Clap if You Believe

The last few days have been positively fraught with… Well, I don't want to say tragedy. Grievous inconvenience, maybe? Total pains in the ass?

Yeah, that'll do.

The last few days have been positively fraught with total pains in the ass for my music-making allies. First, Death*Star, who had a pretty sweet PAX weekend show lined up in their native Seattle, fell victim to last minute sponsorship complications. And then my brother Adam WarRock and his travelling companion lost their MacBooks in a wholly unexpected automobile break-in.

Of course, being the resourceful lads that they are, both camps have elected to approach their problems in unique and proactive ways. But, much like Tinker Bell, they could still use a little assistance from the audience.

Death*Star have elected to soldier on with the show their-own-bad-selves, haters be damned! If you're gonna be attending this year's Penny Arcade Expo and would like to party with C3, C0s, Bill Beats, Klopfenpop and Mega Ran – and trust me, you do – it would be positively decent of you to pre-order a ticket or three to their El Corazon gig slated for the night of Saturday, September 1st.

Meanwhile, Euge is planning an even more ambitious solution to his own woes. This Friday he will be conducting a 24-Hour Rap-A-Thon. He'll spend a full day writing, recording and producing original material – as much as he possibly can without forethought, preparation or sleep. All he asks in exchange for this hip-hop Iron Man competition is a little donation money. You can contribute a lump sum or pledge a dollar amount per completed track. After the Rap-A-Thon has concluded, Adam will send a signed burned copy of the results (and some other swag) to all his sponsors.

His friend K will be blogging and live-tweeting the whole event for your entertainment, and, should they surpass the $2,000 needed to replace the laptops, any additional monies will be donated to RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.

So there you have it folks. Please help those who help themselves.

Geeks Rule the World

So maybe you, like me, couldn't attend last weekend's Nerdapalooza festival. Hell, maybe you even missed the event's livestream, but thanks to the boundless magics of the internet you can still relive the set by my Florida fam Sci-Fried in its entirety.

From their opening medley to their stirring tribute tracks – one of which also doubled as their annual Nerdapalooza cover – it's a half-hour of geek rock (and geek sweat) created by Sci-Fried and lovingly recorded by my homie Michael Melchor.

Dungeons & Drinking

Over the weekend I made one of my regular trips up to Charlotte, but, surprisingly, this time it wasn't for a hip-hop show at the Milestone. Instead metal was the order of the day at NoDa's Chop Shop, a joint I'd been hearing about for a while and had been meaning to check out anyway.

The Shop is a bit of a rare bird in North Davidson; like most of the local clubs it's nested in the remnants of the neighborhood's old textile area – in this case a repurposed warehouse – but there's an obvious lack of the sort of cookie-cutter gentrification that generally pervades the area. It's run by a co-op of locals, and boasts a distinctly eclectic feel that carries over to the venue's musical presentations. The Chop Shop was home to the closest date of Pittsburgh fantasy metal band Dethlehem's current tour, and, as this is an act I've been raving about for months, I simply had to go.

As I said, it was a very guitar-heavy bill. I missed most of both early openers' sets – GA's thrash-punkers Don’t Pet Hatchet and local doom outfit Stronghold Crusader – but did manage to catch a blistering performance by NIHM, a Buffalo NY-based 3-piece that relocated to Concord over a decade ago. This is a crew whose final number, a cover of the Beastie's "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)," was worth the price of admission alone.

While the honor of closing out the night went to local legends the Poontanglers, Dethlehem upheld their headliner status with true style. Though most PA bands would've felt handicapped deep in the Carolina wilds (not to mention performing with a substitute bass player, the indubitable Hank the Guy), I'm excited to say that our noble band of adventurers really shined and the show was everything I'd hoped for and more.

