Monday, June 08, 2009

Pay it Forward

Let me start off this missive by saying that, in case you've somehow missed it, Nerdapalooza is a good time. Moreover, it's a good time for a good cause. While I don't have an exact figure handy, I know the sum of money thus far raised by the event for Penny Arcade's Child's Play to be an impressive amount.

But beneath the fun and the camaraderie and the music and the aforementioned charity, there lies a dark underside. I am referring, of course, to the dreaded logistics.

As much as Orlando, Florida is a hub for geeky music and culture, it is not the sum total of our empire. Thusly, to make this annual event truly epic we must fly in our best and brightest from the farthest reaches of nerdom. From the Heartland, the Pacific Northwest, even the Old World. And that shit ain't cheap.

With the economy in shambles, independent artists are finding it harder than ever to cover the out-of-pocket expenses inherent in taking the proverbial show on the road, and Nerdapalooza is no exception. While the festival has secured financial support from fine, nerd-friendly establishments like A Comic Shop, these sponsors alone aren't enough to keep the project completely afloat. To supplement this funding, Nerdapalooza turns to the community itself.

There are a variety of ways to help sustain this blessed machine, and, believe it or not, not all of them involve cash money. For folks looking to throw their support behind this yearly charitable celebration of nerd life, there is a trio of possible options.

  • Spread the Word:
    The easiest thing a fan or fellow scenester can do to support Nerdapalooza is to simply talk about the event. Mention it to your gaming group, at your comic shop, on your blog, through your social networking site of choice or in your favorite BBS. Link to the official event blog or the Nerdapalooza Twitter account. Remember what Bob Geldof taught us, raising awareness is sometimes as important as raising money.
  • Spread the Love:
    You can also help lessen Nerdapalooza' s financial burden by volunteering at the event. In exchange for pledging 3 hours of your time each day selling merch, corralling bands and helping set up the stage, you get free access into the event. You also get the chance to interact directly with the featured acts, and Hex and company are more than willing to make sure your volunteer time doesn't interfere with you catching your favorites as they perform. For more info on the volunteer program, email volunteer@nerdapaloozafest.com.
  • Spread the Green:
    The most obvious way to help Nerdapalooza is, of course, to hit them with some dough. The event has its own donations page ready to accept Paypal contributions of any size. Those looking for a potential return on their investment should also check out Game Music 4 All's "Get to Nerdapalooza" fundraiser. This raffle contest offers you a chance to win CDs, specialty swag and even a dinner date with the lovely Lo Tech (of "Dungeons & Dragons Rap: Part One" fame.) And if you're looking for an even more unorthodox approach to financially supporting Nerdapalooza 2009, I'd even suggest hitting up your favorite act from the confirmed artists roster and asking if you can donate directly to their travel fund.
In the end, there's no wrong way to support Nerdapalooza. Whether with time, money or goodwill, whatever you give will surely be greatly appreciated. And, most importantly, it will ultimately help our community continue to support children in need.

Friday, June 05, 2009

Nerd News in Brief

Believe it or not, I actually managed to miss every bit of this week’s live E3 coverage. I’m not even sure how it happened. I guess between sick kids, workplace content filters and satellite reception problems I was amidst the proverbial perfect storm.

But I still had Twitter.

Thanks to my tweeps I managed to get all my E3 news kind of live, more-or-less as it happened. In predigested chunks. Not unlike a baby bird.

My final verdict about the big three’s performance at this year’s expo was ultimately mixed. Everyone managed to speak directly to me as a core consumer with Nintendo talking up new installments of Metroid and Golden Sun, Sony finally showing some support for the PSP (although the current design of the PSP Go! is, as they say, ass) and Microsoft integrating some more new, if novel, functionality to the dashboard. Unfortunately, these titans of industry also disappointed me with talk of "innovative controllers" that amount to little more than ill-conceived novelties.

Seriously, guys, we all know that Wii Fit sold a shit-ton of copies, but let’s not beat that horse any further, okay?

