In It to Win It

My northern brethren from Secret Cloud Art & Music and Hand'Solo Records are presently hosting a little giveaway that seems tonic to your collective interests. Up for grabs is a special edition "Power Pack" featuring the following top-shelf wares:

• 1 x The Garthim-Master & DJ Extend Ghosts of Nostalgia limited edition 12" clear blue vinyl
• 1 x The Wordburglar 12" self-titled EP
• 1 x Selfhelp - Old Friends CD
• 1 x Backburner - Heatwave CD
• 1 x Wordburglar - Burglaritis CD
• 1 x pack of original 1982 Dark Crystal trading cards
• 1 x pack of Star Wars candies
• 2 x Hand'Solo flyers

Winning this collection of dope shit couldn't be easier; just send an email to contest@secretcloud.com with your name and the answer to the burning question "Where's [Wordburglar & Garthim-Master's] AT-AT at?" It's that simple! Enter before July 28th, 2012 to get your name in the proverbial hat. A single winner will be chosen at random, and he/she/it will be contacted via email for the necessary mailing information.

Win a Free Copy of Pixelh8's OCARBOT App

There are people that I respect, and then there are people of which I am instead unabashedly envious. Oddly enough, Matthew C. Applegate falls into both groups. Epic chiptune musician (under the moniker Pixelh8), lecturer, author, scholar and game developer: the guy pretty much does it all. Moreover, he does it all extremely well.

In addition to producing a number of clever music applications that my kids and I still play with regularly on the DS and Game Boy Advance, Pix has also recently expanding into mobile phone development. His Room 1 Studios has already released random visual music generators Sonus (One) and Sonus (Six), not to mention his own signature Pixelh8 MicroSynth – which is available for both iOS and Android devices.

And somehow, between his family duties and helping spark an interest among school children in technology and game development and earning his Master of Arts from the Centre for Design Innovation at University Campus Suffolk, Pix took time to crank out an addictive new iPhone title called OCARBOT. It plays a bit like his previous release 6x9 in that it's a cheery, retro-style puzzler with a deceptive level of depth and complexity. Like its predecessor, OCARBOT also relies heavily on a movement mechanic, but this time around Applegate has taken gameplay into a direction not really mined since the days of Donkey Kong and Miner 2049er.

Across 50 levels of puzzle adventure, you seek to navigate the titular robot – a block-mover by trade who's just discovered he's about to be replaced by a newer model – to freedom. You do so by controlling Ocarbot's straightforward two-plane movement, right-left and up-down, as well as employing his unique skill at pushing blinking blocks into conspicuous holes in the floors of his side-view mazes.

The trick is to get him safely to the exit without falling victim to an environmental hazard. And the key, of course, is planning ahead. The game oozes charm thanks as much to its simple but effective presentation as Pixelh8's own custom-composed soundtrack, and at the going rate of 99 cents it's kind of tough not to recommend it. I mean what are you playing on your phone now, anyway? Angry Birds? Still?! Sheesh!

So if you've got a buck and need a new weapon in your boredom-killing arsenal, pick it up. You're supporting both independent development and a member of our community, so it's a win-win.

And speaking of win, Matthew gave me 5 free download codes, which I'll be passing on to you, faithful readers. Just comment here at the blog, or give me a yell via Facebook/Twitter and I'll draw some random winners Monday.

Hipster, please!: your source for nerd news, reviews and interviews. And the occasional app giveaway.

The (Super) Power of Love

Food One is the shit. Kirby Krackle? Also the shit.

Can you feel my excitement, internet? Does it positively radiate from your monitor?

No? Really?!

Okay, if you're viewing this on a mobile iOS device you're probably not getting it because my excitement is Flash-based, but the rest of you have no excuse.

I am positively aflutter over this morning's release of the debut single from Kirby Krackle's forthcoming full-length Super Powered Love. Promising 13 tracks of geek rock majesty and another amazing piece of cover art by renowned marijuana connoisseur artist Jim Mahfood, it's set to drop on the 19th of this month.

Pre-orders are available for a mere $15, and right now you can score both free shipping and an illustrated, 8-page lyric book. I've been pestering talking to vocalist Kyle Stevens throughout the recording process, and he's let slip that the project marks a new direction for Kirby Krackle's comic-centric songwriting.

