Ultra 2009 Shenanigans

There we all are, standing juxtaposed to the beautiful Miami skyline at night.

At least 40,000 people if not more attended the 11th Annual Ultra Music Festival at Bicentennial Park in Miami.

Ultra was in full swing. I was rather annoyed that those bastards jacked up ticket prices from $99 for the day to $125 for the day, which was a slight punch in the gut on the way in. Yet I knew that no matter what I was making the right decision because the things that would ensue are things that you simply cannot put a price on.

We got in at 5:30ish. Unfortunately, since it started at noon we missed some good acts like M.A.N.D.Y vs Tiefschwarz, 2020 Soundsystem (although it was just a DJ set), and The Presets. However, we arrived just in time for LA Riots to rip up a really sweet 30-40 minute set at the Bayfront Live Stage, which was the largest, most salivatory stage at Ultra aside from the Main Stage, which was larger but not quite as salivatory.

I had yet to see BOTH of LA Riots together, as all I have ever seen of them is one out of the duo. It was a good time, but I was catching my bearings having just arrived at one of the largest festivals in the world with over 50 countries representing musically. It was then time for Cut Copy.

Cut Copy, who many people think is one person, is actually a 4 piece band from Melbourne, Australia. I found this out not long prior to Ultra, and therefore when they came out with the drums, bass, guitar, and keyboards, I was stoked!

They played one hell of a set, reminding me of LCD Soundsystem and other funky disco electro dance punk rock bands out there. There was even a point at the end when Dan Whitford, the DJ who originally started Cut Copy in 2001, exclaimed that "We realize that everyone here are DJs and everything, but this is LIVE MUSIC from Melbourne, Australia!! So put your hands together and get ready for this last one! I hope to see all of you dancing!" and then they completed their set with "Lights and Music" which is possibly my favorite song of theirs. The set was refreshing as hell, and it was a pleasure getting to see the one true live band of the day.

As a matter of fact, here is Lights and Music from their Ultra Set for you to enjoy:




I forgot to mention that upon walking into the festival that the thing which put the biggest smile on my face was seeing the word LIVE next to Booka Shade. They played the Get Physical Late Night Saturday Night which has been held by Justice in 07 and Simian last year. However, they were playing a DJ set at the late night. I figured this would be the case at Ultra as well. Nope, not at all. The Booka Shade Live Set which I had heard endless things about as being one of the most revered sets in live electronic music was about to become a part of me.

We left the Bayfront Live stage to go to the Main Stage for Booka Shade's 6:30 performance. We got nice and close, but not right at the front. It was perfect. What ensued was hands down one of the most jaw dropping sets I have ever had the privilege of partaking in as an audience member by two German machines.

They were each wearing all black, and were standing upright and tall above their machinery. On the left he was throwing down on the E Drums like no one I have ever seen and dropping reverberating bass bombs which made my arm hairs shake, and on the right he was throwing down beats, melodies, and playing keyboards of different types.

Aside from Simian Mobile Disco, which I will speak about later, this set pretty much made the day worth it for me. It was full of everything I could want from live electronic music. They were consistently going places, taking our brains on an interesting rather than mundane journey, and doing it with a forceful power and confidence that I have seldom seen. Throwing in the live Electronic Drums and Keys into the mix made it that much more insane.

I am actually in this clip when the cameraman pans to the right, if you can spot me:




Mindblowing stuff isn't it? Here is a shorter clip with some more closeups so you can really see what is going on up there:




As if that was not enough, we moved back over the the Bayfront Live Stage to see what was going on, and while we thought we had missed Boyz Noize & Bloody Beetroots during Booka Shade, we were happily surprised to walk up in the middle of the Boyz Noize set and catch a little 30 minute set which delighted us all of the Bloody Beetroots.

Shaky as hell on the video tip, but showing the raw craziness of his set:




And while I spoke of The Bloody Beetroots in great detail in my post about the Dim Mak Records Party, they still blew my mind for their short set in the late afternoon on Saturday. They played a longer set at night on Friday at Ultra, but I did not attend since I was recovering from the previous day and night. Still, any Bloody Beetroots is better than none, and this was a wonderful injection of energy as the night had arrived. And it's edited, thowing some real raw energy in your face!!




