Friday, September 15, 2006

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 7: George Bush Doesn’t Care About Black Mages

Early this morning, my in-laws swept in and whisked away my son. It made me a very sad panda. I’d planned to spend the day with him, you know? We were gonna chill. Watch some Dora the Explorer. Maybe dance around in our pajamas. Kick it. But now I’m all alone. The wife’s at work and the child’s barreling down the highway with his grandfolks. The world is a cold, cold place.
But, fuck it! At least I can slap together a podcast. I even had a little time to consider/monkey with the levels. Maybe the sound is a little more consistent this time around. Or perhaps it still sucks. You be the judge.
And now that I’m done podcasting about video games, I’m going to go play some video games. I am a simple creature.

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 7: George Bush Doesn’t Care About Black Mages Show Notes

Intro: MC Hawking – “Quakemaster”
I’ll tell you the truth: the way the Hawkman says “asshole” scares me a little bit. It’s like he talking just to you!
Z’s 1st interlude: “A quasi-regular listener”
None of my listeners are regular. I have it on good authority that you’re all, in fact, quite constipated.
Track 1: The Black Mages – “Battle Theme (Final Fantasy VI)”
I have no idea who came up with the “George Bush doesn’t care about Black Mages” thing, but it is high-fuggin’-larious!
Track 2: Benjamin Bear – “Skit”
Ben is a listener of the podcast and a big supporter of the blog. He was even nice enough to hook Hipster, please! up with its own t-shirt. He’s a good fellow.
Track 3: Futuristic Sex Robotz – “WoW”
It is imperative that I never start playing World of Warcraft. I spend enough time on this damn PC as it is. You can download the entire FRS Hot Coral Essex album in one fell swoop.
Track 4: Stemage – “Ridley’s Theme
I still can’t believe that all this rock comes out of one guy. He is like a spigot through which the very essence of the Gamer Godz flows.
Part ReMix, part nerdcore, part exercise in smooth funk: this track has it all.
Z’s 2nd interlude: “Share with the rest of the class”
As much nerd music as I find in an average week, it never ceases to amaze me the shit that I totally overlook. That’s why I appreciate y’all turning me on to new stuff that you like.
Track 6: MC Wreckshin – “Kung Fu is my Mom
I failed to mention that Wreckshin and company will be performing in Tampa. I guess I just assumed you’d simply comb every club in Florida until you found the right one.
I pronounce it Say-gah. Router says Seh-gah. My guess is that her pronunciation is correct. I live in a place where words like nekkid and purdy are commonplace. South Carolina hates the English language.
Track 8: The Freelance Hairdresser – “One Minute MarioLand”
Another track that I found through Radio Clash. Have I mentioned you should listen to it? Just checking.
Track 9: Anti-social – “Super Show”
In truth, I am already hooked on the brothers. I can only hope there’s a Twelve-step for such a dependency.
Track 10: Nintendopella – “Super Mario 2
It is wrong that I can’t get enough Nintendopella? God, I hope not.
Z’s final interlude: “Goddamnit I hope I didn’t forget anybody!”
I didn’t. Hurray for me!
Track 11: YTCracker – “NES
Nerdrap Entertainment System is an album that garners perpetual props, as well it should. It is a perfect blend of contemporary nerdcore hip-hop and classic 8-bit samples. Please tell me this is already in your collection!
Thanks so much for listening. When I set about putting this episode together, I was astonished by how much game-related music I had to choose from. I tried to mix in some popular favorites with some more obscure or more unusual tracks. I hope you heard some stuff you new and some other stuff you didn’t. And I hope you enjoyed it. Now I’m off to load up the Scion. Y’all wish me well!

Thursday, September 14, 2006

We done good

Baddd Spellah won the CBC “Remix the Ring” contest. He won the hell out of it. I would like to both congratulate Spellah and thank all of the fans that chipped in to help our boy take home the gold. Let us all pat ourselves on the backs in the most reserved and reverent manner.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Nerd news in brief