A dash of soul-pop is certainly on display in the title track, which you can experience right the hell now via Bandcamp.

Nerdapalooza Cometh

With the responsibilities of family, a day job and multiple blog/writing/podcast projects constantly weighing on my tiny shoulders, I am not exactly what one would call a traveler. I sort of have to budget out my trips with extra care, as both time and money are rather scarce. That being said, I will once again be spending my meager vacation days supporting the geeky musical community at this summer's  Nerdapalooza festival.

Actually, it occurs to me that I keep saying I'm going to Nerdapalooza, but I haven't, y'know, actually done anything with regards to arranging my travel or accommodations. I better get on that shit. But first, let's talk shop!

Thus far the lineup is looking pretty damn amazing. Random, Dual Core, The Protomen, Schaffer the Darklord and a handful of other phenomenal acts that I can't help but think of as "the regulars" have already been announced, and with the addition of my favorite sophomore performers, Florida's own Sci-Fried, I can't help but get a little giddy about the bill. Add to this outstanding newcomers like Metroid Metal, Adam WarRock, The One-Ups and my boys Illbotz, and you've got the recipe for an unbelievable musical weekend.

The best part, for me at least, is that there are still performers yet to be announced! Personally, I'm holding my breath for the inclusion of NC's The ThoughtCriminals, the return of Kirby Krackle and, of course, Frontalot and Co. Still, part of the fun is in the discovery.

With the big event less than two months away, those of us that closely follow the scene are gearing up for it a number of ways. GeekDad's a sponsor of Nerdapalooza 2011, so Curtis and I are even now scheming for ways to both promote the festival and cover it from within. Likewise, Hex's own Nerdy Show is getting into the proverbial groove by featuring a number of this year's featured MCs in their next remix contest, The Marvel Vs. Capcom Mixtape. Of course as the duly elected emperor of the land of Hipster, please! I am also doing my part to remind performers and attendees of Nerdapalooza's long-standing cover song tradition. You know how I do.

But mostly I'd like to know your thoughts on this year's celebration of musical nerdery. Who are your most anticipated acts? What are your picks for the last handful of artist reveals? What are you plans for Nerdapalooza weekend itself? Most importantly, can I bum some gas money and sleep on your floor? ;)

Free (as in Bird)

I try not to tweet-spam the blog, but as I realize that some of you read Hipster, please! but don't follow my Twitter feed I figured I'd put this out there.

One of the things I've pledged to do more of this year is giveaways, mostly because working on so many contests at GeekDad has made me realize how very much I enjoy doling out free shit. It kinda makes me feel like Santa, sans all the snow and type 2 diabeetus.

Today, in fact, I'll be giving away a free copy of Sci-Fried's brand new CD Future Tense to mark tonight's epic launch party at Orlando's A Comic Shop. Earlier this week I gave said album a glowing review, and I'd like a lucky reader/follower to have the chance to learn firsthand why I dig this band so much.

Entering is easy; just include the hashtag #scifriedrocks in one or more of your tweets today between 10:00 AM and 10:00 PM EST. A winner will be chosen based on whatever blend of random chance, exuberance and creativity I decide to employ after the contest is closed, as that is just how I roll. You don't have to follow me or @ me or anything – simply tweet #scifriedrocks. Because they do. They really, really do.

Thanks to the band for the wicked swag, and good luck to all you eager geek rock disciples out there.

Road Warriors

Do you love post-apocalyptic wastelands, automobile-based combat and most importantly mc chris?

Who the fuck am I kidding? Of course you do! So read on, yo.

In preparation for the release of his forthcoming album Race Wars, mc is looking for a collection of dedicated fans to include on the project's David Mack-illustrated, movie-style poster. Part Speed Racer, part Mad Max, part Half Baked part… Segway, Race Wars is an epic tale that requires an equally epic cast.

If you'd like to serve as the visual template for iconic characters like War Racer X, Blaxploitation Guy, Axehand or The Hot Girl, head on over to mc's site for design notes and details concerning submitted photographs.

