So sad to leave Miami, but unfortunately have to come back to reality here in TX....Here's my recap of the week:

WED/THURS
Arrive on Wednesday late afternoon, a little bummed b/c of the rain, but it stopped pretty quickly. I should have known shadiness was in order for Space, when I went early to pick up my tickets early (like they had posted on their website that passes and tix could be picked up 12p-8p during the daytime) and they had a new sign that said that you could get them at 9pm... So back to hotel for food-nap-then start drinking - off to Steve Lawler at State at 11 . Now I am pretty new to Lawler, but I liked his set - he did start a little slow and didn't reeeaaly get going until 3:30-4a, but it was an enjoyable start for me and I danced almost the whole time. I left at 4am to try to head off the masses to Space for Morillo on the terrace, got to Space in 15 minutes-picked up my ticket, but everyone knows the f##ked up situation that was waiting for me, the mob of ticketholders, passholders, and people with nothing, all piled against the railing. Well, as painful as it was, I chose to wait b/c I really wanted to see Morillo. So I waited almost 2 hours, got in right as he was starting his set. He started off strong, and pretty much had the patio by the balls for a good while, but I am SURE that I am not the only one who heard some pretty significant wrecks in the 2nd hour. Nevertheless, I still thought he rocked it and would wait in long lines to see him again.(BTW love the new patio setup). Left around 10am legs and feet were wrecked from dancing. About 500 people waiting still outside to get in. Back to hotel. Crash for 3 hours, hope legs will regain sensation. Eat a power bar. Head out to Shelbourne Wet grooves Day One at 2pm stay until 8. Sweet party. Hot as hell outside tho, but those margaritas on the rocks helped out lots. My highlight of the DJ's by far was the Scumfrog. Never saw him b/4 but he was amazing, very high energy, lots of cool vocal effects that he did himself over tracks. Very original I thought. Would love to see him again - too bad he was nowhere else at conference... Christopher Lawrence good as always. Oakenfold....underwhelming (I think he spun for 45 min). George Acosta, not as bad as I was expecting (after reading prev reviews) Jon Secada...really, why were you there? Your little foray into EDM is going NOWHERE. Embarrasing. Stick to pop and latin music. Rated party 8/10. Back to hotel, crash 2 hours. Then got ready and head over to Space for Tiesto. Got there by 12/12:30 - Thank god they had made a few changes and let everyone who didnt' have tix wait in line, and ticketholders got in with NO wait....much improved. Tiesto's set was amazing IMO, not full of predictability, and between 330 and 430 he was relentless, and gave us no mercy. Met up with friends and went to terrace where Sanchez was going off on the terrace. 1st time seeing him, wow Wanted to stay longer/but was again wiped out at 9ish.
Back to hotel

Fri - After crash for 2 hours. Up and get ready for Nikki beach. Three words: OFF THE HOOK!!! Now a quick sidebar for all you people...Even me, as a complete newbie to WMC, knew that for these parties you had to get there early or you would suffer. I paid the price on Subliminal nite, but the rest of conference I was there EARLY, despite how sleep deprived I was...ESPECIALLY for Radio One - come on people, you HAD to know that half of Florida was going to try to show up for this free party. I have no sympathy whatsoever for the poor SOB's that were in the neverending line that was out there at 5 oclock. Good choons - remix of "What time is love", "Robophobia", "Owner of a Lonely Heart", "Pump up the Jam", my fave (I may be dating myself) was when Deep Dish dropped this remix of "Good Life" late in the afternoon - my first OMG moment of the week...
Left around 5:30 for TA dinner- -which the food was great, and got to meet some great TAs...sorry i'm so bad with names, but everyone was great and friendly. Sorry that the organizers had drama with the restaurant and had to deal with the problem of no shows that had RSVP'd. I'm sure that put a slight downer on things..
Back to hotel, and had EVERY INTENTION of waking up after a quick nap to go to Steve Porter, but overslept until the morning...

Sat/ULTRA

I had a great time, would go again...glad I had my tix fedex to me. Got there EARLY - 12:30 got aquainted with the area with map, and got ready for a long day...
I SAW: Donald Glaude - ok, don't sleep on this DJ people, he has some MAD energy, style and originality, and crowd interaction. Nice remix of "Superfreak"
Infected Mushroom - 1st time seeing them...LOVED THEM! Thought they were lots better than Infusion.
Christopher Lawrence - IDMA's winner for #1DJ, and he proved them so right. Always gives solid sets, and great energy.
Tiesto - no complaints here. He really was throwing down a show like never before at Ultra, and the crowd was eating it up.
Sander - WoW I love this guy. He really gave it to the crowd , even with a short set - Highlights: that "mr Roboto" tune, "the Fruit", and I'm sorry, he killed me by dropping "Smack my bitch up" at the end - that may be an oldie, but it is a new Classic in my book...
Lawler - in the DT tent. I do think he was throwing it a LOT nastier and heavier and deeper in his Ultra set than at Lights out. He owned everyone in that tent from 6-9 including me for about 45 min
PVD - I waited all day with anticipation to see this DJ for the 1st time, and I have nothing more to say except I was completely shellshocked by the talent of this man. He completely annihilated the amphitheater for 2 hours straight. 4 more words: I am a convert. Sorry Tjis.

I missed: Junkie XL - very sad about this - heard nothing but raves about his Crobar set and his Ultra set. Danny Tenaglia: Could not drag my sorry ass from Tiesto, and I wasn't about to miss PVD.. so hopefully next year. The Carl Cox tent: there was just too much going on, I could only catch bits and pieces, but whenever I went by..it was going OFF.

OK: Review almost over, just some final thoughts..

Good things about ultra: overabundance of food...easy access to bathrooms

Bad things: Must get more than one entrance into ultra
Have maps and set times ready at the BEGINNING of Ultra(not 2-3hrs into it)
Let the people bring in cameras already!
Yes in THEORY it is a Drug free event, but come on, you really should have 3 times more water available after sundown than before. Just think REALISTIC...

Maybe think about having a SHUTTLE service of some sort from Ultra to SoBe or something...I can't be the only one who it took 2and a half hours to get a cab

Even though I am just now regaining full sensation in my legs and feet from all the dancing I did, it was the best vacation I've had in a long time. Being able to enjoy my fave music for 4 days straight at great parties and unbelievable nightclubs is priceless, especially since I know that the majority of those DJs will never make it to San Antonio, much less Texas...So I recover,go back to the daily grind of work, and start saving for WMC 2006!!! Hope to see more TX TA's there, next year, believe me you have to experience it at LEAST once in your lifetime...

___________________
"You know you're dancing when tears of pain and happiness blend in with your sweat" ~anonymous

Last edited by shimi357 on Mar-29-2005 at 02:33