If there was one thing that was evident this year, it was how closely “tribes” stuck together and how little cross pollination.

There were the pool parties but now that Beatport charges for their event, conference week lost its one great free networking event.  Its DNS were top notch and mercifully less commercial than those at the Shelborne, Surfcomber and Nikki’s, where spring break was more the order of the day. Maybe that’s why my favorite pool party of all was the South Seas South Philly pool party. The pool itself had the charm of an urban watering hole, and if the bodies were less perfect than those at the swanky parties, the dancing, the music and the vibe had a gritty rawness the others couldn’t buy.

Similarly, I heard the same thing about parties I wish I had made. Like Sunday School for Degenerates. This 24-hour party had the best street buzz, and must have been great because I got text messages all day Sunday telling me to get down to Miami asap.

I was also sorry I missed the SOS boat party, because the people who were there said it was the week’s biggest freak show (in the best sense of the word).

And I was saddest to miss the Hi-def boat party, a first-time event by a few people who decided they wanted to give something back. In addition to a Chicago vibe to the music, there even was an altercation between a fan and a VH-1 reporter, who refused to accept the observation that the party was too cool to even be on his network.

Even secondhand, that story gives me hope. Because that fan was the voice of the underground speaking. And that means that here, in the middle of all the nonsense, is real music to my ears.

Words by Neil Feineman