Chris Hughes addresses his guests.

For much of its history, a party for The New Republic might not have brought to mind lobster hors d’oeuvres, custom-printed napkins and tray liners, and a grand Soho apartment just a couple floors below the penthouse that Lenny Kravitz sold to Alicia Keys.

But Chris Hughes has invigorated the venerable old brand, not just with a cash infusion befitting a Facebook co-founder, but with youth, buzz and a vision that he articulated to the hundred or so guests who had landed hard-to-come-by invites to the magazine’s relaunch party Monday night at Mr. Hughes’s home.

As revelers mingled and the well-read crowd approvingly assessed the young publisher’s ample library, Mr. Hughes stood on a ledge in front of his fireplace to tell the crowd that the answer to “why in the world are you doing this” is simple. The relaunched TNR would use great writing, reporting and criticism to “shape how we view the world.”

The new-look cover features an interview with the newly relaunched President Obama (because what is a second term if not that?) by Mr. Hughes and editor Franklin Foer. The rest of the table of contents reads like a who’s who: Sam Lipsyte on sex writing, Judith Shulevitz on grandmothers, Michael Lewis on Goldman Sachs.

Old-media types like Times media reporter David Carr (who left early for a guest appearance in an Upright Citizens Brigade show), Politico’s Mike Allen, New York mag editor in chief Adam Moss, the Post’s Keith Kelly and Time’s Fareed Zakaria mingled with the new, including Kickstarter founders Perry Chen and Yancey Strickler, BuzzFeed’s Ben Smith and Quartz’s Kevin Delaney.

If the excitement of the party and the reboot continue to surround the biweekly, Mr. Hughes’s motives for buying TNR may become ever less mysterious.

Additional reporting contributed by Ken Kurson. 

Social Life,

Ms. Mayhem, who seemed to be the focus of the evening rather than the new issue, wore her signature goth couture. An edgy exterior, yes, but her pale porcelain skin and doe eyes suggested a softer side; let’s not forget that this rocker originally trained in musical theater and opera. Her debut single, “Save Me,” will be released on iTunes on Oct. 2; it was blasting from the surround-sound system, the lyrics were projected in the video onto a wall.

Just a short stroll from the tourists gawking at the Naked Cowboy in Times Square, the hideaway in the heart of the Theater District attracted a different crowd. Fluorescent purple lighting shone on an assortment of socialites; old suits, young hipsters, designers and musicians, it was an eclectic mix of the city’s creatives. The atmosphere, like the attendees, was laid back yet glamorous, grungy yet opulent—with just a hint of punk.

The fusion of luxury magazine and grunge princess may have been unexpected—a bit like seeing Johnny Rotten at the Maidstone Club—but nobody was complaining.

Although the content of Social Life is directed at the high net-worth-individual who summers on the East End of Long Island, publisher Justin Mitchell said that he liked to play with the cover story.  “We like to mix things up a little,” he said. Mr. Mitchell rattled off a list of the magazine’s music-themed summer covers, “with an icon such as L.A. Reid on one and the Jonas Brothers, a younger demographic, on the next.”

Mixing things up all by himself was Mr. Hudson. The prolific producer was dressed to impress, from beret atop head to red patent Doc Martens on feet, and in between bright red pants, red-and-blue pin-stripe blazer, red-hearted tie and burgundy glasses—he was a walking work of art. His multicolored beard, too, was a marvel. “They used to call me weird beard,” said Mr. Hudson, recalling the three years he spent as a judge on British version of The X Factor.

Mr. Hudson praised Mayhem’s work ethic: “It’s different to that of anyone I’ve ever worked with before.” Impressive, considering that “anyone” includes the likes of Cher, Ringo Starr, Ozzy Osbourne and Aerosmith—for whom he produced the Grammy Award winning hit “Livin’ on the Edge.” Mr. Hudson went on, “In rock and roll, a work ethic like hers usually doesn’t exist … usually these rockers are in bed until 2 p.m.”

Mayhem has been on a roll this summer at a slew of North Fork social events. It was at the Southampton Hospital benefit that designer Wesley Nault first spotted her. “She stood out to me in the crowd," Mr. Nault said. "I had to find out who she was.” Luckily for him, Mayhem’s “spiked gloves” and “great personal style” reappeared at the Couture Council luncheon honoring Oscar de la Renta and a number of shows during Fashion Week. Mr. Nault describes his own collection as “high end but with an edge to it.” The same could be said of Mayhem.

Mr. Hudson wants Mayhem to stand out from the crowd, he doesn’t want her to follow it. He suspects, though, that the crowd will follow her. “Who knows, maybe we’ll all be sporting spiked gloves next year," he said. "Although I hope not—those things will take your eye out.”