Next up, on the same stage, was Crystal Castles. I don't have much to go on about them aside from their set being wonderful. It was a great tripped out sound going into MSTRKRFT. I was not too familiar with their music, but it made me smile.

Here is the song Crimewave from the set. I loved it:




Next up was MSTRKRFT. They rock, as always. I wrote quite a bit about them in my post about the pool party, but it was obviously wonderful getting to see them again in the Ultra setting. The thing I have been forgetting to leave out is how unbelievable the production value of the festival was. It was worth attending just based on the sound production, the lights, the artistic performers they had in addition to the DJs and musical acts. The vibe was also phenomenal. Everyone was wonderful, and it just felt great to be there and walk around to explore the endless unique individuals who had flocked to this great festival.

While there are many videos of them playing Ultra, I must include the one of them spinning "Da Funk". One, it's Daft Punk, and two it encompasses the craziness of the stage. Here you have it, Kraft spinnin Daft:




After seeing this go down I decided that I would head over to the main stage to see The Prodigy.

I had seen MSTRKRFT two days ago, and other times in the past, so I left their set early to catch The Prodigy.

Needless to say, this was a major mistake. They were supposed to come on at 9 ocklock, so I left MSTRKRFT at 8:55 to head over. I met some other friends at that stage, and stood there with them for 30 minutes waiting and waiiiiting for them to come on. It was ridiculous. After one of the Ultra promoters annoying us on the microphone, asking us if we were ready to see one of the best shows ever about 10 times over 30 minutes, they FINALLY came onstage.

The sound was AWFUL. We were at the main stage for Booka Shade, and it sounded absolutely incredible with the bass booming through our beings. During Prodigy, the sound was terrible. They were playing 'Breathe' which is one of my favorite songs by them, and barely anyone could make it out. I stood there annoyed that I had left MSTRKRFT early to wait 30 minutes for them to come on and play so terribly. After sticking around for a little to see if it improved, I realized the sound was not getting any better, and the vibe at the stage was horrible. I went from an ear to ear pasted smile on my face all day to wanting to get the hell out of there.

Therefore, I made the right decision and left the Prodigy stage to meet up with my other friends for Deadmau5. As you can see, I am not posting any videos of The Prodigy set as it was a horrible experience for me, and I do not feel it is worthy to share visually. If you feel like checking it out you may, but I must say it comes out a bit better on video than it did being there, which is a wierd thing but it is the case.

Now Deadmau5 was a completely different story! The madman who wore a huge mouse head with X's over the eyes signifying him being a dead mouse was wonderful, and the energy, lights, crowd, and music was absolutely off the chain. This was my first privilege of getting to see Deadmau5 and I could not have been more pleased. He blew my mind, and everyone who was lucky enough to be at the stage during his maniacal set. I am so glad that I came back to catch Deadmau5 after realizing that The Prodigy (who I was most excited for) completely turned out to be a major letdown.

Here is a taste from far away to catch a full scope view of the crazy lights:




Here is a little bit closer of a view to provide a more raw intensity of what it was really like being up in the thick of the crowd during Deadmau5 at Ultra:




As I'd said earlier, aside from Simian Mobile Disco, Booka Shade made the day for me.

Well, if Booka Shade made the day for me, than Simian Mobile Disco made the night.

They brought it harder than I could have ever expected in every way imaginable.

I consider myself extremely lucky, along with everyone who was there to witness the spectacle that went down during Simian Mobile Disco. Ultra brought Simian their own mobile disco to blow our minds the entire set. There were at least ten acrobatic dancers onstage, all dressed in different costumes of freakishness. This was the ultimate creepy circus all dancing to every beat and move Simian made.