Or, consequently, just check out the image below. Y'know, whatever works for you…

You've only got until February 14th to cobble together the requisite ensemble and send in your pics, so get on that shit. The future depends on it! (Not really!)

"There's an ounce of weed in Devil's Canyon!"

A Winner is… Me?!

 I'm not used to winning awards. Especially those based on merit!

In case you haven't realized, this Labor Day weekend plays host to two of the absolute biggest events in nerd culture. The first is Penny Arcade Expo, a relative newcomer to the con scene but already a genuine powerhouse, and the second, of course, is Atlanta's annual Dragon*Con. Due to vested interests in the goings-on of both, I had a hard time deciding which one to attend.

PAX, though located on the opposite side of the country, was set to feature special GeekDad panel, and editor Ken Denmead specifically invited me to take part. Meanwhile, my Radio Free Hipster podcast was again a finalist in this year's Parsec Awards at Dragon*Con.

A cursory look at my finances, however, made the choice quite clear – I really couldn't afford to go to either. So instead I stayed at home with the family and did my best to keep an eye on the internet for news from both.

I was elated to hear that GeekDad's showing was extremely well received. Though, truth be told, I knew the guys would do us all proud. But I was even more ecstatic when it was revealed that my show had actually won the Parsec for Best Speculative Fiction Music Podcast!

I don't really not what to say, save holy shit! The time for acceptance speeches has come and gone, so I'll be brief and simply thank the Parsec Awards' judges panel, all of you listeners who nominated RFH and especially the other finalists Wander Radio, Wandering Geek Podcast and last year's winner the mighty FuMP.

Much love to all, and, again, thank you!

Radio Free Hipster Special Edition: I Wanna Parsecs You Up

First off, I wanna say thanks. Once again I scored a proper nomination in the "Best Speculative Fiction Music Podcast" category of the 2010 Parsec Awards. I truly appreciate all who took the time to spread the word about my little show.

This renegade project of mine isn't exactly the kind of thing that tends to win awards – and it's certainly debatable whether I'll fare any better this year than last – but it's nice to be recognized, especially by the nerd community at large.

Since I try to function with a certain amount of transparency, I figured I'd once again share with you the mini-cast I presented to the judging panel. Putting together a short retrospective is a fun affair for me, and doubly so when I get to include a trio of my very favorite songs from recent memory.

So give it a listen and lemme know what you think. And maybe light a candle for me around Dragon*Con time.

Download Radio Free Hipster Special Edition: I Wanna Parsecs You Up (2010 Parsec Awards Sampler) [hosting provided by Antisoc] Size: 9.15 MB Running Time: 9:58

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
I still feel bad talking over the theme music. I mean, Spellah and Beef do a fine job rockin' the thing up without me drawling all atop it.

Track 1: Kirby Krackle - "Ring Capacity"
As much as I love the new releases from Beefy and MC Frontalot, I still have to say that E for Everyone is my early front-runner for album of the year. It's up there with Hell Bent for Letters, Scarred for Life and Bremelanotide as near-flawless contemporary geek rock classics.
Originally included in Radio Free Hipster Ep. 70: Pajama Jams (July 2009)

Track 2: John Anealio - "Rachel Rosen"
John's Sci Fi Songs was sort of my pick for sleeper hit of 2009. I mean, I knew I loved his songwriting style and fantastic choice of subject matter thanks to his blog of the same name, but the album really managed to bridge this gap between modern nerdy guitar rock and classic filk. I've yet to hear another artist truly accomplish that.
Originally included in Radio Free Hipster Ep. 82: The Voight-Pop Test (January 2010)

Track 3: Supercommuter - "Itty Bitty Pigeons"
My love for Optimus Rhyme is well known and my disappointment over their passing well documented. But between the amazing array of post-break-up EPs and the nerdcore/chip-hop juggernaut that is Supercommuter, I have managed to keep my weeping and tormented wailing to a bare minimum.
Originally included in Radio Free Hipster Ep. 71: Lullabies from the Underground (August 2009)

And now, with this ticked off my list, I return to editing Radio Free Hipster Ep. 89. For anyone who forgot, it's another Wil Wheaton mixtape. Excited? You should be.

Expect it in early June. Consider it my last hurrah before the sweltering summer months.