Hitting all the high points of The Ghorusalem Codex, Vol 2: Of Magick & Tyranny – save, perhaps, its lengthy midpoint "Spelljammer" – the band ably combined swords and sorcery with elements of thrash and death metal to create the most epic concert experience this side of GWAR. With new lead vocalist Brutalitus the BloodBeard leading the charge cuts like "Circle of Deth" managed to turn a meager audience into a singular engine of boot-stomping D&D destruction. Overlord Brom's thunderous double-bass kept perfect pace among the screaming harmonics of axe-men Hildor and Bovice on joints like "Sky Palace of the Dragonriders," and guest keyboardist Allie Oxenblood (who also provided a third layer of vocal harmonies and a dash of fire eating) thickened up the mix nicely.

It was that rare event where the band on-stage and the gathering crowd both seemed to be enjoying themselves to the fullest. Many swords were swung, much alcohol was consumed and, hopefully, many t-shirts and custom dice were purchased.

Dethlehem have returned home for a brief respite before continuing the second leg of their tour in two weeks, but with upcoming stops in Ohio, Wisconsin and Maryland, I imagine many of you still have the opportunity to see them perform. If this brings them within driving distance, I highly recommend that you check 'em out. The sheer strength of their performance and their wonderfully outlandish stage presence is only outmatched by how truly personable the guys are while having drinks and snapping photos with the fans.

Big ups to my boys Seamonkey, Sean, Brad and Sy for kicking it with me at the show, and sincerest of thanks to the whole Dethlehem family for assuring that I and everyone else at the Chop Shop had a night of unabashed metal majesty.

BKNY

Remember last Friday's gig at Brooklyn's Grand Victory featuring Adam WarRock, Mikal kHill and Schaffer the Darklord? Well, now you can relive all your favorite moments via the following helpful video!

It's also worth noting that Adam, kHill, Tribe One and MC Stealth will be playing tonight -- in a just couple of hours, in fact -- at Charlotte's Milestone. Go check 'em out if you're in the area. Just, y'know, be sure to use the bathroom before you leave the house.

Daddy Issues

You know those times when I ask you guys for money? Not for me, of course. I mean, what use do I have for your filthy lucre?

No, I mean those occasions when I point you toward a project that could maybe use some funding or a track you probably oughta pick up.

Yeah, this is one of those times.

A few weeks back my buddy Mikal kHill hit me with a song that he figured would resonate pretty strongly with me. He was right, but that isn’t surprising.

Me and kHill tend to grok each other more often than not, most likely because we’re from the same area, are around the same age and have similar family backgrounds. That family part is particularly relevant here.

Mikal’s known for, well, what you might call musical bleakness. We jokingly refer to him as the Elliot Smith of nerdcore hip-hop, only we’re not really joking. But his latest joint, "Daddy Works" – while not a party jam, by any stretch of the imagination – is tempered with an odd brand of optimism.

It's a song about fathers and children and the sacrifices we make for our art and our dreams, but even you swinging singles should be able to appreciate the track and its cleverly concealed dose of inspiration. So give it a listen; it's two and a half minutes well spent.

Also, and this goes back to the money thing, while the single is name-your-price, any cash you kick in goes directly to pay kHill's travel expenses as he heads back up to Brooklyn for this Friday's epic gig with Adam WarRock and Schaffer the Darklord. So, y'know, dig deep so my brother can get home to his wife and little ones as quickly and safely as possible.

The Humble Hip-Hop Bundle

Bad-ass flyer by @rusty_shackles

Apparently February is the hot new month in which to tour. I mean, all the cool kids are doing it!

I've already mentioned that next month my boys Adam WarRock and Kirby Krackle will be travelling the west coast, but it's recently been revealed that my other boys Jesse Dangerously and Mikal kHill will be doing the same on this end of the country. Kicking off in Columbia, SC on the 3rd and concluding on the 11th in Worcester, MA, the Humbled to Dust Tour promises to shake the eastern seaboard to its hip-hop core.

Along the way they're also hitting Orlando, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Brooklyn, so expect to see some amazing local talent (not the least of which is the delightful infernal Schaffer the Darklord) showcased as well.

