If you have loads of time on your hands and want to hear some new old music, you can now hear a set of mine from every year at BM from '03----> 2023 on this playlist where some sets had to be dusted off from the deep archives.  Did anyone ask for that?  Of course not, it's my self indulgent archiving, but some sets have their moments, and it's a time capsule of BM music through the years.  Some of these sets shouldn't even be shared, but this is how it happened.  From the beautiful to the gritty to the deep, it's all there.  Hope you enjoy.

Syd Live Sets at Burning Man over the years 2003--> the present

It was one of those crackling Friday nights at Opulent Temple and I had all the tracks to cover the ground I wanted to share.  Pink Floyd sample opens it to ask you 'Is There Anybody Out There?" that gives way to my own 'Who Are You?" track I did with Boomrock Saints, and then a proper stomp through some filthy electro, breaks re-rubs, intense tech funk and techno, an Unkle classic thrown in for good measure, and a feel good ending ala' Vandal.  It's a playa set !

'A Burning Set' - Live at Opulent Temple 2010

As we all know, the official 2021 Burn didn't happen.  Nor did I head out to the Rogue Burn.  But musically I was ready!  And I still had to put together what would have been the kind of set I would have played if I stepped into the O Pod (Opulent Temple's DJ booth) on a Wednesday night ready to rock a crowd and play with flame throwers. 

So accept this substitute for the dance floor experience this set tried to capture, with a range of house to take the playa tinged journey.  Hope you enjoy.

Track Listing: (Please support these artists!)

1. Get This Party Started : Westend
2. What is House : Dog n Hoss
3. Disco Stepper : Crazibiza, House of Prayers
4. On my Way : Skogsberg & Akgogan
5. Shaolin Dreams : Michael Bibi
6. Acrobatic : SIDEPIECE
7. Drinkee (Vintage Culture & John Summit remix) : Sofi Tukker
8. Miniskirt : Croatia Squad
9. Just Feels Tight : Fisher
10. Crowdrocker : Croatia Squad
11. No Good : Geluk
12. She's the One : Antonio Giacca
13. Soundcheck : Marvin Sykes
14. Never Let Me Down (Testpress remix) : Gorgon City, Haley May
15. Free : Roland Clark, Vintage Culture
16. Power : Solardo
17. Blinding Lights (Joris Voorn Remix) : Alex Kennon
18. April : Yousef, Camelphat
19. Aquatic : Nora en Pure

2021 Set for the Burn That Wasn't

This is my set I played at the White Ocean camp Saturday night 12M.  Spoken word intro from Shahid Buttar (http://www.shahidbuttar.com).  I was (literally) super sick when I played this set of breaks and electro mainly, so  if you think it's sick there may be a connection. ; )

Tracks:
1. FCK Your Bassline (Lo IQ? Remix)  - Dustin Hulton
2. Party Non Stop -  Kid Panel
3. Truffle Pig - Tommy Trash
4. Wait For The Drop (Lady Rich Remix) Alex Luciano
5. Something Right Meow -  Mord Fustang
6. Basque the Dog (Mr. Pit Remix)  - Bobina
7. Back To The Acid  - Tiesto, MOTI
8. Lift Me Up (BETA Remix)  - Refracture
9. Time (Original Mix)  - Spark, Fisso
10. Bay City Roller Remixes (Kostas G remix) - Lee Coombs
11. Creation (Kid Panel Rmx) - Mutantbreakz
12. Ignition (Original Mix)  - Llupa Ignition
13. Sail Away (Digitalism Remix) - The Rapture


Live at Burning Man, Saturday night 2013

Live at Opulent Temple, Wednesday Night - Burning Man 2022 - Sacred Dance ('the white party')

It's our flagship event we've done on playa since the first OT in 2003. It's the night that most encapsulates our Vision and intentions to be a mass joy generator. I picked this slot, going on before Carl Cox, to have the latitude of the early start to start deep and ramp up the energy, before bringing it down a bit for Carl to take over. That means restraint and flow, with emotion moments getting pulled back into groove and steady beauty.

As always, it was a magic night and I thank you if you were there dancing with us!