Blankety Blank

That time has come once again, my friends. A time when a young man feels himself nudged ever southward. When the music nerd inside us all is drawn toward Florida. The Sunshine State. The House of the Mouse. America's Wang.

Call it what you will, the simple fact is Nerdapalooza season is fast approaching and, thus, a trip to Orlando, FL is imminent. With this year's festival slated for July 17th and 18th, you still have a little over two months buy your tickets, make your travel plans and pack up your wordly belongings.

Sadly, for some of our dorky brethren, that's far easier said than done. With the global economy, well, I believe the proper phrase is in the shitter, it's difficult for many fans to make this annual pilgrimage. And it is equally hard for many of the potential performers.

To help remedy this, our friends at Game Music 4 All along with Lo Tech (of The Geek Peek Post) established a fundraiser called Get _______ to Nerdapalooza. Sure, it's not the most compelling of project names, but it's proper accurate.

This year the duo is again re-launching the Get _______ to Nerdapalooza effort complete with fabulous raffle prizes, and the artist chosen to benefit from the generated funds is none other than nerdcore's finest palindrome Dr. Awkward.

Now, if I have to tell you what Awkward is all about, you're obviously new to both this blog and the world of studious indie hip-hop, but I will humor you…

Rocketing onto the scene with his debut EP Next Gen, Dr. Awkward easily impressed nerdy heads with his blend of clever lyricism, tuneful hooks and geeky swagger. Joining forces with the Scrub Club collective, the good Doctor continued to ply his craft both around his own California stomping grounds and beyond. (Including a stellar showing at last year's Nerdapalooza.)

His newly released Unlimited is a hip-hop powerhouse with a sharp focus on girls, games and nerd life, not to mention being one of the strongest releases of 2010. Dr. Awkward has continued his hot streak with a number of stellar guest spots, most recently on Beefy's With Sprinkles. (Which came out today; get on that shit!)

Also, Doc got me a signed comic from my idol Jim Mahfood at the Space City Nerd kickoff party in Houston, TX, and if that don't sound like the kind of delightful muthafucker deserving of a little financial assistance to travel cross-country, I don't know who does!

With all that said, the dealio is as follows:

Head over to the raffle page at Geek Peek Post. There you can purchase virtual raffle tickets for a mere $10 a pop for your first ticket, with additional tickets only 5 bones. Not only will each donation get Doc closer to this year's Nerdapalooza, they'll also put you in the running for sweet-ass prizes from the likes of MC Frontalot, Schaffer the Darklord and Marc with a C.

Oh, and there are also two – count 'em: 2 - $100 Visa gift cards up for grabs!

So give some scratch to help Awkward make it to Orlando, and maybe even score some cool shit for yourself.

I believe they call that a win-win.

Nerd News in Brief

It's been quite a while since the last installment of Nerd News in Brief. In that time, much has changed. The world has moved on.

A pair of nerdy engagements were announced and Nerdapalooza 2010 has taken shape, complete with an adjusted date, a new venue and a stellar lineup. Oh yeah, and I flunked out of my own Pokewalker Fitness Challenge.

Stupid head cold!