  • Original Gamer: While I can’t imagine any of you aren’t already avid readers of The Escapist, allow me to point you toward Nathan Meunier’s excellent piece on nerdcore in the most recent edition. It’s a fairly robust exploration of the gamer element in geeky music, and quite an enjoyable read to boot.
  • Interview with Monsterface = Interface?: My friends from Uncle Monsterface stopped by for a sit-down on the virtual couch on this week’s edition of GeekDad HipTrax, and therein managed to drop some knowledge. Said knowledge concerns a new EP they’re working on. Isn’t that exciting?!
  • Dracula Meets Mr. Potato Head: NYC-area nerds are again encouraged to catch that very same Uncle Monsterface’s performance tomorrow night at the Tank. The band will be unveiling their new video/stage production of This is An Adventure’s "Mashed Potato vs. Vampire." There will be blood. There will be butter. It will be epic.
  • Hot Topic is Not Hip-Hop: A bit further down the line, June 12th to be exact, Tampa- area nerdcore adherents are encouraged to catch funky49, MC Wreckshin and Krondor Krew as they perform live at the Hot Topic in University Mall. Professor Oak is on the flyer, but I don’t know if he’ll be in attendance.
  • Sam Francisco: Have you tired of Elvish? Has Klingon left you cold? Then why not learn Tenctonese? Seriously, that space ship is gonna crash in the desert any day now!
  • LOLmageddon: Jason of Geek Studies would like to remind you that WE ARE ALL GONNA DIE! Thanks a lot, Anonymous! (Totally cribbed that title from Church, by the way.)
  • Quant-um Leap: And while some nerds are intent on destroying the Earth, Church points out that others are actively working to save the economy. Embrace the power of maths!
  • Dungeons, Dragons and You: Thanks to a fellow GeekDad, I’ve been informed that Wizards of the Coast is looking for "some really solid B&W artists - line art only - no grayscale. Send samples to artdrop@wizards.com." Get on that shit, artsy-types!
  • Art for Art’s Sake: If you enjoyed the newly revealed premiere edition of the Hipster-Free Singles Club, and we sincerely hope you did, perhaps you might also like a look into the design process for the project’s cover. Dave the Knave takes you from brainstorming to the final product in this handy post.
  • Goes to 11: And speaking of new singles, comedy rockers Spinal Tap have a new track free for the taking. You want "Saucy Jack." You need "Saucy Jack."
  • Gold Teef: Thanks to the kindness of Quartz Relic and Thugmasta J, I received a pre-release copy of Magitek's new EP Odd Entities earlier this week. This 9-track downloadable will be made available this very weekend, so use the next few hours to prepare for the magic. And also the technology. And also the awesome.
  • Nameless: Doctor Octoroc is still looking for a name for his new collection of 80s/90s TV themes and cartoon music. Tweet him a title that properly encapsulates the concept of his juxtaposition of video games and television and get a free copy of album!
  • The Sum of Its Parts: Glenn Case has been making the recording of his new album Throw Money an utterly transparent affair by passing updates to his fans via Twitter as each individual song track is recorded. You can check out the components of his re-done version of the classic "Pencil Me In" at his site, but be sure to follow him to stay abreast of new developments as they happen.
  • Role 1 Chromatic for Damage: My pal Nate recently turned me on to these amazing 12-sided dice with musical notes on 'em. It’s a die! It’s a scale! It’s an ingenious way to randomize songwriting!
  • Let the Beat Drop: VGM composer zircon is currently offering his new vintage drum library Groove Bias at a special $10 discount. Plus, for every copy sold, Impact Soundworks will donate an additional $10 to our friends at OverClocked ReMix. Hit up this OCR thread for further info and purchase links.
  • Fuck Wal-Mart!: And speaking of fine purchase opportunities, you can now purchase 8 Bit Weapon’s newest EP Electric High from Target.com. This serves as just one more example of why I love Target.
  • Tag Team: We'll close out this week with an amazing performance vid from aforementioned chiptune duo extraordinaire 8 Bit Weapon and ComputeHer. It's a live rendition of their new track "Fallout in the Wasteland" from the aforementioned E3 2009.