Track Listings:
1. The Children (Unreleased Rmx) : Robert Miles
2. Phobia : Jomtec
3. Aerial Space : DJ Leandro
4. I Don't Wanna Leave (Innellea Remix) : Rufus du Sol
5. 'Unreleased Track' : Sono Leopardi
6. 'Unreleased Track' : Gorgon City
7. Macao (Calussa Extended Remix) : Pato's Groove
8. No Me Importa : Francis Mercier
9. Cold Heart (Claptone Extended Mix) : Dua Lip, Elton John
10. Eastern Roll : Del 30
11. Feeling : Jack Black
12. Lose Control feat. Guilty Empress : OFFAIAH, Guilty Empress
13. Running feat. Meg Myers : Anyma ofc
14. Insomnia 2021 : Faithless, Maceo Plex
15. By Your Side (Dom Dolla Remix) : Dom Dolla, Calvin Harris
16. 'Unreleased Track' : Gorgon City

Syd Gris, Live at Opulent Temple, Burning Man 2022 - Sacred Dance

It was pretty magic. Full moon Wednesday, on a perfect night. Opening drone show with a white rabbit.  10-11 Opening for Carl Cox. Moments you co-create to make it all worth it.  Live how it happened. 

Track list - 

1. White Rabbit (Kaz James & Nick Morgan Extended Remix) : Jefferson Airplane
2. Bohemia :  Township Rebellion, Victor Pilava
3. Levitate : Icarus, GotSome, Arielle Free
4. Surge (PROFF & Igor Garanin Extended Mix) : Above & Beyond
5. The Crystal Eater : Christian T
6. Oscillator : DJ Glen, illusionize
7. I Love You Always Forever (Nora's Version) : Nora En Pure, Donna Lewis
8. I Need You (Adriatique Extended Remix) : Elderbrook
9. Love Me : Hot Since 82
10. I Remember (John Summit Remix) : Kaskade, deadmau5
11. Rise Of The 2nd Sun : Stereo Express
12. Turn Off The Heat : Vakabular, Red Machine
13. Afterglow (Simon Shackleton' s Golden Hour Remix) : Simon Shackleton

Special nod of thanks to Playground for hosting OT again on one of our 'off years' . Big love.

Some subtle clipping on the mixes, that was the recording. Decided to share as is. 

Hope you enjoy.

Live @ Burning Man '23 -  Opulent Temple's Sacred Dance 'White Party' @ Playground

One from the archives : Live from Burning Man at OT in 2011. We work all year to have that DJ moment at OT where we can most express our musical vision for a prime time playa moment imbued with flame throwers and lazers. So this is mine for 2011. 

I'm still tickled to be reminded started with a Syd speech and then a remix/mash up Josh Camacho and I did of Judas f'ing Priest - "You Gotta Another Thing Coming". If that's not worth a laugh I don't know what is. I'm just glad I can say I opened up a playa set with Judas Priest. But I was also (per usual), trying to tie it in with the story of our responsibility to push back against ignorance and be engaged in the world. Thus, after 'You Got Another Thing Coming', it's "I Believe!", and then "Who's Going to Save the World?", which borders on cheese but the big dirty drops make it worth it.

After that it's a big dirty electro and big ass dirty breaks conducive to have nice drops and flame throwers to play with around the dance floor, which I'm sure I did a lot of in this high energy playa set. As I like to do though, transitioned out of that sound for the last few tracks to end up with some techno and a pretty closer to set up my buddy Vinkalmann to play after me more in the zone he plays.  Hope you enjoy !!