It was unbelievable! Simian Mobile Disco stood at the back of the stage, the two of them facing one another, encompassed by smoke. At the front of the stage was the freakshow. There was someone dressed up as a bunny with a pink umbrella when it was beautiful out (I could not tell whether it was a guy or a girl). There was a woman on stilts with a long feathery costume, and a bondage S&M bitch all scantly leathered out with spikes and a ball & chain. There were so many different types of costumed acrobatic dancers onstage that we didn't even know what to do with ourselves. Between the unbelievable music that Simian was throwing down, the lights of utter insanity blinding our retinas, and the dance show of freakish tripped out proportions it was nearing sensory overload.



















(Above: Dancers During Simian - Photo by Ian Matz)

Then an Asian man approached the front of the stage with no shirt on, and placed a balloon over his whole head. He then proceeded to blow up the balloon with his head inside it as it grew larger and larger. Before we knew it, we had a crazy shirtless gigantic balloon headed man in front of us and he was dancing his ass off to Simian, and pulling it over his chest while moving his arms pressing outwards on the balloon as he danced his ass off to Simian, in one of the trippiest, most unique combination of artistic dancing combined with earth shattering music that could possibly exist.

Simian Mobile Disco, along with Booka Shade, made my Ultra Music Festival experience absolutely 100% worth it. Here are a few clips from the Simian Set. I am waiting for more to surface which capture the mania of the dancers on stage & how they appeared, but here's a taste:







Ohhhh this one I just found shows the dancers onstage!!! I still want closer views in order for the details to be visible, but this will do for now!!!




Closing out Ultra, Simian Mobile Disco left an imprint on me and endless others that will last for quite a while. The vibe that existed throughout the entire day was one that is unparalleled to few things in this world, aside from a Phish show. A Phish show does way more for me in an endless list of ways, however the raw excitement and energy of the vibe at Ultra with so many people from everywhere in the world all there to party their asses off and have the time of their lives is a feeling that I would not have passed up for the world.

Not to mention that my friend who was taking me home knew some kids who were staying at the Opera Suites right near the new gigantic gorgeous Opera House and Symphony Hall built this past year. They had a suite on the 45th floor! We went back there to hang out a little bit after Ultra to rest, recoop, and wait until the traffic died down. The balcony was literally a bird's eye view of the entire Bay of Miami to the right, and the entire City of Miami all lit up to the left.

The Bay was a deep vast dark abyss to look out on at night, with one sole bright light in the midst of it all. It was a beautiful sight to see. What was most impressive however, was the endless view of the bright lights encompassing the massive City of Miami at night. The entire city all the way to the horizon was lit up and moving like some unbelievable futuristic Tron 2.0 world. I grew up down here and in my entire life have never seen a view like I saw the night after Ultra on the 45th Floor of the Opera Suites. It will stick with me forever, and in its own right made the entire day and night worth it, Ultra experience aside.

There are really some things in this life that you really just can't put a price on.

From Mr Miner's Phish Thoughts Blog: Undecided, Undefined...

"Perhaps the most symbolic debut of the weekend was “Undermind.” The long awaited title track made its appearance in the first set of the last show, foreshadowing what is to come in the Phish world. Tweaked musically, the performance featured crunchier grooves than we were used to hearing on the album. Downplaying melody in favor of rhythm, the song adopted a funk-reggae feel. But as infectious as the grooves were, the lyrics painted a playful picture of where the band is at right now.

Undecided, undefined
Undisturbed, yet undermind
Relocated, not retired
Reprimanded and rewired
Mystified and mishapen
Misinformed, but not mistaken
Reinvented, redefined
Rearranged, but not refined.

With the repetitive line of “Undecided, Undefined” leading out of the jam into the end of the song, the message was clear- the future is wide open. A song that seems like it was written and shelved just for the band’s comeback, the synchronicities between its lyrics and the state of the Phish scene are remarkable. Perhaps the most exciting debut, musically, fans immediately foresaw this groove-based vehicle going places come June and beyond."

Nothing could be more true of Phish right now, and many of us in our lives currently.

