“The Music Was Good, but the Company Was Better.”
Which records best capture the soul of New York City? In the morning after Election Day, we catch up with native New Yorker Antonio DePietro, the artist behind the “existential gag strip” MyWingman, and have him share five of his New York classics. “When people say ‘I miss the old New York’, nobody ever mentions how creepy it was!”
NOUVEAU YORK: Last night was tough. I saw your latest strip this morning. Did you really stay awake all night and kept on drinking until the morning?
ANTONIO DEPIETRO: Definitely not. Once we realized the winner of the election wouldn’t be announced, I was in bed by 1am.
NY: Do you remember a specific sunrise in the city in the early 90’s when you were going out of a club?
ADP: I actually don't remember much about “those nights” in the 90’s... but I do remember the last time I “broke night”. It was probably 2009 at Santos Party House. Q-Tip had a night there and that was a good party! I seem to remember bumping into old friends from high school there. The music was good but the company was better. They kept me out!
NY: It’s been a tough year. What do you do to stay positive and upbeat?
ADP: I was up in New Hampshire for about 6 months when everything was shutting down. It felt a little isolating, but that inspired me to create the “Desert Island Drips” zine. I also found myself painting a lot – like I must have done 200 water colors! I think that helped my sanity. That and being in nature. I’ve been back in town the last couple months and it’s just been fun to catch up with people “outside”. But I’m not sure how positive and upbeat I’m feeling. Especially after the election.
“Now people watch movies like ‘Kids’ and ‘Belly’ and think the 90’s were the good old days.”
NY: Did you think about changing the set up of MyWingman, when the lockdown hit and all the bars had to close?
ADP: I didn’t think of changing the set up because MyWingman is a play on the comic strip trope of “guys in bars”. As time goes on, the strip has become more about connection with people than just “guys in bars”. I think a “wing man” has now become anyone to spend time with – at a bar or anywhere.
NY: It makes me realize how I miss sitting at a New York bar and just chatting. Do you find your inspiration in real-life bars?
ADP: There’s been periods in my life that I definitely spent a lot of time in certain bars in the East Village, Brooklyn and also in my time in LA. I am inspired by those memories, but I think most of my inspiration comes from things I read; books or magazines or even the sports section! I still love going to bars – but it's now like once a month!
NY: You’ve been going out in NYC since the early 90’s. Tell us about one night in New York that changed your life.
ADP: Once, my old pal Renny and I were on our way to the Shelter club in Tribeca. Someone approached us asking if we were going to “the party”? And we said yeah and she just led us to a school bus that took us out to this warehouse in (I think) Long Island City. This must’ve been 1993 or 94 and we never really left Manhattan at that point. It turned out to be a great underground techno party and the highlight was that we hung out with Lady Miss Kier from Deee-Lite. She was like the Queen of downtown. I don’t think I ever found out what the party was about but it seemed mysterious at the time.
NY: Is there such a thing as “the old New York”?
ADP: Yes, but it’s different for everyone. For me “the old New York” is the gritty 70’s/80’s of NYC that is captured so well in Scorsese or Sidney Lumet movies. When I started going out in the 90’s – all these punks and scenesters would be rolling their eyes at what was going on now and how it’s not as cool as it was then. And now people watch movies like “Kids” and “Belly” and think the 90’s were the good old days. I find that interesting.
NY: You say “The early 90’s was the era when NY DJ's were playing mostly Hip Hop, house, Dancehall and “classics” all in one DJ set.” And it reminds me of one of the greatest nights I had recently, Rich Medina’s 50th birthday last December at Le Bain in Manhattan, with Maseo of De La Soul playing along DJ Spinna. Everyone was wondering why we don’t do those kinds of nights more often. Do you think they should come back, post-covid?
ADP: Yeah well Rich Medina and his whole Originals crew are capable of those kinds of nights for sure. I think there are a lot of DJs now that can be that soulful and organic – and I think that can come back. Once we understand how to have large groups of sweaty people together indoors, Rich Medina should be the headliner!
NY: What does the future look like?
ADP: I’m optimistic about the future of New York – but it will be different. Hopefully, the exodus of people moving to the suburbs will force rents to come down and will encourage young and creative people to come back and stay. I know I’m looking for cheaper rent! As for MyWingman – look out for more zines, schwag, a nationally syndicated comic strip and an animated holiday special!
Antonio Picks Five New York Classics
Brand Nubian, “All for One” (1990)
“This is a good example of a mid-tempo early 90’s NY hip hop song that you can actually dance to. The 90’s was a time when every hip hop group had dancers and Brand Nubian had the best crew, The S.O.S. Dancers. When the video came out we would try to imitate their moves. Not very well.”
Alicia Myers, “I Want to Thank You” (1981)
“This song was played so much in the 90’s in NYC that I thought it was a new song! It wasn’t until the Fu-Schnickens sampled it that I realized it was an older record. I bought a bootleg of it at Rock’N’Soul and it’s a timeless record that still sounds great today (unlike the Fu-Schnickens).”
Bush Tetras, “Too Many Creeps” (1980, 99 Records)
“When people say, “I miss the old New York” – I think of this song. Yes, it was violent and dangerous back then, but nobody ever mentions how creepy it was! Some say we’re getting back to those days after Covid, but I’m not so sure. I could have picked a bunch of songs from 99 records, a classic NYC label with a ton of great songs. The Bush Tetras are just one example, a great NYC band that are still playing today.”
Bobby Konders, “The Poem” (1990, Nu Groove)
“Most people know Bobby Konders today as the dancehall DJ that’s been on the radio and in the clubs for years. But he started off as a house music producer and this combines his house music roots with reggae and features the sample of Mutabaruka at the beginning of the track. Back then, when you heard this over a sound system in New York, you felt deep and philosophical.”
Super Cat, “Ghetto Red Hot” [Hip Hop Mix] (1992)
“I consider this the perfect NYC record because it effortlessly combines dancehall with hip hop, which was something that NYC club DJs were already doing for years. Super Cat was a legend and the remix is by the aforementioned Bobby Konders and features the same sample that was famously used by Brand Nubian for “Punks Jump up to Get Beat Down”. The song got the dancefloor hyped and the crowd wild. In all honesty, this may have inspired more fights than dancing.”