(Syd Intro)
1. Judas Priest : You Got Another Thing Coming – (Josh Camacho & Syd Gris Remix)
2. Believe : Elite Force & Meat Katie (Rektchordz Rmx)
3. Save The World : Swedish House Mafia (Zedd Remix)
4. Sweet Dreams – Avicci (Cazzette Meet At Night_Mix)
5. Amen : Chrizz Luvly
6. Wake Up L.A. : Far Too Loud
7. Undermined : Ellar Sound (Miles Dyson DJ Friendly Makeover)
8. Everybody – Colombo
9. No Turning Back : Elite Force (Hedflux Rmx)
10. Energy Vibration : Hedflux & Neurodriver
11. Big Fat Bass : Utku S (Dylan Rhymes Rmx)
12. Ka Tako Grill Complextro : Curtis B, Houserocka (Re-Rub Mix)
13. Prude : Fussy Boy (Miles Dyson Breakfest Edit)
14. Heavy : Nicky Twist (Miles Dyson Breakfest Makeover)
15. Weird Day : Destroyers (Guau Remix)
16. Krakken : Hunter Vaughan (Loops of Fury Rmx)
17. Get Sucked : Umek
18. Belfast : Orbital (Dopamine Rmx)

Live At OpulentTemple Friday Night BM 2011

This was year number 12 for Opulent Temple.  Through the years of helping organize OT, it's still a major motivator to have that defining playa music moment.  This year it was Wednesday night at our annual Sacred Dance party.  Of course I wanted to play to the moment, of music that I was passionate about while being conscious to set up Rob Garza from Thievery properly, who was on after me.  That endeavor ended up with this set, which I think is a stand out of my BM sets for it's range of music and emotion.  Never wanting to be pigeonholed and mostly having a disregard for if a tune was old or new, I ended up with a couple classic Alex Metric tunes, some Elite Force revamps that had 'playa tune' written all over them, some unreleased tracks from Lot 49 and Lee Coombs, some bassline techno and moving into the nudisco ala' Croatia Squad, etc I've been playing the shit out of lately cause it's music I love right now seemed a good note to leave it off for Rob Garza.

Hope you enjoy and it takes you back to some playa magic with a packed and beautiful crowd, jellyfish floating through the masses, an aerialist performing high on a forklift, dancers on the stage, and all the unique sights and feelings of OT in top form in the desert.

1. Floating : Jape (Alex Metric Remix)
2. Heat It Up : Elite Force Revamp
3. Venusia :  Electric Soulside (Anarchy Rice Remix) 
4. 7 Hours After : Ed Steel (Lee Coombs and Kostas G  Remix)
5. The Hostage : Chevy One & Hanon 
6. 9th Revolution : Chevy One 
7. Caller : Alex Metric
8. Reel Kraken Revolution : Elite Force & Friends 
9. Black Video Noise Game : Elite Force Revamp
10. Monologue : Future Funk Squad (Lee Coombs & Kostas G Remix)
11. The Hostage : Chevy One & Hanon  (Meat Katie Remix) 
12. Deadbeat : Meat Katie re-edit
13. The Hostage : Chevy One & Hanon (Ben Coda Remix)
14. Toca pop : Meat Katie Remix
15. Pop Yer Pussy : Croatia Squad
16. Taking Over - Calippo
17.  Groovejet : Lissat & Voltaxx, Marc Fisher (Andrey Exx & Fomichev Remix)
18.  Fair Enough : Me & My Toothbrush 


Live @ Opulent Temple, Wednesday night, Burning Man 2014

Live at Opulent Temple, a sunrise set from 2009. Stream from the new Opulent Temple podcast (episode 1). This is 60 minutes of a 90 minute set so you miss the bassline techno intro tracks I started with after Dopamine, and catch up as I'm moving into some headier stuff and from there into a few progressive tunes before ending up with some sunrise techno. Hope you enjoy. For this first podcast, you also hear some brief intro remarks from me about how OT started and what we're about.
---
That feeling when it's all music and no chatter. Ditch the voiceovers and enjoy high-resolution podcasts from your favorite Opulent Temple DJs, by contributing on a small monthly basis to our newest fundraiser. Check www.patreon.com/opulenttemple

Opulent Temple Podcast #01 - Syd Gris - Live at Opulent Temple, Burningman 2009

Opulent Temple's  13th Annual Sacred Dance 'white party' was mobile this year, since we decided to take a break from doing a sound camp.  We teamed up with the Bounce crew from Santa Cruz and a bunch of other participating art cars for an open playa party near the Flaming Lotus Girls' Serpent Mother.  I had planned this set musically in 2 distinct 45 minute sets as we were supposed to move to a different spot half way through, and I knew the dance floor would have to reset when we stopped again.  We ended up being so packed in with people and bikes that moving was unpractical and unsafe so there we stayed all night.

