Words by: Chris Clark | Images by: Raymond Van Tassel

Sea of Dreams 2010 :: 12.31.09 :: Concourse Exhibition Center :: San Francisco, CA

Sea of Dreams 2010

Hosted at the Concourse Exhibition Center, a massively sprawling industrial complex in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood, the 10th Annual Sea of Dreams brought together a sundry collection of electronic and like-minded artists. Over the course of nine hours a cohesive collage of sounds, colors, Burning Man-esque sculptures and several thousand eager patrons made this one of the craziest, most elaborate parties of the year. Everywhere you turned there were elements of the circus, the carnival and pretty much any kind of freak show you can imagine. But this is S.F., where unequivocally strange is normal. To say this year’s Sea of Dreams was merely a show or concert would be grossly understated. This was an event of epic proportions. Centered around headliners Ozomatli and Bassnectar, AnonEvents, Sunset Promotions and An-Ten-Nae put together a more than substantial bill rounded out by The Glitch Mob, Yard Dogs Road Show, Ghostland Observatory and a couple dozen other performers ranging from DJ’s to hoop dancing troupes to visual artists.

Walking in, all I could think was, “We’re all in this together, and we love to take a bath.” Perhaps this sounds out of place so far from Miami (where Phish was performing), but I assure you, the sentiment fit. An elongated rectangular warehouse, the Concourse’s turn-of-the-century wood interior was decked out beyond words. Buddha arrangements, stages resembling The Giving Tree and exotic dancers gyrating on platforms were the night’s norm. Also included were leather-clad whip and chain-ers, scantily dressed Burners and of course, plenty of hipsters and hippies to fill the halls. You couldn’t take two steps without noticing something strangely inviting; an intoxicating aroma, a gaping hallucinatory smile, maybe even a spun cookie giving light shows to a group of awed college girls. Regardless of where you turned, it was all happening, and I was happy to be a part of it. It was a mausoleum of menace just waiting to explode at midnight. With three stages spanning a very large area and heaps of intriguing obstacles in between, there was no way to see everything, but I did my best.

YARDS DOGS ROAD SHOW | 10:30 p.m. – MIDNIGHT | LUNASEA STAGE

Yard Dogs Road Show :: Sea of Dreams 2010

These guys are a trip each and every time. A strange blend of fire, swords, skin, railroad poets and a whole lot of hot damn, it’s an eye-popping good time that leaves many scratching their head. After a few surreal moments it was time to move on and get the party started with some San Francisco flavor. That flavor would be Ana Sia.

ANA SIA | 10:45 p.m. – MIDNIGHT | DO LAB FANTASEA STAGE

For starters, the Do Lab Fantasea Stage was a delightful portrait right out of Shel Silverstein’s world. Literally, it was a psychedelic rendering of The Giving Tree (a children’s book written and illustrated by Silverstein). Going to see one of my favorite local acts playing inside of my favorite children’s book was an existentially intense moment that, five days later, still reverberates within me. I’m not trying to infer this was the most amazing show ever, but I, and everyone I could see in plain view, sure seemed to be having a ball. Playing a set of what seemed to be fresh material; Ana came out swinging, creatively crafting a set filled with her trademark Princess Slay-ah style, melting the dance floor into one sweaty, moving mass. Yes, Ozomatli was the Sea of Dreams’ headliner, but it quickly became apparent there was a plethora of party people there poised for Ana Sia to get the party started and prepare us for the New Year.

And here it came. There are few things during the year that can compare to the strike of midnight, the dawn of a New Year, especially when you break it in with those you love. 2009 sure was a top-notch 365 days and the commencement of 2010 was just the extension I was hoping for.

THE GLITCH MOB | 12:10 a.m. – 1:15 a.m. | LUNASEA STAGE

The Glitch Mob tore the roof off the Concourse. While I’m only one humble writer covering one event, I would venture to guess that if you asked 10 people when walking out of Sea of Dreams at whatever time they left who was the best act of the night, seven would say The Glitch Mob. My opinion on this isn’t coming from “Mob fan boy” status, either. Over the last several years of seeing The Glitch Mob do after-parties in Colorado, Los Angeles and headline shows here in S.F., I’ve come to realize that for me, they are a 50-50 act. When they’re on, they’re lights out, balls-to-the-wall electro glitch bap-bap. But when they are off (opening for STS9 at The Wiltern in L.A. in early ’09 for example) they are cold as ice. Luckily for me and those in attendance, this Glitch Mob came correct from the start, opening with a hot-to-trot version of TV on the Radio‘s “Red Dress,” remixed L.A. style. Countless musical moments stood out as edIT, Ooah and Boreta meshed seamlessly through remixes from Nosaj Thing, Nalepa and a fiery rendition of edIT’s “The Game is Not Over,” complete with the “keeping it poppin’ until New Year’s Eve” sample. By 1:15, I was sweating profusely, a tad dizzy and ready for the next act.