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Hipster-Free Singles Club Vol. 1

I often like to think of myself as walking a line between classicist and modernist. I try and pattern my writing in the style of the archetypal fanzine – like Legs McNeil's Punk, although if SPACE wants to cast a parallel with the far more recognized/reviled Lester Bangs I ain't gonna stop 'em – but I do so with the implicit caveat that I am at best an "Internet journalist" and at worst a digitally-insulated pretender. Likewise, I pattern my podcast after the mixtapes of my youth and the pirate radio that has always been, for me at least, only a sort of divine myth, a mere slip of enlightened hearsay. But this I also do through a distinctly digital, undeniable contemporary avenue.

This is simply to say that the old ways, which we as nerds often bypass, are not all purely passé. In spirit if not execution, we are all moving forward in the footprints of those who came before.

A fitting example of a great idea that has fallen out of favor is the single, those surgically precise excerpts from new albums that were once a staple of that grand and toothy dinosaur we call the recording industry. Back in the day these releases – in the form of 45s, CDs or even the dreaded "cassingle" – were the driving force of popular music. But, much like print media and paying for pornography, the very existence of the Internet has all but killed this once noble creature. In an era where anyone can preview an album and purchase just the songs they like for a buck a pop, this inexpensive refuge of the youthful music lover of days gone by has become a clearly antiquated concept.

Or has it?

With the wealth of entertainment options available via your broadband connection, the bulk of it free, do you ever feel a tad overwhelmed? With so many songs by so very many artists a mere click away, are you ever shocked to find your library flooded with more new content than you could possibly digest? And wouldn't it be nice if someone could point you toward a single track by a single group that stands out as one of their best and most indicative pieces? Better still, if it were the artists themselves doing the pointing?

The time has come, my friends, for us to resurrect the single. And, moreover, to claim it as our own.

With a nod to this idea of putting novel twists on the old ways, I introduce a new project. It is called the Hipster-Free Singles Club, and it is, just as the title implies, an ongoing collection of virtual singles from new and upcoming albums released across various (geeky) musical strata. But unlike the earliest singles, those tiny slips of vinyl that still enchant me so, the HFSC will not serve to simply promote a solitary artist or project. Instead it will spotlight exemplary work from a number of acts.

Consider it a split, double a-side single that highlights new work from some of the best musicians our meta-community has to offer. Plus an exclusive remix – the b-side – from a talented producer that blends the two together. All wrapped up in a charming package provided by a gifted visual artist.

Oh, and available for free!

This first volume splotlights Hidari, a J-rock outfit that blends guitars and warm vocals with skillful, chirpy keys, and their good-natured nemesis, Chicago's own titanic chip-poppers I Fight Dragons. Lead singles from their new releases – Wine and Chocolate and Cool is Just a Number, respectively – are supplemented by a mash-up from my Canadian brother Snake Eyes, and all of this is given a proper face by Web comic artist Dave "The Knave" White, whose images have perfectly captured the eclectic spirit of the project.

I honestly couldn't be prouder of the way this volume came together, and I hope to make this a recurring project that pops up every 3 or 4 months to highlight more of the amazing work being done in our midst. So take a listen, see what piques your interest, and follow up at your leisure. This four-headed beast is something that can't easily exist in the real world, but on the Web, where we reign supreme, it is a viable option.

Unleash its power below, and take your iTunes back. One song at a time.

Download Hipster-Free Singles Club Vol. 1: East Meets West

In its entirety (RAR format)

Single file downloads:

Front Cover by Dave "The Knave" White

Back Cover by Dave "The Knave" White

Printable CD Cover by Dave "The Knave" White

Track 1: Hidari – "ChocolaTommy"

Track 2: I Fight Dragons – "The Faster the Treadmill..."

Track 3: Snake Eyes – "Chocolate Treadmill"

Playlist File

Liner Notes

Friday, May 29, 2009

Nerd News in Brief

I am not particularly adept at keeping secrets. Still, I've been working on a trio of albums on the sly for months now, so I reckon that shows that I can abstain from spilling beans to some extent.

Interestingly enough, one of these projects should be ready for release next week, and I really think you'll like it. A second should (hopefully) be announced before Nerdapalooza, with the third staying under wraps until early autumn. For those who are wondering: yes, it is a bad idea to juggle multiple projects like this.