As they should be, this playa set is a quintessential musical representation of my taste range of the moment.  Starting with super dance floor friendly, sexy groovy ghetto nu-disco, then getting heady mid way, to transition into some proper bassline techno and tech funk break beat, and back into some slowed down feel good closers to set up the hand off to OT resident Grammar who was on after me.   With Carl Cox and then Diplo joining the other OT residents, it was a magical night, just as we hoped it would be.   Pics from the night from IR Deep here: https://irdeep.smugmug.com/BM2015/Opulent-Temple-1/

Cover pic by Josh Adler 

Track Listing:

1.  Shake That Ass : Earstrip & Torha
2.  Once Upon a Time: Frey
3.  Drive Back Baby :  Platinum Dog
4.  Crazy over You : Earstrip & Torha
5.  Brown Sugar : Platinum Dog (Croatia Squad Rmx)
6.  Street Blaster : Calippo
7.  Do It Like This : Platinum Dog
8.  Play with Men - Platimun Dog
9.  Grind Me Down : Earstrip & Torha
10. Whatever You Want to Be : Sons of Maria
11. Control : Alex Stein, K.A.L.I.L. (Victor Ruiz remix)
12. Believe in me : Meat Katie & Dopamine (Ben Coda Rmx)
13. Pulse : Ben Coda
14. True Story : Yreanne (Ben Coda Remix)
15. True Story : Yreanne (original)
16. Breaks Is Dead : Dopamine  
17. Pulse : Ben Coda (Chevy One Rmx)
18. True Story : Yreanne (Beat Tempest Rmx)
19. Kinetik : Ben Coda 
20. My Love : Moonbootica, Mason
21. Hit & Run : Calippo
22. Somebody Everybody feat. Black Box : Black Box, Hot SInce 82
23. Man of the Year : Thee Cool Cats



Live @ OT w the Bounce Crew. Wednesday, Burning Man 2015

Live At Opulent Temple, Wednesday night Burning Man 2016:  It was Opulent Temple's 14th annual Wednesday night Sacred Dance 'white party', thrown very specifically to be a conscious party and raise the frequency and intention of a night of music and dancing to 'wake up', and take the wakefulness out of the desert into the rest of life.  We did a nice opening ceremony to that effect I left off the release of this recording but if you were you there you know about our Om'ing and such.  : )

Playa sets at OT for me are all about covering a range of energy, emotion and sounds so it's never about one genre.  There's meant to be dirty grooves, smooth and playful sounds, fist pumping rhythms and heady and feel good and so on.  Hope it takes you back to the desert.  I seriously had tears in my eyes during the last song I was so happy and filled with emotion and appreciation. 

Track Listing:
1. Freak  : The Beatangers	
2. Dust n Smoke : Rod Fussy, Fatbass	
3. Naughty Girl (Kolombo Remix) : DJ Lora		
4. Whats Going On (Kolombo Remix) : Chocolate Ave
5. The D Machine (Vision Factory Remix) : Croatia Squad		
6. To the Top : OMR, Adry	
7. Fall in Love feat. Dayson : Alexander Orue, Henry D, Dayson	
8. Time : OMR		
9. Street Dance : Croatia Squad	
10. Serious Moods : Platinum Doug		
11. My Homies : Dubdogz	
12. Cream : Platinum Doug		
13. White Horse (OMR & Adry Remix) :  Croatia Squad & Frey
14. Rijeka : DanielPortman & Calippo	
15. Ghost Rider : Daniel Portman	
16. Seed Of The Future (Jossie Telch Remix) : Ben Coda		
17. 2nd To None (Adrian Hour Remix): UMEK	
18. Stranger Freaks (maxxed) : Freakazoids 
19. People On The High Line (Claptone Remix): New Order	
20. Natural Blues (Sander van Doorn Remix) : Moby	

Live @ OT Wednesday, 2016

Live at Opulent Temple, Wednesday night Burning Man 2016

For the 15th Annual Opulent Temple Wednesday night Sacred Dance event at Burning Man (aka, the 'white party'), we were lucky enough to be invited to host it at Playground since OT didn't produce our usual mega dance floor. 

