• by Kelly Samardak , June 30, 2010

The FADER 68 Issue Release Event, Good Units, New York
June 29, 2010

What I love most about New York, the city, is that it truly has something for everyone. Every niche has its own segments, every industry its own sub-industries, every culture its own subcultures. The same can be said for the magazine industry -- you would never see VICE and Good Housekeeping partner up on a party, even though that would be the most awesome party ever, but sometimes its good to keep the kids' and adults' tables separate. Last night I covered The FADER 68 Issue Release Event, celebrating their Summer Music Issue, and all the kids came out to play.

The New York music scene is an anthropological dream. I love watching scenesters and genuine music lovers in their natural habitats with their mating dances, the territory marking, the puffing up of the plumage when threatened: it's amazing. What shocks me every time, though, is how stoic in the face of a kickass DJ they are. Sets were jiggled and throbbed out by FaltyDL, but I counted about three people dancing. I hope that didn't inspire FaltyDL to go home and question his place in life. You are in the right place, FaltyDL, you done good!

Up in the black-plastic-wristband area, I found a mish-mosh of people: all ages, all fashions, all shapes and sizes, all washed with the teal glow dripping from the naked overhead bulbs. I looked around while futzing with my new flash (you'll be able to see in the Flickr set where I was a little experimental!) and discovered the entire area was lined with signage for The-Dream. I recognized the name because he's married to Christina Milian. Why I know these things, I'll never know. I can't retain directions, but I sure as shuffleboard can retain pop culture tidbits.

Also? Pigtails will get you everywhere. I don't want to get my favorite security guy in trouble, so we'll leave it at that.

WAVVES hit the stage and assaulted our earholes with one punk/surf/rock nugget after another. It's the kind of music to grasp your friend's arms and spastically jump around in a circle to. It's the kind of music to throw empty beer cans into the neighbor's yard to. It's the kind of music to listen to in that wide-striped tank top with the stretched-out armholes, while poking some wieners over a too-short charcoal grill, while Steve talks about how he's coming to terms with living in his mom's basement at 35. That kind of music.

As I enjoyed WAVVES and my icy-cold Bud (they were one of the event sponsors) I glanced to the right of my dude and saw a familiar sharp-featured face. John Norris! My first memories of MTV, in either 1^st or 2^nd grade, actually, include John Norris. I feel like he was always preempted by splashes of pink graffiti and the old school moon man. Later I remember being weirded-out that he was pimping music compilation CDs whose genre escapes me. Either way, it was fun to see him in his squarish cap, maroon corduroy (or velvet?) pants, and green shoes. He's ageless, people, ageless.

I spotted The FADER founding publishers Jon Cohen and Rob Stone running around upstairs. I also met Ms. Monique and The-Dream's Dream Team, a sassy cluster of women who oozed lip-gloss-fueled warmth. Wherever they went, a saucy fragrance of summer followed. Now you can probably deduce, you little CSI-ers, that The-Dream, whose album Love King launched that day, was a special guest. I'm not going to pretend to know anything by him, but the audience loved him. FINALLY people started moving. Some looked like they were moving into each other, which probably happened later.

It was getting late and my "you're going to regret staying later" alarm went off. So I'm sure I missed a special guest who would have blown my mind. I don't want to know -- so much so, I haven't even Googled the event today. Ignorance is bliss.

Thanks, The FADER, for the ear candy.

Photos are up on Flickr!

*edited at 9:53a.m. on 7/01/2010 to reflect "The-Dream" vs "The Dream" sigh.