But what can I say? I simply follow where the spirit leads me. Currently it is leading me toward another edition of Nerd News in Brief. Come with us, won't you?

  • Challenge Accepted: At long last, Here Comes a New Challenger II Turbo is available for free download and physical album pre-order. It's two-discs of unadulterated awesome that you simply must own. So check that shit out, yo!
  • Homeless Hermaphrodite: Speaking of new releases, mcRT has just dropped his third, an EP entitled Karma's a Bitch. In typical Rob Tobias-style, it's a unique blend of anger, humor and profanity. Four out of Five giraffe's are delightfully offended.
  • Late to the Party: And well after the appropriate day – May 4th, for those keeping score at home – I'll pass on this great piece from Fong Songs about Star Wars cover tunes. A tip of the hat goes to Church for the link.
  • How Bazaar: Congratulations to Jonathan Coulton and I Fight Dragons for being invited to take part in the sixtyone's new music-selling service the sixtyone bazaar. It allows you to buy albums directly from artists in a manner most beneficial. Keep an eye on this development.
  • So Long, Black Box: It was recently revealed that our own Schaffer the Darklord has left the comfortable confines of life as a solo artist in favor of exploring some full band mayhem. Be there when Schaffer and the Darklords make their live debut on Saturday, June 13th at Arlene's Grocery in good ol' NYC. Or there'll be hell to pay!
  • The Healing Power of Music: Australians have received a lot of press lately about their predilection for alternative medical treatments as opposed to, y'know, real science, but I found this blog entry about a non-medical treatment for stomachaches fairly plausible. Let MC Lars heal you of our ills!
  • Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves: Are you a geeky girl? Are you interested in networking with other likeminded ladies? If you answered yes to both these questions, check out the Geek Girls Network. It's a contribution-driven blog that promotes and encourages nerd culture with a distinctly feminine slant.
  • Role Models: And if you're, perhaps, looking for a topic on which to write for a potential Geek Girls Network post, I humbly suggest this. WTF Marvel?! Is that lame-ass shit really the best you could come up with?
  • Simon Sez: One of my favorite nerdy ladies is the delightful Little Miss Gamer. Coincidentally, she's recently posted a new episode of her Web show in which she waxes nostalgic about the Simon. It also features an appearance by Canadian comedian/rap artist Tom Green. Don't believe me? See for yourself.
  • Nerd Life: In case you missed it earlier this month, the episode of PRI's To the Best of Our Knowledge centered on nerd culture is finally available in podcast form. It includes, among other things, a nice segment about Nerdcore For Life, so give it a listen.
  • Point, Counterpoint: Speaking of geek culture, Church also hipped me to this LA Times piece on Utah's veritable nerd haven Neumont University. Interestingly enough, there's been some pretty strong backlash from the school itself, as outlined here. I guess the fact that you can be both a geek and a fairly sociable individual has yet to occur to either side.
  • Stage 2: Closing out this week is another fine video from Superpowerless. The track is called "Princess," and it features chiptunes, rock guitar, crazy dancing and neon colors. And also handsome sweaters. Oh those dapper Brits!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 67: The That's Entertainment Mixtape

For the benefit of those of you out there who are new listeners, and my recent feed stats indicate that there are at least a couple of you, I'll explain the original concept behind my irregular mixtape episodes. Part of it is rooted in the kinds of concept mixes my friends and I used to put together on ratty old cassettes back in high school. Likewise, part of it is also centered on the idea of connecting the songs in a given podcast without the implementation of my own hand-fisted narration.

I typically reserve these kinds of things for special occasions – PAX, the death of an iconic figure in nerd culture or the like – but this one is special because it was a request. (And, as you know, I have trouble denying requests.)

Recently my pal Matt put together a great mix of his own, and he literally challenged me to do another one, specifically to make a mix designed to fit on a standard 60 minute cassette. Meaning, of course, approximately 30 minutes of programming on each "side" with a pause in the middle for the changeover. The following podcast is what I came up with.