It was a gorgeous night and their set up included a familiar fire in the round feel.   With the dance floor already packed and energy high I did not go for the slow beginning that ramps up but pretty much jumped right in to stompers with fun and power.   As a post playa listening experience these sets don't always translate since you can't match the electricity of the desert.  These playa sets for me are always intended to cover range and touch base with lots of places low and high, playful and deep inside you. 

So here it is live and raw, just like it happened that night.  Hope it takes you back.

Track Listing:

1. Get High, Live Life : Platinum Doug   
2. Bang (Me & My Toothbrush Remix) : Beth Yen feat. Boswell   
3. I Want :  SSAM & Ferrero   
4. BOOM : Tiesto, Sevenn
5. About U : Heiken & Dual Channels 
6. Get on the Floor : Dual Channels -
7. Notorious : Malaa
8. Bom Bom :  Federico Scavo  
9. Prepare for the Night : Croatia Squad   
10. Dance Baby :  Robmatic  
11. Ultra Swing (Luca Debonaire Omerta Remix) : Block & Crown & Kiki Doll   
12. Benham Creek : Daniel Portman  
13.  My Acid Soul (Vocal Mix) : Lee Coombs presents Phazon and Katherine Ellis
14. The Wickedest Sound : Riva Starr   
15. Clap (Beatamines Remix):  David Hasert, Francesco Mami
16. Conjure Floyd : Maceo Plex
17. Down The Line : Dopamine 
18. Ten10 (Re-Loved for 2016) : Simon Shackleton   
19. Una : Neverdogs, Sebastian Ledher

Syd Gris-Live at Opulent Temple Sacred Dance Burning Man 2017

I figured it'd be entertaining (mainly to me) to post some old sets from the archives that might be worth a listen.

Listening to this almost 9+ years later there's still things to like.  It's a progressive house mix from that time frame, built around opening for Armin Van Burren, who I'd played with in SF before and with some persistence and luck convinced he and his agent David Lewis to come to Burning Man and play for free (of course) at Opulent Temple.

It was as legendary as we hoped it would be (made more so by Infected Mushroom doing their playa debut Live set directly after him).  So I played what I thought was an appropriate opening set with some restraint, moments of beauty of course, but not too banging as that'd be bad form, even at Burning Man.   

Hope you'll indulge me and let me know what you think.

A Burning Set Vol VII - Syd Gris

From the Archives: Live from Opulent Temple - the 'Opening for Armin' set 2009

Live recording from my set at Opulent Temple's annual 'Dust Off' at Public Works, Saturday, September 8th 2018.

Back Story: 
I played 3 sets at Burning Man this year. Monday opening night at OT on a bass house and future house vibe, Tuesday on the Sancturary Art Car with some heady techno and tech house, and Friday at OT with some new house and breaks. For this Dust Off set right after BM, I took my favorite tracks from those 3 sets for a 'best of' set opening for Stanton Warriors. As such, it covered some ground, which is just how I like it.

Feedback always appreciated.

Tracks
1. Simplon : Passenger 
2. Roots : Nora En Pure	
3. Lizard King  : CamelPhat	
4. Dopamine Machine : Ali Love, CamelPhat	
5. Shapes in Stonehenge : Grazze	
6. The Man with the White Violin : Fort Arkansas	
7. Exceeder : Umek (Mike Vale Remix)
8. The Solution : CamelPhat
9. Take It (Extended Mix) : Dom Dolla	
10. Fuego : Alok, Bhaskar	
11. La Junga : Leo Teran & Key D	
12. Live Young : Platinum Doug
13. Deep Dish It : Croatia Squad	
14. Pump Up The Volume (Extended Mix) : Mart & Under Sanctions	
15. Get Techy (It's About to Get a Real Dub Mix) : Platinum Doug	
16. Hollywood (FelgukÂ Remix) : Vintage Culture	
17. Elite Force : Mojosa (unreleased)
18. Elite Force : Jazo Ribello (unreleased)	
19. Elite Force : Kinetika (unreleased)
20. Elite Force : La Furioza (unreleased)