• Nerd Love: For those marriage-minded dorks, may I suggest one of these fine microchip rings? Seriously, though, if your special lady actually wants one of these, I suggest you make it official quickly.
• Um… I Mean Geek Love: Syracuse's The Daily Orange published a piece last month on the Geek2Geek online dating service. And as if that's not shameful enough, the site's founder, Spencer Koppel, also splits hairs regarding geeks and nerds. Which can't be good for business. 
• Semantics: Heidi Costello of Australia's Tweed Daily News asks if it's better to be a nerd, a geek or a dork. More importantly, she pokes holes in the accepted definitions for obviously malleable terms. Give it a look.
• Share the Wealth: Nerdapalooza isn't the only even relying on Kickstarter funds to help get it off the ground. Chiptune aficionados are also encouraged to contribute to the new 8 Bit Weapon/Computeher Disko Apocalypse tour. Every little bit helps.
• Better at Rapping: Speaking of tours, MC Frontalot's current cross-country undertaking seems to be going well for him and the boys. Check out this video interview from The Naked Gamers to see how our hero fairs on the lonely road, and peep this handsome mini-review of his newest musical offering from ReMixed Magazine.
• White Now: Which, of course, brings us to this Supreme Magazine piece pointed out by our own Church H. Tucker. It concerns the fall of the white rapper, and touches on, among other things, nerdcore's inability to cross over. It's an interesting piece, and you should give it a read.
• Split No More: From my buddy Matt comes news that prolific minimalist Wizard Rocker Split Seven Ways has elected to step away from that echelon of geek rock. More music does seem to be in the works, however, in what may well be a less despondent vein.
• Leia Lady Leia: And from Church comes news of recently announced project Her Universe. It's the first Star Wars clothing line specifically for the ladies. Please hold your "Yellow Laser Beams" jokes until the end of the show.
• Gigs in Space: With the earth destroyed by a massive explosion, the human race has retreated to a pair of dueling space stations. If you just found yourself thinking "That sounds like a great premise for a rock opera," you are not alone.
• Yeah, But What's His THAC0?: This little gem also come compliments of Church. And it reminds us that in-depth statistical analysis is the quickest way to nerdy-up professional sports.
• I Want Candy: This edition of nerd ink, is sponsored in part by Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. You know how we do.
• Six String Sorcery: On the new release front, my blogging brother Nathan Meunier has dropped his debut chiprock EP. Snag The Beacon for free from his site, and maybe toss him a dollar or three for his trouble. 
• Haste Makes Taste: A string of amazing new tracks also comes to us compliments of last weekend's Doubles' Dash songwriting competition. These 8 mini-masterpieces are also supplemented by another stellar set from the follow-up "encore round." 
• One Day at a Time: Not to be outdone by that ol' YTCracker, Seattleite MC Ultraklystron has just dropped a new mixtape that was recorded in a single day. It's a pretty hot little 9-tracker that's provided free of charge.
• Roll the Tape: Meanwhile, Florida's Marc With a C has been busy hatching a contest. To coincide with the July vinyl-only re-release of his RetroLowFi collection, Marc is giving away a rare test pressing of the album. To enter, simply prove to Marc your undying love for said test pressing… uh, I mean your undying love for him via a clear visual manifestation. The entry deadline is Monday, May 31st, and further details are available over at his site. 
• Brand New Super Powers: And taking us out this time is the brand new video from Beefy's (shortly) forthcoming new LP With Sprinkles. It's for the track "Geek Out," and it all but commands you to do so.

Couple's Skate

My pal Shael Riley just hipped me to the news that another installment of ThaSauce's famed Double's Dash songwriting competition is shortly forthcoming.

Slated for May 7th from 9:00 PM to midnight, Double's Dash 3 will again invite teams of two to write and record a full track (including vocals) in a scant three hours.

The event is open to all comers via #ThaSauce on irc.enterthegame.com, and partners are chosen at the start of the event. A listening party will, of course, follow.

Straight from the horse's mouth:

Overview:

Teams of two write, record and upload to ThaSauce a vocal pop song in under three hours and twenty minutes. There is no theme, but teammates are not to be chosen until 15 minutes prior to the start of the compo, thereby providing an X-factor.

Typically, one team member handles the instrumental and production, while the other handles lyrics and vocals, but that's not a rule; division of labor can be handled in any way a team sees fit, though it is not in the spirit of the event for one team member to do everything while the other sits idle.

Teammate-choosing happens in #ThaSauce on irc.enterthegame.com, 15 minutes prior to the compo's start. Listening party, in the same IRC channel, immediately follows the compo's completion.

After the listening party, entrants and non-entrants alike can vote for their three favorite songs from all entries. Voting is open for 10 days, and is open to anyone.

Rules:

• Gotta have vocals.
• Gotta have lyrics.
• No choosing teammate until the teammate-choosing period 15 minutes prior to the compo's start.
• No working on your song at all before the compo begins.
• Completed submissions are to be uploaded in mp3 format, encoded at no higher than 192 kbps.

Because of ThaSauce's account-based upload system, either member of a given team may upload his team's submission. However, both should not. If you are your team's designated uploader, make sure you note your teammate in your song's description, and give your team a cool name. (Cool names only. Teams with lame names automatically forfeit.)