The future is WIDE open. We all can go from being Undecided & Undefined to being Reinvented and Redefined multiple times through our lives. Phish has gone through that as a band a multitude of times, this time perhaps being the greatest test. Yet, it is truly an inspiration hearing those lyrics and realizing that even a band like Phish is constantly experiencing a battle of having to continue to reinvent themselves over the course of their career and lives. Being Undecided and Undefined is a good thing, because it allows us the freedom with no ties to become Reinvented and Redefined. Phish is a major motivation in the way they are evolving & growing at this stage in order to cement themselves in another chapter of history, rather than wither away.

There is ALWAYS a path to continue on, it is up to us to walk down it.

My Kickoff to Winter Music Conference 2009

Steve Aoki (above)



My goodness am I spent and speechless after the partying that went down yesterday and the world class music my friends and I were able to see, all for free. The wizardry that occurred over nearly 15 hours of music was impossible to describe and needed to be witnessed.


We attended the 9th Annual Bacardi B-Live WMC Party which was held this year at the Fontainebleau Pool. It's hard to top a private press pool party of this caliber the day before Ultra Music Festival. People from everywhere in the world were getting down and dirty all day long, and it was wonderful to observe and partake. As if getting to see all of the acts on the bill and being a part of such an exclusive party wasn't enough, Bacardi chose to sponsor ALL of the drinks ALL day long!! Unlimited Mojitos, Daquiris, Rum & Coke, etc. This blew my mind since I figured being on South Beach during WMC that getting in for free was more than I could ask for, and expected drinks to be close to $15 a pop. Nope, drinks cost us nothing from 3pm until 9pm!


The music was unbelievable, and the energy really something else. DJ Jazzy Jeff played early, and was hands down the worst DJ there. He barely mixed anything, and pretty much just played medleys of artists. It was very reminiscent of what a Bar/Bat Mitzvah DJ would play, and the MC onstage was not only worthless, but very annoying. However, I still got a major kick out of seeing Jazz, thinking of all the times he made me laugh on Fresh Prince.


His slight dud of an early set meant nothing, as everyone hadn't arrived yet. All was quickly forgotten once Diplo hit the stage. He is a madman. This was the first time I had the pleasure of seeing Diplo, and he had me breaking it down to nasty Baile Funk beats which were so grimey & dirty that my jaw was dropping. He played for about an hour or so, and then A-Trak took the stage.


A-Trak, a NYC resident, who happens to be Dave One from Chromeo's little brother, is a DJ I became familiar with very quickly at the Fool's Gold Records party after Ultra last year. It was his birthday, and he owned the stage for most of the night. This year he topped himself by spinning seamless mixes of dirty south beats and electro. From Robot Rock to Killing In The Name, A-Trak took us all on a delicious journey. At that point the place had filled up quite a bit and everyone was getting down. After about an hour or more, A-Trak stepped down and DJ AM played a really tight set which continued my dancing spree.


Then, unexpectedly, it was time for MSTRKRFT. They were billed as the top act but played 3rd to last. The second I realized they were onstage, we booked it towards the front for the onslaught of MSTRKFT. It had been a year since Ultra last March that I've had the privilege of seeing MSTRKRFT. I saw one of them spin at Camp Bisco last year, but that doesn't count. Needless to say, they shredded our faces into the ground unapolagetically. We were standing up on the ledge of the hot tub for a sick view & great sound, dancing our asses off and pumping our fists endlessly in the air. Their set flew by like a blur, leaving us dumbfounded.




My belief as to why MSTRKRFT went on a little earlier (which was no problem for me because it was as the sun was setting on the beach at the pool) was that Kid Sister was supposed to play a live set, but I gather she had not arrived yet, since she came out after MSTRKRFT for a really kickass short set of about 5-6 songs or so. It was a pleasure getting to see a live Kid Sister set, as she can spit out the lyrics with the best of them.


The party by the pool closed out with a Chromeo DJ set. I love Chromeo. I love Dave One. He is one of my favorite musical characters for so many reasons. After having seen Chromeo play a DJ set this past Halloween, I knew that we were in for it. They crafted together one of the funkier more dancetastic sets I have gotten down to in quite a while. The entire pool was bouncing in unison, and it was impossible not to get lost in the endless disco funk.