Downloads

Syd Gris : 'Best of Burning Man' (Live at Dust Off) - 2018

For self indulgent posterity's sake, adding this one to my playa set archives.   2008 was a peak period in OT's history.  It was our 4th year in a row on the 2:00 corner, it was the first year Carl Cox played for us and it was pre-mega Art Cars.  We ruled the roost, for a playa minute.  

So it was packed on a Saturday night, and I had the unique problem of going on after Adam Freeland when he was in his dirtier Justice/Alex Metric inspired phase, around the time of his awesome artist album 'Cope.'  I was really into dirty electro, heady breaks and Miles Dyson, Blende and the Lot 49 label tech funk sound.  But I also still had a foot in what I considered awesome progressive music.  After me was Josh Gabriel of Gabriel & Dresden after they had broken up, but before they got back together, and he was playing techno and progressive, so I felt I had to set him up accordingly.  Started one place after Adam, ended another very different place to set up Josh with some great progressive trancey stuff with no cheese, good playa shit!

From the Archives: Live at Opulent Temple, Burn Night 2008

(Yet More) From the Archives: Live at Opulent Temple, Tuesday Night 2008

In a fanciful quest to get a set (or 2) from every year at Burning Man I've played here on Soundcloud, here is more unearthed arcana.  This one though is not posting for the sake of posting.  When I look back at all these as a body of work, I consider this one of my best, most favorite sets of all time I've ever played there.

I've referred to this in other postings as a time when 'peak electro' met prime tech funk and break beat, when there was soooo much good music coming out with dirty grooves, indie vocals, and rolling techno inspired backbeat.  I just love every song as it moves through Miles Dyson, Lee Coombs, Justice, Alex Metric, Adam Freeland, Dylan Rhymes, Blende and more.   This is not shaman playa tech sleep house, this is dirty ass intense and distorted playa music that should be played loud.

Like many sets, it also starts with some spoken word.  An intro from myself, and long time friend and conscious moment collaborator at many of my sets, Shahid Buttar (currently running for Congress in SF to unseat Nancy Pelosi).

Check it out, tell me what you think.

Live at OT '08

From the Archives: Live at Opulent Temple, Tuesday Night 2008

For Opulent Temple's 2019 annual Wednesday night Sacred Dance party, we were hosted by our friends at Playground since we didn't have a sound camp this year.  I played 10-11 before Carl Cox.  So the goal was walking the fine line of being engaging & building energy but still being a proper "opening set" for Carl, and not hot dogging it.

2 songs (Sunshine & Peanut Butter), were by my friend and vocalist Ida Flo, who sang live up on stage next to me.  The night was pure magic, the energy gorgeous, the vibe palpable.  Hope this takes you back, let me know what you think!

Track Listing

1. Dizzy Rhythm (Mihai Popoviciu Remix) : Sous Sol 
2. Wicked : Dennis Cruz 
3. Repit : Cuartero 
4. Maia : Oliver Schories 
5. Music : Yulia Sam 
6. La Farsa : London Ground
7. Sunshine : Francesco Poggi, feat Ida Flo (K Mix)
8. Happinezz feat. Ginger : Ginger, Boris Brejcha 
9. Gravity feat. Laura Korinth : Boris Brejcha, Laura Korinth 
10. Remains of the Day : Hot Since 82 
11. Peanut Butter ; CASSIMM & PEZNT featuring Ida Flo
12. Heater (Tube & Berger Remix)	: Samim 
13. Days Go By (CamelPhat Extended Remix) :Dirty Vegas
14. Tilted : Hot Since 82

Live at Opulent Temple Sacred Dance ('white party') Burning Man 2019

From the Archives : @ OT Burning Man 2007 -Angst

To help complete my self indulgent notion to get a set or 2 from every year I've DJ'ed (and knew what I was doing) at BM, next up is this 2007 set from the night our bamboo project had failed at OT.  I was so f'ing tired, spent, sad and pissed.  Channeled it into this relentlessly dirty raucous set from Tuesday night at OT.  (more below)