Purpose:

By participating in this compo, you should...

• Enjoy a fun game.
• Make a good song.
• Have a rare opportunity to hone your ability as a co-writer.

Presented by ThaSauce and hosted by Shael Riley

For further details, peep the Facebook event page or hit up Shael /your homies at ThaSauce. Most importantly, holler at me when you're done so I can hear your submissions. You know how I do.

The Darkness Grows as all Light Dies

This week marks the triumphant (we hope) conclusion of DC's Blackest Night crossover. You know; the one where we discovered that the Green Lantern Corps is only a single heroic hue of the cosmic Skittles Rainbow.

To mark this auspicious occasion, our friends from The Nerdy Show have launched another Song Fight! style competition.

Between now and April 30th, you are encouraged to write, record and submit a song about the Blackest Night event for a chance to have your song featured on played on the Nerdy Show's forthcoming "Blackest Night Song Fight" podcast, a $100 comic book shopping spree and the chance to be the opening act at the 2010 Nerdapalooza pre-party!

Peep the specifics:

The Challenge:

Compose an original song about some aspect of DC’s Blackest Night. It can be in any genre and any style. There have been a lot of tie-in books to the event, and the plot line has been building up for years now – so needless to say there’s a lot of material and a lot of angles to come at this. Ska, techno remixes, folk rock, death metal, chiptunes, gangsta rap – anything, even an instrumental can work. The possibilities are infinite.

The Prizes:

1st Place: $100 shopping spree on A Comic Shop’s Online Store and the opportunity to kick off Nerdapalooza 2010 by performing YOUR Blackest Night song at the A Comic Shop pre-party (headlined in 2009 by Schaffer the Darklord).

2nd Place: A copy of the Eisner-nominated Atomic Robo Volume 1 Graphic Novel signed by author and Nerdy Show host, Brian Clevinger, an original 1984 Super Powers Hal Jordan action figure from the collection of Aaron Haaland (the artist/writer of Nerdy Strip), a Nerdy Show Amber Lamp Corps shirt and cap, and both the 2008 and 2009 Nerdapalooza albums.

3rd Place: A copy of the currently- ongoing Atomic Robo Volume 4, issue 1 signed by author and Nerdy Show host, Brian Clevinger, the 2008 and 2009 Nerdapalooza posters, and a Nerdy Show Amber Lamp shirt.

Upon announcing the winners, all submissions will be hosted on nerdyshow.com for listening/ downloading. 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place winners as well as note-worthy runners up will be played during a forthcoming episode of Nerdy Show.

There are a few other stipulations, of course.

Submissions must be original, Blackest Night-themed compositions of no more than 4 minutes in length. Audio files are to be submitted at a bitrate of at least 128kbps, and the related email message must include your name/handle, song title and any relevant notes.

So give your audio tribute to the Care Bears various Lantern Corps some thought, and feel free to hit up contest@nerdyshow.com with any additional questions or comments.

Sex Bob-omb

By now you've all seen the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World trailer. Multiple times, I'll wager.

Pretty awesome, innit? I know I'm excited.

What's more exciting is that the Former Fat Boys are holding a little contest related to the film.

From now until April 17th, fans are asked to promote the band's new single "7 Evil Exes" via Twitter. In a very particular manner.

Copy and paste the following tweet as many times as you like between now and then for a chance to win some pretty sweet prizes:

@edgarwright @nigelgod PUT @formerfatboys song “7 Evil Exes” on Scott Pilgrim soundtrack! Listen HERE: http://bit.ly/9VZSJA #ffbvsworld

I'll let FFB explain the specifics:

Edgar Wright (@edgarwright) = the director of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (and such classics as Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz)
Nigel Godrich (@nigelgod) = arguably the most famous music producer in the world. cough Radiohead cough.

Make sure to include #ffbvsworld, that's how we're keeping track of the entries. Tell your friends, post a link to formerfatboys.com/scottpilgrim on your Facebook as well. Enter as many times as you want. It'd be insane to get this to be a trending topic.

