Underrated’s Overrated Party Not Overrated After All

Boat parties are usually an expensive excuse for getting stuck on a crummy boat for several hours with mediocre music you can’t escape from. That’s why usually, I’d never think of going. But, when the Underrated party crew was holding one (for 45USD including open bar and food), I was ready to make an exception.

Still though, even with a party crew that hasn’t delivered disappointing gigs and whose guys and gals behind it I like, I still had my doubts about a boat party. Lori and I made our way to the Port of Beirut and the first pleasant surprise was that the authorities weren’t as horribly corrupt and evil as you’d usually expect from Lebanese security institutions. We had sent our IDs beforehand and it looks like the Underrated guys went through the legal (and corrupt bureaucracy) hurdles one would usually face at the Port. After a few minutes at the gates, we were on our way to board the Afrodite.

The ship had an upper-deck which served as the main open-air bar and dancefloor, lined with comfy sofas and small tables. Under it was another bar and dining tables where the food was served. On that note, the food disappeared in a matter of minutes which I found surprising. I guess being at sea gives one an apetite, especially since most of us arrived earlier than we usually would to a party (around 8PM).

Well-fed and drinking cocktails with actual fruits in them, Fady Aswad kicked off the night with nice, bassy House music. Followed up by Richie from The BCE with some mellow House tracks as the Afrodite sailed from Beirut’s Port to Jounieh’s Gulf. There, the anchors were dropped in the middle of the gulf when the Underrated crew took to the decks. Jinane, 1UP and Mr. Overtime.

At 1:30AM was my favorite part of the night, when 1UP played a 30-minute set of beautiful Dubstep music. Imagine stomping to Skrillex on a rocking boat while folks on the shore, used to listening to Arabic folk music thought “My, transformers must’ve landed in the khalij and started having an orgy”. Yes, awesome.

At around 2:30AM, Afrodite set sail back to the Port of Beirut and around 4:00AM we all disembarked. Underrated really pulled it off, and the way I can tell that is that most of the crew wasn’t busy running around, panicking and overwhelmed, but sat with us and partied all night long.

All in all, I had a blast and as far as I can tell, so did everyone else there. I’m pretty sure no one fell off into the sea and seasickness wasn’t a major problem. So, all I can say is looking forward to next one and it was awesome meeting so many of you in real life finally!

Photos soon when I get hold of them!