Tracks
1. Maschine Der Nacht : Miles Dysons Non Vocal Remix
2. Do it Again  : Chemical Brothers (Oliver Huntemann Rmx)	3. Knight Moves: Lutzenkirchen
4. Pace : Meat Katie & Jono Fernandez
5. She Wants Me : Richard Dinsdale (Si McEvoy Remix)
6. (Title unknown) : Greg Churchill
7. Ironie : Blende Remix
8. Tricks : Rogue Element
9. Love your Man, Love your Woman : Rogue Element
10. Ghetto Club : Groove Man (Chris Bohn rmx)
11. No Rockstars - Hyper


What's the "bamboo disaster" as it's affectionately called?  Here's the long version of you want a deep dive.  We had two projects to choose from to add to the production that year. One was a bigger version of the Synergy Dome we erected in 2003, and the other was an elevated stage that Rich had designed that was supposed to be in the shape of a star, aka the 'Star Stage'. Feeling that we wanted to push ourselves hard this year, and take 2008 off from any projects, we decided to do both. Spoiler alert - bad idea.

The stage was conceived to be a great platform for a large group of performers, as it provides, in many ways, an ultimate performance venue because it sits 10 feet above the crowd. It would be largely self funded by Rich (taking loans from anyone that would help, parents included), with about 25% of the costs shared by the camp.  Out on the playa, due to a design snag, Rich decided to 'open' the stage and not enclose the 'star', though it was delayed getting up because of the problems with the Bamboo Synergy Dome..
The dome, this time made out of bamboo instead of steel, was supposed to be about a 100 feet in diameter. Myself and Dutch led the construction following the same design plans Rich devised in 2003, modified for the bigger size, at a warehouse in West Oakland. Simultaneously while one team was working at the Box Shop on the Star Stage, another dedicated team busted ass to get the bamboo dome pieces done, complete with a hellish night of loading the 50 foot truss pieces onto a flat bed semi trailer right before we left for the playa.  On playa, lots of build challenges.   Just when we thought we'd have to scrap it due to running out of time, we problem solved and were ready to lift. We used 2 patient cranes from Art Services, and our own forklift to bring it in the air. We were almost there.....

The Bamboo Dome is probably one of the all time great failed projects in BM history.  During lifting, a rope got caught under a tire, a key truss broke, and the project was still possible but not safe so we chose to scrap it.  Flushing $25k and a summer's worth of work down the drain.  It hurt.

From the Archives : @ OT Burning Man 2007 -Angst

From the Archives : @ OT Burning Man 2007 - Redemption

Digging up more Unearthed Arcana, this is a companion set to the other '07 set called Angst, where I was channeling my anger and sadness over the failed 'bamboo disaster.'  Read that story if you're curious on that other set.

Now it was Friday night and as it happens, despite that major let down, there was still plenty of beauty to be had at BM and our other new project, the 'Star Stage', had worked out, while not to plan, well enough.  This set is full playa range of spoken word intro from Alex Jones in Waking Life, (before he went full crack pot right winger), into a range of electro, techno, breaks and progressive.  It's full range playa music.  Hope you find something to enjoy all these years later, thanks for taking the time to listen!

Feel free to help me with the Track Listing, if you know the artists on any of these unknowns.

Refuse to Submit : Alex Jones in Waking Life
Stop the Revolution :  Meat Katie & D Ramirez Ft. Odissi (Dubfire Rmx)
No Fear : Lutzenkirchen
Spielen : Unknown
Automatic Machine : Vandalism
Ready to Go : Unknown
Magenta : Unknown
Skyline Blvd - Luke Chable (DJ Remy rmx)
Skyline Blvd - Luke Chable
You: Elite Force
Raga Bright : Unknown
Affectation : Chris Nemmo, Andree Eskay (Dousk Dub)
Perspective : Unknown
Plan 9 : Unknown
Chase the Rabbit : Unknown