Prizes:
-Posters
-Rocky Loves Emily (Our First CD)
-Roostledoodledoo (Our Ringtone Album)
-Wii Wiish You A Merry Christmas (Our Christmas Album)
-I'm A Dinosaurus, Hard Corey, Barack Out With Your Cock Out, and Former Fat Boys logo T-Shirts
-The Enormous Adventures of the Guys Gone Wild (Our sketch comedy DVD)
-$157 Cash Grand Prize

BONUS PRIZES THAT CAN BE UNLOCKED WITH ACHIEVEMENTS:

If your tweet is retweeted by @edgarwright or @nigelgod, you will instantly unlock a prize of $207.

If we get notice from @nigelgod and @edgarwright that they're checking out the song it will unlock a prize of $207.

If the song makes it into the movie by some magic luck, we'll give one winner $777.

So there you go. Help the Former Fat Boys promote their new joint and maybe, just maybe worm their way on the Scott Pilgrim soundtrack. You'll be glad you did.

Bumper Stickers, Pokemon, Podcasts & You

Earlier this year I talked a bit about trying to bring a stronger visual element to Hipster, please!, to include more images and videos and eye candy to help mellow the acerbic cocktail that is my writing. And while this is all well and good, it occurs to me that I also need to expand in another direction.

I'm talking community here, people. Interactivity.

You nerds have been supporting me for at least as long I've been supporting you, so I'm desperately trying to, y'know, put myself out there. To kick our little exchanges up a notch.

To that end I have a trio of (hopefully) interesting points I'd like to touch on. If, of course, you'll be so kind as to indulge me.

Who Wants Stuff?

First and foremost, I have – at the urgings of at least a couple of you – ordered some more bumper stickers. I don't really do merch, as such. I find it a little distasteful for someone who provides such a paltry service as me to pimp wares, but I know some of y'all like this stuff, so here it is.

This time around, the "Nerd music. Nerd culture. Nerd life." has instead been replaced with my newest semi-ironic battle cry "Geek is something you do. Nerd is something you live."

Does this mean that I've given up my previous position on the geek = nerd argument? Not in the slightest. It simply means that, as my buddy Glenn pointed out, I love to bastardize quotes from the great KRS-One.

You may procure some of these stickers in the traditional manner: just use the Paypal donate button to your right to send me as much or as little scratch as you feel led to take the sting out of shipping and/or support the site. (And, as I am never one to overlook the downtrodden, if you're too broke to donate feel free to holler at me anyway.)

And just like last time, once these things are gone, they're gone. I might eventually print more stickers, but they won't boast this particular smart-ass phrasing.

Defeat Your Inner Snorlax

With the shilling out of the way, I'd also like to invite those of you with a freshly opened copy of Pokemon HeartGold or SoulSilver to participate in a little fitness experiment with me.

The Pokewalker Fitness Challenge is a crazy idea I had while following John Kovalic's #geekestloser Twitter trend, but rather than attempt to motivate nerds to lose weight it is instead focused on forcing us to get out of our cubes and do a little bit of walking.

Using the Pokewalker's pedometer function, the PFC challenges participants to clock in a certain number of steps per day. This number grows gradually over a course of weeks until all but one player has grown to weary (or bored) to continue. What will this champion of locomotion win? Not sure. If the participants are willing, maybe everyone will throw 5 or 6 bucks in a pot to go to our final winner. Otherwise there's, y'know, bragging rights.

The Challenge will begin in earnest next week, when players will be asked to establish their base level of activity (i.e.: just see how much they walk around over the course of an average week.) We'll move on from there, and hopefully manage to have a fun time doing it.

Do My Job for Me

Lastly, I can't help but notice that April is just around the corner. With that in mind, I'm hoping to bring last April Fools' Day Podswap back for another round. For those who missed it, the Podswap encourages podcasters to switch shit up in their shows, to let someone unexpected host.

Last year the idea was to trade episodes with a fellow podcasting crew – I presented a primer episode of Brilliant Gameologists and they shared a Radio Free Hipster highlight show – but this year I'm thinking of maybe just letting someone else record and assemble an ep. of RFH outright.

I've already had offers from Selfhelp, funky49, int eighty, Beefy and my boy Church (and his lady friend the GF) to host in my stead, but I'm still totally open for ideas.

