I called up Zil from Bagpak Music not long after I woke up to find out what his itin was for this, my fourth day of activities and my seventh day overall in Miami Beach. Shortly before our call ended, he was checking the weather forecast online and said that it called for showers on-and-off throughout the day. Good thing that he tipped me off so that I could double-check to make sure that my umbrella was among the items in my backpack to take with me for the day.
I also chatted shortly thereafter with Proof from Massive Selector, who told me that he was the opening DJ of a rooftop event at a place on South Beach’s Lincoln Mall called Cafeteria. Massive Selector was partly sponsoring the event called Eastern Standard Time. I told him that I would be there for little awhile, as I wanted to check out another event before heading to the Giant Step Soiree later on.
On my way to the EST event was sporadic rain activity, sometimes to the point where sprinkles turned to rain and umbrellas were pulled out to avoid becoming soaked. This probably didn’t matter too much to those heading to and from the beach, who were in their assorted beach attire, even the wraparound skirts. Sure it rained, but the weather was still warm and humid.
Eastern Standard Time at Cafeteria
Arriving at Cafeteria, the hostess guided me upstairs, where Proof was busy putting the finishing touches on getting his equipment attached and ready to put out the music. Several others showed up, including the likes of Sake 1, J. Boogie, the Ubiquita crew (also sponsors of the event), and–in his only DJ appearance–Garth Trinidad from Chocolate City (KCRW, Los Angeles). Angelo from Imeem and Massive Selector was also on hand, along with bunches of gift bags being laid out on plush seats throughout the rooftop venue.
The event didn’t start until two hours after its scheduled time, but it was fitting since hardly anyone showed up at first. Proof managed to put in a good set to kick things off. Then DJ Moni from Ubiquita took over to start hers, and that’s when Mother Nature crashed the party. The sprinkles started to come down hard, the tarp had to be adjusted to protect equipment that laid outside the canopy, and the decision was eventually made to kill the power for safety reasons. Adding insult to injury, all of the gift bags were wet, and people did the best they could to grab and put them in a drier area to protect them and the contents inside.
I went downstairs to summon Proof about his record bag, but he, along with his friends and yours truly, have ordered food. We couldn’t just walk away and leave the waiter high and dry, so to speak, so we made do. Now at this outdoor cafe (one of many that stretched along the path of the Lincoln Mall), some tables had umbrellas; some didn’t. When sprinkles started to come down again, two women–spring-breakers, I presumed–decided that my lap was worth sitting on to keep dry. One of them decided that coarse lingo was the order of the day, making herself blatantly obvious and loud; you couldn’t miss this girl. They were sitting with a couple of guys at their table, one of them telling me and the group that “we don’t know them; we’ve just met. We’re from Italy.” I asked Ms. Loud One where she was from; “Guatemala,” she answered. I knew she was full of it, but I let it go.
To break up this affair, I told them that I needed to check upstairs to find out what’s up. So they left my lap, and up I went to check on things. The music was back on, and there were more peeps than before; a good sign that rain was not dampening spirits by any means. It wouldn’t be long afterwards, though, until it was time to move on.
My original plan was to find the Freerange party and meet Jamie Jimpster, the label’s founder and a prime artist in his own rights. Not sure where about I read my info, but I could have sworn that the gig was going to be at a place called Shine, located inside a hotel whose name escapes me. I went to the front, then did a long walk on the side of the building to the back, where the pool was located. I was then told that it was on the side of the building, to which security there told me that I had to enter through the front lobby. I’ll spare you the details of what happened inside, but I’ve found out about 30 minutes after I’ve entered the lobby that the Freerange event was being held at another hotel instead.
So to the Beach Plaza Hotel I went, where the Om VIP Listening Party was held last Thursday afternoon. When I arrived, I told the person handling the guestlist that I was on it. He found me, but said that I had to wait because there were problems with the Freerange party; apparently, it was a rooftop event and had to be stopped due to the weather. Meanwhile, there was a full-on poolside party happening at the same hotel, one hosted by the Canadian house label Nordic Traxx. During the wait, the security guard looked at me and said “Yeah, I remember you. Uh-huh…don’t think that I don’t,” in an authoritative, you-ain’t-fooling-me tone of voice. I didn’t even know this guy, and unless he saw me at the Om party Thursday afternoon (which, by the way, was just getting started), I don’t think he had a clue.