From the Archives : @ OT Burning Man 2007 - Redemption

As my brief spoken word intro to this set states, in my view the Wednesday night 'Sacred Dance' party is the most important party Opulent Temple does all week at Burning Man, for it best encapsulates our 'party with a purpose' ethos. It was a beautiful packed night, I was going on after Felguk who absolutely smashed it. As is my inclination for a playa set like this, I can't help but try to cover a lot of ground to cover a lot of emotion. An electro groove gives way to tech funk and dirty breaks, which makes it's way to some banging techno and ending on a progressive, melodic note to close it out. Hope this takes you back to some playa moments under the stars and the fire.

Syd Gris - Live at Opulent Temple, Burning Man 2012

There was no real Burn in 2020, as you well know, but we still had playa music all week at the Virtual version of Burning Man where Opulent Temple had a camp in the 'Dusty Multiverse'.

I approached the set as I always would a playa set. I was imagining starting on playa at 9:00pm (as this set did), with the dance floor slowly filling up with that 'come for a magic night' vibe that always accompanies the Wednesday night Sacred Dance white costume party at Opulent Temple.

Start off pretty and deeper, a little more progressive than my usual sound, build it up and pull it back before getting to a more jackin' groove, and end on a pretty note.  Hope you feel the desert vibez.

Track Listing
1. Phases : Ben Bohmer, Spencer Brown
2. Dustpig : Fabrication 
3. Turn Around : Ali Bakgor & Furkan Kara 
4. Ignition : Castlebrook 
5. Ceiba : Troste 
6. Birthright (Dosem Remix) : Nora En Pure
7. Maira : Abhishek Negi 
8. Five : Dennis Cruz
9. Take That: Joël Fabrice
10. Stereo Century :The Giver
11. Troubled (Croatia Squad Remix) : Stan Kolev 
12. The Mage (Croatia Squad Remix) :  Passenger 10, Anissa Damali 
13. Get Down : LOVD & Crankstar 
14. All Night Alone (Chris Lake Extended Mix) : Chris Lake, Josement 
15. Moving Blind (Gorgon City Extended_Remix) : Sonny Fodera, Dom Dolla
16. Prepare for the Night (Yvvan Back Remix) :Croatia Squad
17. Feel the Rhythm : Josh Green 
18. Blackbird (Gorgon City Remix) : Joeski, Gorgon City
19. Rise : Hot Since 82
20. Hypercolour (ARTBAT Remix) : Camelphat, ARTBAT, Yannis

Live at Virtual Burn 2020, Opulent Temple Wednesday

One of the longest running fun creators in the Bay Area dance music and underground arts scene. Called a "Renaissance man of the West Coast scene", and with good reason. Founder of the legendary Opulent Temple collective, best known for their premiere sound stage at Burning Man, past Board Member and key producer of the San Francisco LovEvolution event (formerly known as LoveFest/Love Parade), founder of Opel Productions, throwing club events and 'parties with purpose' in San Francisco for 17+ years, a child psychologist with a Doctorate in transpersonal psychology, curator of sound in SF and BRC, blogger on social issues, and of course - a DJ.

Started throwing both underground parties in 2001, and benefit events for different charities with Spundae. Following year  started Opel Productions, intended to be parties with purpose showcasing a range of forward thinking underground dance music with a dash of social activism thrown in the party message. In 2003, finished a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, founded Opulent Temple, and joined the Board for San Francisco's Love event. In current 'day job', work out of a community clinic with foster kids in the Bayview Hunter Point area in San Francisco.

On the DJ tip, one of the West Coast's top talents, consistently being voted in the Top 10 San Francisco Dream Team poll, and playing the biggest events in California party land. Playing a versatile range of house and techno and breaks, been personally tapped to open and close for the varied likes of Underworld, Moby, Tiesto, Stanton Warriors, Armin Van Burren, and the list goes on.  Knows what to do in any situation to bring the universal vibe of dance music.  Sets are known for walking the fine line between the gritty and the pretty, with a musical range seldom seen in party land.

Listen to Syd Gris sets here: 
https://soundcloud.com/syd-gris