Is there a reader, fan or artist you'd love to hear helm a special edition of Radio Free Hipster?

Is there another podcast you'd like to hear me host?

Is this just a horrible idea that I should put to bed?

Just lemme know, okay? It's all about the sharing.

Weird Science

Making music in this brave new world of internet distribution is a bit of a crapshoot. Sometimes the ease of the digital download allows one to create a rabid enough fanbase to sustain continued artistic endeavors (a la Jonathan Coulton), and sometimes it easily enables the more adventurous of the major labels to pick up on a particular act's unique slant and undeniable potential (as in the case of I Fight Dragons).

While there's no surefire key to success, a good method for artists looking to cultivate a strong relationship with potential fans is what I like to call the here's-some-free-shit approach.

Allow me to explain: an artist makes new, quality content available for free from his site, and encourages listeners to root around in his catalog. Only then, after these casual observers have become full-fledged fans content in the knowledge that the artist truly has a product of interest, does our hero offer for-pay material.

Recently, John Anealio, one of my favorite purveyors of geeky guitar rock, has taken the plunge into phase 2 of this model. His venture into the world of the full album release is dubbed Sci Fi Songs after the music blog at which John does the bulk of his nerdy songwriting.

The album collects 11 of John's most popular and most polished tracks into one shiny, affordable package. Moreover, it does so in such a way as to highlight Anealio's folksy, rootsy style while summarily affording a satisfying arc relating a series of fairly disparate works.

The disc opens with "The Return of Titus Quinn," a brief alternate-tuned acoustic instrumental that centers on the protagonist from Kay Kenyon's Bright of the Sky. As this represents John's first serious attempt at the solo acoustic instrumental, it's an excellent jumping-off point and a charmingly atmospheric track to boot.

From there he gets all poppy and waxes poetic about the trials of robot hunter Rick Deckard in the Philip K. Dick inspired, "Rachel Rosen," easily my favorite tune from the collection, before kicking the vocal harmonies up another notch with "Leodora," based on Frost's Shadowbridge.

He briefly loses me with the ever-popular "Cylon #6," which, while both centered on the crown jewel of current sci-fi nerd series and possessing a fantastic rhythmic movement, puts me off a bit with some awkward wording. Still, it's a fine lead-in to the undeniable "Summer Glau," a filk track conceived by SF Signal's John DeNardo, but skillfully retooled with an original melody by Anealio himself.

John marks the half-way point with the Anne Rice-inspired "Angels & Vampires," a joint that showcases his smooth vocals on an unforgettable chorus. Thereafter he smooths things out with the masterful musical storytelling of "Lonesome October Night" – based on Roger Zelazny's satirical swansong A Night in the Lonesome October – which is another undeniable high point.

"Sarene," alternately, is a rocked-up love song from the mind of Brandon Sanderson, and plays nicely against the somber "Merithyn's Promise," another solo acoustic track based on Requiem for the Sun. From there he changes gears again with the autobiographical (and totally relatable) "The Millennium Falcon for Christmas," as the lead-up to his closer "Grasping for the Wind," a veritable love letter to the blog of the same name and all the other sites that make the online speculative fiction scene such a strong and vibrant community.

With the obvious exception of the odd rushed syllable, there's really nothing to not to love about Sc Fi Songs (even for my particular ass). I mean, sure, I would've love to have heard some of John's heavily electronic work included or possibly a remix of one of his more popular songs, but, by and large, it’s a well-hewn collection of geek folk favorites.

It's available from CD Baby for a mere 10 bones – 8 if your just looking for a digital version – and I'd say it would go a long way in adding some additional variety to your nerdy music collection. In fact, I dig the album so much that I'm gonna give a copy away to one lucky reader!

Just head over to John's blog or the CD Baby album page and do a little digging. Then come back here and post a comment naming your favorite John Anealio original, cover or fan remix. I'll pull a winner at random next week and send him/her a shiny new copy of the disc… and maybe some Hipster, please! goodies to boot!

So go give Anealio's stuff a listen. It will surely soothe your sci-fi soul.

"I book a hotel room, I hope she gets here soon/ I've got three androids to retire."