I was eventually let inside and immediately had a heck of a time finding the rooftop. After about forever–I mean, 10 minutes–trying to find it, I was told that I had to go around the front entrance and walk along the other side of the building to reach the stairway to the rooftop. At that point, I ran into some other peeps who were there for the Freerange party who knew Jamie Odell. I was told that he was wearing a unique sort of straw hat, but going back inside I must have poured through not only the peeps on the lower floor of both the lobby and the bar, but also the busy pool area where the Nordic Traxx party was held. Ten minutes more, and finally I’ve decided to leave. I’ve given the person I’ve spoken with about Jamie my biz card in hopes of letting Jamie know that I was there, and then took off to…
The Giant Step Sunset Soiree at the Delano Hotel
Now before we get to this day’s event, I’ll have you know that I was there very briefly at the Thursday edition (this year, the Sunset Soiree was a three-day event). I went there with Jessica from SPECTRE, who hooked me up with DJ Spinna. Last I’ve seen him was back in 2005 at several events (he ended up doing a staggering eight events during Miami/WMC that year). This year, he was taking it easy and having fun, and I’ve talked with him for a little bit. As for the Delano, it was really, really dark; too dark, in fact, for me to get around and find people I know. After awhile, I returned back to my hotel to get ready for the Om: Miami event at the Y Ultralounge across town. So when you view the full set of pics from the Soiree, a first few pics were taken at the Thursday edition.
As for the Saturday event, it was on-again, off-again rain during the first two hours of the Soiree. While the majority of attendees were doing their best to find shelter during the occasional downpours, there were some brave dancers in the rain…near the DJ booth where DJ Moni (Ubiquita NYC) was doing her set and at the Delano Pool (both in the pool and on the shallow end), among other places.
After nearly two hours, I left for a dinner break. When I returned, the rain stopped, the crowd grew, and Gilles Peterson (Worldwide/BBC Radio 1) took center stage on the decks. He would soon give over the ones and twos to Simbad (Raw Fusion), who rocked the crowd for a bit. After Moni did some dancing with the rest of the peeps, she returned and did some more waxing for awhile. Later, guests were treated to a surprise appearance by Taylor McFerrin (Rude Movements), whose scatting and vocal acrobatics would make his father Bobby proud.
Afterwards, I left with members of the Amalgama crew as we start to head to the Raw Fusion event at Jazid, a highly-anticipated event that most of us have waited all week long.
Highlights:
- Shooting the breeze with Garth and Angelo about the newly resurrected Stax label.
- Relishing second thoughts after one of the peeps told me that guys would kill to have hot-looking women sit on “their” laps; an evil grin ensued (your mileage my vary).
- Watching the brave rain dancers at the Soiree.
- The lady photographer I’ve seen most everywhere I went, including the forthcoming Raw Fusion party…I’ve seen her everywhere and never got to introduce myself. I’ll be spending all year wondering who she is…
- Watching DJ Moni having fun…on the decks (great musical selection), and dancing along.
- Running into Haycock again, post-Hella International/Do Over…and did he had some fine ladies accompanying him!
- Catching up with Santiago and Rojas at the Soiree.
- Seeing Gilles again and having a pic moment.
- Getting a bit of a Columbian vibe with some peeps from there (you’ll find pics of them).
- That Taylor McFerrin…the real deal!
- Simbad on the decks…a bad mo’fo!
Check out the different sets of photos from Eastern Standard Time and the Giant Step Sunset Soiree. You can also view the Miami 2007 album of events so far.
To check the rest of the blogs, go to the home page and type “Miami 2007″ in the Search field.
Raw Fusion up next…can’t wait!
Thanks to Mehmet, Erik, and Jay among others at Giant Step, Gilles P., Mochizuki, and the Amalgama crew.
