NEW YORK SPECIAL
Lee Burridge
A Perfect Storm DJ Mag USA boarded the All Day I Dream of Floating boat party in New York to hear Lee Burridge, who defied the
elements to keep the humor dry and the beats dazzling even in the pouring rain... H
ard to believe, but the Princess Yacht - surrounded by lightning and soaked with rain in
the middle of the Hudson River – actually turns out to be a blissful place to be on a Sunday night.
Earlier, when DJ Mag USA is amongst patrons boarding to the slithery funk of Konrad Black’s ‘Devastator’, the afternoon sun is shining. The décor is a million miles from clubland cool, a jolly Buddha statue greeting the guests, and golden sunflowers and fluttering drapes overhead making it feel as intimidating as walking into your hippie aunt’s living room. There is no posturing here. It’s okay to laugh, okay to be silly… especially after a few vodka lemonades.
Banks of dark grey clouds interrupt what would otherwise be a picturesque sunset on the water as the first round of drizzle rolls in. No matter. Our fearless shaman leader, Lee Burridge, is not to be denied tonight. Wearing fluorescent colored shoes, striped socks and, briefly, pink heart-shaped glasses, he is certainly dressed for the occasion.
Even with all of the precious DJ gadgetry covered by tarps, Lee manages to nail transition after transition flawlessly by periodically reaching underneath to cue up a track or tweak an EQ. It is truly something to behold. He completes a mix, and then greets a new friend over on one side of the booth with a high five. After a quick scan of the laptop considering what to play next, he poses for a silly
pic, and then is back at the mixer adding some twisted weirdness to a vocal in the breakdown. He is indeed the court jester but one with a relentless ear for melody.
The rain starts to let up a bit. Paper lanterns tethered to either side of the booth are glowing like fireflies as Lee eases into his majestic collaboration with Matthew Dekay, ‘Lost in a Moment’. Hearts melt. Oh, wave to Lady Liberty!
The rain soon returns with a bit more gusto so a tent is carefully erected over Lee, and everyone within arm’s reach helps out. In one of the evening’s defining moments, Lee drops Betoko’s ‘Raining Again’ which brings a smile to all within earshot. Punters peek under the tiny tent to
check in with their fearless leader before returning to the deck to joyously dance in the rain. This is the kind of cosmic connection that has come to define what an All Day I Dream party is all about. There are no egos. There is only a shared celebration for this beloved music. While the beautiful people seek refuge downstairs, the devout dance on despite looking like drowned rats. Lightning grows more intense overhead but it never feels particularly threatening. It simply adds to the spectacle.
Once the Princess docks (not so gently), there’s a feeling of exhilaration having witnessed a dazzling night of music mixed with a bit of relief to be out of the storm and on solid ground again. It’s miles away from a typical night out. It’s anything but. When stories of this gig are retold years from now, and they will be, there may be a few exaggerations. The rain storm may become tidal waves, the lightning may actually strike the boat, and the boat may run aground on a distant island. What cannot be overstated, however, is the dedication of all parties involved that made the party unforgettable. Those eager for another dose can look forward to the Drifting Back to Brooklyn party as All Day I Dream returns on August 19. JOSHUA STEPHENS
www.djmag.com
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