Oh, and as I'll likely miss the Charlotte show – for reasons I'll go into at a later date – y'all be sure to make some extra noise on my behalf for MC Stealth. She's one of our precious few regional lady-rappers, so treat her nice. Which mostly means make the aforementioned noise!

Epic Crossover Event

Fate is a cold, cruel mistress. How else can you explain today's announcement that Kirby Krackle and Adam WarRock – two of my most favoritist acts of ever – are touring together next month... but only on the fucking opposite side of the country?

So while I drown my sorrows with cheap table wine and a third re-reading of Animal Man #5, peep the following press release:

In the past 3 years of touring comic book conventions all over the the country resulting in four albums and a tour in Australia in 2011, KIRBY KRACKLE has become one of the top nerd-rock bands in the genre creating a grass roots movement of music revolving around their unique brand of songs about the comic characters, video games, and the pop-culture we love. This past summer the band released their new album, Super Powered Love as well as the punkish The Watcher; a song written for and soon to be released by MARVEL COMICS.

Co-headling the tour is ADAM WARROCK, who in just 3 years has become a well-known, musically prolific, and respected name in the genre of nerd-core and indie rap off the success of The Browncoats Mixtape, and having just completed a 3 month tour with MC LARS and MC CHRIS. This trip marks his first headlining tour on the west coast.

(Okay, it doesn't explicitly state that "Booty do Math" will be performed each night, but hope springs eternal. Right?)

Proper dates and a handy-dandy venue list are available for your perusal. And if you happen to be near any of these tour stops, please promise me that you'll do your part to help my boys have a great time in your burg.

You lucky, lucky bastards.

Gatos Luchadores (Or: A Grand Don't Come for Free)

I didn't realize it until I finally sat down to pen a missive, but this is my 1000th post at Hipster, please! And I reckon that is a fitting enough occasion given the subject matter.

I talk a lot around here about music, obviously. About new songs and albums. About artists and shows, but this bit concerns something that's, well, uniquely personal.

Early next month five outfits that represent – and I don't say this lightly – some of my very favorite live performers as well as some of my very favorite human beings will be conducting a southern mini-tour. The kick-off's in Roanoke on the 2nd, and it wraps up in our own hip-hop mecca, Atlanta, on the 4th. In-between, on that Saturday the 3rd, this little travelling sideshow will come through my own backyard of Charlotte, NC. At the World Famous Milestone Club, to be exact. A place that is – and, again, I'm speaking without hyperbole – my favorite local dive.

The bands in question? Well, as the song says they ain't my friends, they're my fam.

There's int eighty of Dual Core, whom I've been down with since the very dawn of time. (Now he ain't exactly from around here, but we give him a pass 'cause he's our boy.) He's joined by The ThoughtCriminals, my neighbors to the north, who are, for those not already in the know, the rural, East Coast answer to the question what am I supposed to listen to now that Optimus Rhyme broke up.

Holding up the high end of the former Confederacy are the Illbotz, that rare modern confluence of comedy rap that contains ample doses of both actual comedy and real rap. And rounding out the lineup are Adam WarRock and Tribe One, a pair of amazing MCs, consummate performers and two guys that I've only recently met but I feel like I've known forever.

Now this is, admittedly, not a huge affair. These are small club shows, I'd even go so far as to say intimate in most cases, but I'll make you a promise internet; if you're within driving distance, head out to one. It will be worth whatever meager door price you have to pay to get in. Shit, I'll go so far as to say that you'll have such a great time that you might even feel led to pick up a t-shirt!

I guarantee it.

Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama

I'm leaving you, my tiny baby birds. I'm afraid you will be forced to fend for yourselves for the rest of the week while I take the fam on our regular pilgrimage to the coast.

Hush now. Don't cry. Your ol' Uncle Zack will be back before you know it. And if you really can't live without me you can follow my exploits via the Twitters. I will endeavor to regale you with tales of all the crazy shit my kids do. That'll keep you entertained for a bit, right?

Those of you in NYC, however, have a very special assignment in my absence.