OZOMATLI | 11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. | GALAXSEA STAGE

Ghostland Observatory :: Sea of Dreams 2010

Honestly, I didn’t go to Sea of Dreams for Ozomatli and I left without much of an impression. I stopped by the Galaxsea Stage briefly just to catch my breath, take a gander towards the stage and sink in with my surroundings. And that was that. Ozomatli was an awkwardly placed headliner that, at least to this writer, didn’t seem logical at this party. Oh well, like they say, you can’t win ‘em all.

MARTY PARTY | 1:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. | DO LAB FANTASEA STAGE

The “surprise” set of the night/morning came in the form of Marty Party. The South African turned West Coaster turned Brooklynite built upon the momentum gathering in the Concourse confines and blew a set of bulging bass that broke even the stiffest of folks onto the dance floor. When I say “bulging of bass,” that statement is rather relative. Before New Year’s, event organizers spoke of a speaker system second to none. This just wasn’t so. One of my only complaints of this year’s Sea of Dreams was the lack of oomph coming out of the speakers, which sincerely made me quite surprised. But yet again, you can’t win them all. The sound was still pristine, albeit not that loud.

GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY | 1:30 a.m. – 3:00 a.m. | LUNASEA STAGE

Ghostland Observatory was a sight to behold. Lasers flying through the air and smoke pouring from the stage were enough to stimulate my interest, but then that moment faded. Musically they couldn’t back it up and the act felt thin at best. The Austin guys have garnered a lot of critical acclaim in 2009. I just wonder how long the hype can last.

BASSNECTAR | 1:30 a.m. – 3:30 a.m. | GALAXSEA STAGE

Sea of Dreams 2010

Say what you will, and I’ve said plenty, but Bassnectar brought that dirty dirty, get low, to the late night party. No thinking, no talking, just dance your ass off seemed to be the room’s overall vibe as the long haired man of Nectar touched upon just about every genre imaginable, all encompassed into a thumping melange of big beats and bass. For the better part of the time I was there, his omni-tempo maximalism grasped just about every bit of attention I had left in me, performing a steady onslaught of fine tuned party music that was undoubtedly the most well-placed set of the night. Like all good things, it had to end. But before it could, I managed to make my way back over to The Giving Tree and Do Lab Stage to catch a portion of one of the event promoters, An-Ten-Nae, and his buddy across the boards, Laura.

LOWRIDERZ FEAT. LAURA & AN-TEN-NAE | 2:00 a.m. – 3:30 a.m. | DO LAB STAGE

Since I arrived in San Francisco, I’d have to say that An-Ten-Nae would win the local DJ “Most Improved Award.” As 2009 progressed into the wee hours of 2010, I realized that this guy was now the real deal and his beats are much more than I’d originally given him credit for. Reminiscent of Howie Mandel with long hair and a trucker hat, An-Ten-Nae and Laura laid the finishing touches on an epic night of Dreams.

RANDOM RAB FT. ANDREW JONES | 3:30 a.m. – ?? | GALAXYSEA STAGE

I’m not sure what was up with Random Rab and Andrew Jones‘ set. I had high hopes for them as event closers going in. While the vast majority of the Concourse had taken off to their hotels, back alleys and/or any place they could find a little extra S.F. livelihood, Rab and Jones decided to hit the stage and play one of the most downtempo, fall asleep sets I’ve encountered in quite some time. I think at the beginning of the set, Rab even called out to the audience, informing them he had a couch to come lie on directly at the front of the stage. Sorry, but save the deep sleep until after the show concludes.

Put together, the 10th Annual Sea of Dreams was a stirring success. There were copious oddities and fun things to look at and touch, a lineup that worked from front to back, and enough good people in one spot doing what they love to do to put a smile on just about anyone and everyone’s face. I didn’t witness anyone who’d done too much too fast, never encountered any violence and never had anything but positivity cross my mind. If you’re ever in San Francisco for New Year’s, you better seriously consider attending Sea of Dreams, the extravagant end of the year party in one of the most extravagant places you’ll ever be.

Continue reading for more pics of Sea of Dreams NYE…

Yard Dogs Road Show

Yard Dogs Road Show

Yard Dogs Road Show

Ghostland Observatory

JamBase | San Francisco

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