It's actually composed chiefly of segments from other half-finished mixes I've assembled for my own enjoyment in recent months, but that never quite panned out on their own. In retrospect , I believe that these individual components never gelled because I was being far too narrow with regard to their subject matter. Therefore this edition ended up taking on a nebulous pop culture concept that floats from reinventions of radio standards to television dialog and tributes to meditations on film and videogames to Internet memes without too much in the way of rhyme or reason.

But despite that, I think it came together pretty well. I hope you agree.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 67: The That's Entertainment Mixtape [hosting provided by Antisoc] Size: 50.9 MB Running Time: 55:40

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – “Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)”
Cutting up the theme song so as to indicate that something is wrong with your regular experience is a touchstone of the RFH mixtape.

Background Music:
You may recognize this as the ambient theremin piece used in the G1 Transformers cartoon and, if memory serves, the Hitchhiker's Guide radio plays.

Track 1: Lost dialog / Will Ferrell –"Afternoon Delight"
"This song is about daytime love making."

Track 2: Lost dialog / Previously on Lost – "Hang In There - S05-E07"
Been meaning to play some PoL for a while. This seemed like a golden opportunity.

Track 3: Transformers dialog / Kyle Gabler – "The Goo Filled Hills"
From the World of Goo soundtrack.

Track 4: Metaforce – "Subliminal (style wars pt. 1)"
Metaforce always makes for a good mixtape.

Track 5: Epic-1 – Back Then (feat. The Spork)
This nostalgic joint is from Epic's recent mixtape. Pick it up.

Track 6: Tanner4105 01 – "yatexas- he actually has 4 offices"
I considered cutting this track down for a better transition, but I ended up playing it in its entirety.

Track 7: Pokemon dialog / Studged – "Bill Cosby Gangsta Rap"
Not particularly "gangsta," but a fun piece.

Track 8: Team Genius – "Illegal Donkey Kong Remix"
"Hit a mu'fuckin' bumblebee over the head."

Track 9: Xoc – "Goonies 2: Password" / "Goonies 2: Good Enough"
Even though he doesn't respond to my MySpace messages, Xoc is still a goddamn genius.

Track 10: Fensler film dialog / Party Ben – "Live Your Life Punk"
"Who wants a body massage" clip included for no valid reason whatsoever.

Track 11: Thundercats outtakes / Math the Band – "You Shook Me all Night Long"
"Intercourse!!!"

Track 12: Lost dialog / DJ Otter – "Always Needing to Bush Your Shoulders Off"
After a brief pause we resume the show with a Jay-Z vs. The Kooks mash-up.

Track 13: Superpowerless – "Dammit" / Ferris Bueller's Day Off dialog / Scared Of Dinosaurs – "Crank That Soulja Boy"
A Oliver HIndle two-for, if you will.

Track 14: K.K. Slider – "K.K. Ska"
I can't be the only Animal Crossing fan up in this piece.

Track 15: Onion Radio News – "President Obama Vetoes Mutant Registration Act"
I've actually been waiting on this one since January.

Track 16: Futuristic Sex Robotz – "If I Ruled the World"
I still have no idea what the hell this song is about. Although I reckon we can infer from the lyrics that FSR support gay marriage and hacking the Gibson, but hold a palpable disdain for furries.

Track 17: Jonathan Coulton - "Baby Got Back"
Mix-a-Lot's size-positive sex jam sounds so much sweeter when JoCo sings it.

Track 18: MadHatter And Shelshocker – "Unstoppable"
From 8Bit Bullshit, a fine album that all should own.

Track 19: Gauntlet clips / Emotron – "Bigger than JC"
Another unfathomable track. I think it's about the classical institution of marriage versus modern sexual politics, but it might just be about Britney Spears having an STD. It's important to note that Emotron starts his set with this song, and ends it by catching his member on fire.

Track 20: Golden Girls dialog / Animal Crossing Soundtrack – "Museum Insect Display Room" / The Four Eyes – "Thank You For Being a Friend"
There's nothing I can say to soften the blow of ending this edition with the Golden Girls "condoms" bit. My apologies.

And thus ends my third mixtape episode. I imagine some will respond positively to its arbitrary nature and some will not, but such is the nature of the beast.