All in all, the Bacardi B-Live Party by the pool yesterday from 3pm till 9pm was way more than I could have ever imagined or asked for. I had my reservations and skepticisms, but the day was flawless. From the people around us, to the quality of music, to the unlimited free drinks all day, we were beyond satisfied and spent.


Yes, this is when the party was really getting started!


We went into the hotel to get a slice of pizza in order to refuel a bit, and then entered Blade, one of the two brand new clubs at the Fontainebleau. The Dim Mak Records Party was underway.
I was looking forward to this party, but had no idea how much of an impression it would leave on me. This party destroyed the Fool's Gold Party from last year by every means possible.


I will skip the early DJs, and go right into the night's special secret guest DJ Mehdi.


I watched DJ Mehdi spin for a little bit with A-Trak last year, and he was good, but it was hard for him to stand out. Last night, the man threw my head into a tizzy, playing well over an hour and a half set of massive proportions. He was grinning the entire time like a little kid, and you could tell he just did not want to leave the stage. I don't blame him. He had the entire place in the palm of his hand. I couldn't believe that at close to 2 AM that I was still dancing my ass off and having my mind blown, after having raged the pool party drinking & dancing in the sun all day. That is how good DJ Mehdi was, and how good the Dim Mak Records party was.


After DJ Mehdi's epic long set, Steve Aoki came onstage. Let me preface this by saying that I have never seen him, and last night he proved to me that he is hands down one of the top DJs in the world. He is a MADMAN, and even though saying this is not in line with my true belief system, the man shines like a God in his own right. Not only was the music he was playing completely fresh sounding and out of this world, but I have never seen a DJ truly COMMAND the stage like him period. He is the most energetic spazoid freakout that I can possibly imagine, and he ripped through our brains like a relentless Japanese combat robot. He was flipping out the entire set, jumping up and down, throwing his hands everywhere, hair flying all over the place, and dancing his ass off with every break and switch. Every move he made, the crowd followed, and we were dancing harder than we had danced in ages. My friends and I could not believe what was happening, neither could anyone in the crowd, and I am still completely dumbfounded by what I witnessed last night of the superhuman Steve Aoki, who is now in my opinion one of the best DJs in the world.


It was almost 3 am, and we had just danced our faces off between DJ Mehdi and Aoki. We didn't know how we would keep it up, but Armin Van Helden came on next and played a damn good set. It was certainly a step down from the mania that was Steve Aoki's set, but it kept us going for a bit. We went outside by the pool for a little to catch a breather and some delicious beach breeze, in order to save up the last potential ounce of energy we had for my most awaited act, The Bloody Beetroots.


Well, they lived up to everything I had been hoping for. Those Italian fly mask wearing maniacs are a mysterious force to be wreckoned with. The entire set was utter insanity. Steve Aoki came onstage for part of it and went absolutely nuts being held up by people on the stage while shrieking into his headphones. The Bloody Beetroots, who play Italian Melodic House music, have a sound like few others. It is so elastic and bouncing, with such pummeling force yet at the same time a beautiful classical melodic style to their madness. It was great getting to see them play their Il Brutissimo Remix of Crookers' Il Brutto, which is one of my favorite songs in electronica. Pretty much they are like evil Nintendo music on crack with a full decimating attack of mind and body. Basically, they drilled a hole into my head.


Once The Bloody Beetroots set ended, we stood there completely in awe of what we just experienced. It was nearly 5 am and we had been partying for 15 straight hours. We were on our last leg about ten times, but the music and energy was just TOO damn good and kept getting better and better in order to cave in and succumb to the exhaustion. We left feeling more satisfied than we had felt in a very long time.


I still need to recover from yesterday, and while I wanted to go to Ultra tomorrow, I really don't want to spend the money, but even moreso I think I got my fill of DJs for another year. I feel violated after that marathon yesterday, in the greatest of ways, but I'm not so sure I can take another 12 plus hours of Electro partying. I got juuuuust what I needed all day yesterday and last night, without having to pay anything.


That's right. As everyone kept saying throughout the day in accordance with the LMFAO song...


I'm in Miami biiiiiiiiiiiiiitch!