I have much to talk about – miles to go before I sleep – and not a lot of time to talk about it. Henceforth, nerd news in brief:
  • Anime enthusiast, nerdcore MC, and all-around nice guy Mr. Karl Olson has posted a few more pics from the post-PAX nerdcore gig in Kirkland. Such pictures, I am told, are worth words. Several of them.
  • Tomorrow is the day when we will find if who won the CBC’s “Remix the Ring” contest. If there is any justice in the world, Baddd Spellah will walk away with the cash prize of $1000 Canadian. That’s gotta be what? Thirty-five? Forty dollars in real money?
  • There are no fewer than 8 versions of Front’s Braggadocio vying for the title of most undeniably awesome over at Remixfight.org. Your opinion counts!
  • Game rock gods The Advantage have a veritable shit-ton of gigs lined up this week/weekend in the state called CA: Wed 09/13 San Diego CA @ Casbah, Thu 09/14 Los Angels CA @ Echo, Sat 09/16 San Jose CA @ Nickel City Arcade, Sun 09/17 San Francisco CA @ Bottom of the Hill
  • Speaking of live nerdy-type music, don’t forget the EPP show this weekend and the Shael Riley gig next Thursday. They need your support.
  • Something Awful takes a dump on nerdcore in their Your Band Sucks Aptitude Test. Of course, they also slam Dream Theatre, so, y’know, you gotta take the bad with the good.
  • And lastly, of no particular import to anyone except, well, me: upstate SC has an independent video game retailer. Oh joy! Oh rapture!

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Spontaneous Italian Entrée Soiree

Do my eyes deceive me? Could the signs and portents be true? Could it possibly be that this Saturday at Sacred Grounds Coffehouse in Tampa, renowned nerdcore supergroup Emergency Pizza Party will be performing?


EPPSHOw4.jpg

‘Tis true! ‘Tis true! The hirsute MC Wreckshin, the impeccably shorn funky49, the comic savvy Sir-Up, the delectable Betty Rebel, and even the conveniently named DJ Jeff MK will all be in attendance; for no other reason than to rock the house/your ass/your ass which, it so happens, is located within said house.

And it’s free! As in “Free your mind and your ass will follow.”

Did I mention that ass will also be rocked?

And the house as well.

As real as you make it

You know what I like? Mash-ups. Know what else I like? Viral marketing. They are, in fact, two great tastes that taste great together. That being said, I would like to direct your attention to the site of a certain World Famous Audio Hacker. A gentleman who *ahem* recently succumbed to the might of a RIAA orchestrated raid and who currently finds himself unfairly jailed for the crime of “audio terrorism.”


It’s genius. Pure genius.

Monday, September 11, 2006

The path to Enlightenment

This was originally going to be a simple post reminding everyone of our friend Shael Riley’s gig at NYC’s Fat Baby next Thursday. I was going to casually mention how anyone in the area should definitely stop by to check out Shael do his thing; it was going to be very low-key, very relaxed. But something happened to change that.

Just moments ago I came across a BBS post that instantly changed this calm, cool delivery into an impassioned plea! The gist of it is as follows: if Shael can secure an adequate audience for the Fat Baby show, his agent can get him a shot as the opener for the Optimus Rhyme/Frontalot show on October 21st at Crash Mansion.

Suffice it to say that this is a huge deal for Shael, as it represents a significant jump in venue size. It also garners our boy some serious bragging rights. I mean, playing with Front was a huge step, but being on a bill with both Front AND Optimus? An enormous leap, I say! (That’s the nerdcore big-time™ for those of you keeping score at home.)

So that explains why it’s good for Shael, thinks the ever-skeptical reader, but what’s in it for me?

What indeed!

Let me put it to you as succinctly as possible. You go see Shael at Fat Baby for a paltry 7 bones – you are rewarded by a night of nerdly frivolity, complete with songs about how music ruined video games and the oft-mentioned but seldom understood bit-pop. You go home happy, slightly intoxicated, and filled with a sense of overall wellbeing.

By doing this, by simply allowing Shael to make a bit of musical love to your ear-hole, you afford him the chance of playing another gig – one month later to-the-day – with a multitude of (nerdcore) heavenly host.

Of course you go see that show as well, and, in addition to the sweet strains of Mr. Riley, you also get to hear the funk-tastic bombast of Optimus Rhyme and the aural antics of MC Frontalot! From this gig you will leave not merely contented, but wrapped in a snuggly blanket of nerdcore nirvana. I guaran-goddamn-tee it.

So go see Shael, help him out, and, in turn, help yourself out. You love the music. You want the music. You need the music.

Go on. Treat yourself. You deserve it!