When I first started making Radio Free Hipster, I described it as part pirate radio and part mixtape for a friend. These exercises, as infrequent as they are, really help keep me rooted in the aesthetic of the latter. Plus, they give you a break from my infernal drawl.

And I think we can all agree that this is a good thing.

Monday, May 25, 2009

DON'T PANIC

Towel Day is an interesting observance in the greater geek tradition. It is about looking back at the life and work of a cherished author and fallen hero, yet it is about looking forward. For what is science fiction if not a hopeful (if sometimes frightening) glimpse into our collective future? But mostly I think it is about being prepared.

In that regard, the towel can be said to symbolize our nerdy predilection for technological improvisation, for making do with what we have in the true spirit of our hacker brethren. But such means naught without at least some level of personal vigilance. Sure, a towel can keep you warm, but you must first realize you're on the icy moon of Jaglan Beta. It can serve as a beach blanket, but only if you recognize the sands of Santraginus V. It can save even you from making fatal eye contact with the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal, but only if you note the creature's initial approach.

Therefore it can also be said that the towel also symbolizes the dork's need to know his environment and to stay aware of notable happenings. Thus it seems almost poetic that this year's Towel Day falls on the heels of a pair of unique musical announcements.

Our first bit of news comes complete with a heaping helping of congratulations to all the winners of the 2009 Wizard Rock People's Choice Awards! This year saw a ton of multiple award-winning acts including The Whomping Willows (who received 3 awards), Riddle™ and The Moaning Myrtles (who each won 4) and Lifetime Achievement Award winners The Remus Lupins (who won 5). But this year's big winner was clearly the Ministry of Magic. Garnering the nod in no less than 9 categories, including best full-length and best male vocalist, MoM were truly the darlings of the scene. Hit up the 'Pedia for the full results.

This weekend also saw the resurrection of the official Nerdapalooza site at nerdapaloozafest.com. In addition to a friendly intro blog post from Hex himself, you can also find a helpful F.A.Q. and a full list of the thus-confirmed performers. The big news is that the event's second headliner has been announced, and it's none other than Nashville's traveling Mega Man rock opera The Protomen! Other newly-attached acts include related VG rockers The Megas, my good friends Uncle Monsterface, my bald-headed-brother-from-another-mother Shael Riley, chip wizard Jay Tholen, master filker The Great Luke Ski and musical comedy up-and-comer Odd Austin. It was also reveled that the event will be hosted by my comrades-in-arms MisterB and Anthony, so the promise of their delightful banter alone should be more than enough to warrant a ticket purchase.

And now you are in the all-important know. Aren't you quite the hoopy frood, then?

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Nerd News in Brief

You know it's a good week when the geekiest music news is coming from well outside of our little community!

Personally, I love Danger Mouse's idea to release his next album as a blank CD-R. It's a big "fuck you" to EMI and a well-placed warning shot across the bow of a sinking industry. Plus, the novelty of it is nothing short of delicious.

The pay-what-you-want business model is still an unsure bet, but, by packaging the album's visual narrative in the commercial release, DM is making sure that folks get something for their money. In the end, I'll be interested to see how many folks shell out for the album simply as a show of solidarity.

