hour from 10.30pm - 11.30pm! Enough time to say hello to Dennis Ferrer and Karizma. I wished Ihad seen The Martinez Brothers rocking the house though. Anyway, we had to move on. Ain't Nothing But A House Party was our next step. Just a few blocks down the street to go and check out 2 hours of John Jellybean Benitez’s set! I'm telling you again. He is the man!! It was 2am as we decided to head to Downtown Miami where the Vega Records - Blaze Imprints - Soul Heaven Party was being held. We got there right on time to see Kenny Bobien performing live on stage. The new venue – the VAGABOND - is definitively a place to be confirmed for next year. A wonderful indoor floor and a very stylish outdoor area where most of the people were hanging out and enjoying the warm night. The party ended at 5.30am with a Louie Vega in best mood. Top 3 Party! Most def!! Respect!
Just enough power left to go check out the MAW Beach Party on Friday afternoon. Loads of celebrities hanging out. But I had run out of our Promo CD’s anyway… Nice but kinda relaxed vybe though. You could tell, somehow people got slowly but surely fed up. Everybody was tired and the Miami excitement had gone. At least I felt like this. In fact, this and two other parties for the Saturday were the last on my "to go to" list. I just couldn't take it no more. I mean at the end I wanted to go to the beach too. This got priority and number one on top of my list. So Saturday early evening we all went to Deep Haven Private Party. Wonderful living room with a great sound system. A pool outside and an already shut down BBQ. Besides the burgers we also missed Caroline Harding performing. Anyway thanks to Thomas Spiegel for inviting us. We'll show up earlier next year for sure… The night ended at Yuca. Yuca actually got the alternative venue to the Sony rooftop, where actually a lot should have been going on. Danny Krivit and Jellybean (again and again.. handz up please!!) were holding their Classics party. Late 70's and 80's music playing all nite. Funny how I recognized most of the tracks by the samples used in the big club hits from 1995-2008!!!
As I said already, I was exhausted and torn into mixed feelings. Didn’t know if Iwas happy or sad that the week had finally ended. I knew though that I’d be missing the warm Miami weather!
Last but not least, I’d like to express what I hope to be taken as constructive critics to the labels that do their parties in Miami. Please use efficient hosts or bouncers at the door. Because the most ironical tale I heard was about Brian Tappert and Jamie Lewis not let in to get to the Defected Party! So please, do us a favor while avoidin’ active people from the industry remain standing on lines. That only happens in Miami... like a lot of other things as a matter of fact !
Big ups to all of my friends.
Valentino now aka Patimoro
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