  • Change is Good: Church wanted me to remind you that if you're gonna change, change into something awesome.
  • The Doctor is In: Also from Church comes a link to this amazing chiptune WhoMix. Complete with video.
  • Boldly Go: Wasn't the new Star Trek kick-ass? Apparently it was even remarkable enough to continue to inspire the voice of fandom. In very unlikely ways.
  • Tucks His T-shirt Into His Pants: MisterB has just released a song about none other than Nerdapalooza founder Hex Warrior. As you can imagine, it's pretty hilarious.
  • Insert Name Here: And speaking of Hex, I've been informed that the Nerdapalooza crew has set up a travel fund to help in-demand artists get down to Orlando for this year's festival. Interestingly enough, this fundraiser will consist of a raffle competition, the rewards of which include a dinner date for two at a local restaurant and ample geeky merchandise donated by supporting artists, groups and organizations. Raffle tickets cost $10 for your first chance and $5 for each additional ticket, and the drawing will be held, not surprisingly, at Nerdapalooza. Details are sketchy at present, but I'll be providing links to relevant info in the near future.
  • The Future Soon: The epic Jonathan Coulton concert experience can now be, uh, experienced by everyone thanks to his new CD/DVD combo release BEST. CONCERT. EVER. This bad boy is available for pre-sale right now, so head to JoCo's site for full details.
  • Where's Waldo?: The mystery of Steffo's disappearance – or, rather, the mystery of what the great blue fuck is going on with My Parents' Favorite Music – deepened last week at Game Music For All. There are still more questions than answers, but now I'm pretty sure that Steffen, via his time-travelling shenanigans, accidentally created The Adventures of Lolo. Also, he's his own grandpa.
  • New Game in Town: And speaking of music of the gamer persuasion, there's a new VGM remix site on the block. RemixSite is a place "for video game music synergy" where artists can share their work with the world and get valuable feedback from their fellow composers. Peep the new hotness.
  • The 1 and Only: And on the subject of new hotness, there are a metric ton of amazing new releases from the nerdy hip-hop meta-community. The first is from my FLA-based brother Epic-1. It's his long-awaited full-length simply entitled 1, and it's available as a physical CD, 320kbs MP3 and FLAC file downloads for $10, MP3 and FLAC downloads for $5 and 128kbs MP3s for a buck. Get on that shit!
  • He Got It: From the land down under comes The Ranger's new EP Evolution, a release that "kinda sums up [his] life over the last 10 years." And apparently the last decade has been simply fucking amazing. Musically-speaking, at least. Grab this one from RT ASAP.
  • The Language of the Snake: KABUTO THE PYTHON's Scrub Club release PARSELTONGUE is also fresh off the virtual press. His full-length features a few joints you've heard and a whole lot you haven't, but you can be goddamn sure that all of it is gold! Head over to your favorite nerdcore label to snag it.
  • Level Up: And lest we forget that your boy Random has also dropped his new freebie TeacherRapperHero, his first foray into the realm of the mixtape. Featuring Burg, ZeaLouS1 and tons of other top-shelf talent, it's more of Ran at his best. Hit up his spiffy new site for the DL link.
  • Alive and Zombified: Thanks to Luzid for passing on an email he received from Eventful stating that ZeaLouS1 has a new gig lined up this summer. On Friday, July 24, he'll be hitting the stage at The Jumping Turtle in San Marcos. Z1's been quieter than usual lately, so it's great to hear him once again stirring from his California crypt.
  • The Battle Rages On: Also on the horizon is the premiere of a new video from Uncle Monsterface. UMF will unveil the vid for "Mashed Potato vs. Vampire" at The Tank in NY on June 6! Of course the band will also be playing their other epic songs all live and stuff, so come for the video and stay for the sock puppets.
  • This Diminutive Robot Stores Information: Help MC Lars pick the next single from This Gigantic Robot Kills and win a free 1 gig USB memory stick. That looks like a robot! 'Cause Lars is cool like that.
  • Roots: Earlier this month, Lars popped up at the Musical Families blog to answer some questions about how his own mom and pop influenced his musical development. It's a great piece from a really fun blog, and I highly recommend you give it a look.
  • Beware Canadia: Jesse Dangerously was profiled last week in the Ottawa Citizen. And while Ottawa may not yet love him as much as his native Halifax, it looks like they are coming around.
  • Join the Fight: Chicago chip rockers I Fight Dragons are actively recruiting fans to help them spread their musical message… even though they aren't entirely certain what that entails. Still, it's a good cause and they're a great band, so sign up already!
  • My Neck of the Woods: Any of my regional brothers and sisters looking to get their opensource on should hit up next month's SouthEast LinuxFest in Clemson, SC. It is important to note that my bro int eighty of Dual Core will be rocking the after party. So guess who else will be there? Yep; me.
  • Mad Skillz: Taking us out is the very same int eighty from episode 513 of Revision3's tech super-show Hak5. Hackers and code monkeys will enjoy watching eighty extract Windows executables from packet captures, but the rest of us will simply skip to the 30:20 mark to hear him perform a preview track from Dual Core's forthcoming (and as yet unnamed) album. Technology is a beautiful thing.