This Saturday night (August 6), my good friends Schaffer the Darklord and the newly revamped Monsterface will be playing at… a bowling alley in Brooklyn? Wait; that can't be…

Yup. It's a bowling alley in Brooklyn.

I am counting on you Gothamites to head out there and support 'em. And to come back with a full report of the awesomeness that will assuredly ensue. And also to maybe bowl a couple of frames.

You have your mission. Godspeed, internet!

Shake It (Like a Cheeseburger)

I've been a big fan of Seattle's heavy-drinkin' hip-hop clique Southside for years now. Thunderball and the boys simply do things differently, they blaze their own trail. From lyrics to instrumentation to… um… promo, Southside always manages to not only be different, but to actually remain entertaining.

Right now the crew is putting the finishing touches on their forthcoming album Science Diction, but they could use some help generating funds for the mastering and duplication of the disc. Now Southside ain't asking for a handout or nothin' – in fact their Kickstarter offers appropriately priced pre-sales of the album and new band swag alongside some other pretty tempting treats. (Shit, dude, if you donate $250 and live in the PacNW they will literally come to your house and play a private show!)

The band's just 4 days out from the deadline, and they're still around $400 short of their goal. So if you can afford to help please do.

Readers unfamiliar with the band or old fans who haven't yet copped it are encouraged to check out the Science Diction promo EP for a taste of the new hotness. And, of course, Seattleites are invited out to the album release party next Thursday, August 4th at Crocodile Café with the big man himself, Billy the Fridge.

You'll wanna be there.

Señor Superlatives

Last year I framed my post-Nerdapalooza coverage as a mock awards show. You know, for lulz. But folks actually seemed to dig it. In fact a screen shot of said post actually popped up on the monitors during the Sci-Fried set at this year's festival.

(Did I mention that them's my boys?)

So, as this blog is really just rote cleverly disguised as good-natured spontaneity, let us commence with dispensation of these wholly fictitious and delightfully sardonic awards.

/lights dim

The Chicken Salad Out of Chicken Shit Award: Scrub Club
The Scrub Club set at the pre-party should have been a disaster. It was a steamy southern Friday night performance in front of a heavily jetlagged crowd that had started drinking the moment their feet touched the ground. Practically the entire label was expected to perform in a slot time that could've easily been a tight fit even for a single act. Oh, and MadHatter's plane was delayed. Seriously delayed. But instead of folding, the crew dominated. In a rapid-fire set that not only showcased each of the Scrubs in attendance but actually saw the crew welcome some new blood, in the form of Torrentz and Soup or Villains, to the family, the Club once again made their mark on central Florida.

 

Pass the Mic: Insane Ian, Devo Spice, the great Luke Ski and Carrie Dahlby
While Dual Core's trademark freestyle session was off the proverbial chain at Nerdapalooza 2011, theirs was not the only guest-heavy set at the festival. The Funny Music Project crew managed to come correct across a trio of humorous sets that showcased both their immutable stage presence and their artistic cohesion. Even with copious notes I have trouble separating my memories of the FuMP's trio of top-shelf performances because each act featured so heavily across all three.

The Seamless Transition Award: Marc with a C and Sci-Fried
When I asked Sci-Fried's Dammit Jim what his band and geek rock troubadour Marc with a C had planned for Saturday's Power Hour, he just grinned. A performance that was, by the guys' own admission, nearly six months in the making proved an early highlight of the event. A glorious Marc with a C set wrapped with a rocked up version of his Alro Guthrie-esque "Nerdy Girls" with Sci-Fried serving as the backup band, and then Sci-Fried returned the favor with phenomenal live version of their collaborative track "Foiled Again." Marc also reappeared later to help cover Weezer's "Hash Pipe" as part of an appropriately raucous send-off.

Cover Song of the Year Decade: Sci-Fried/The Protomen
I think my cover song challenge has been irreparably broken. Between Sci-Fried's own pair of closing cover tunes (the aforementioned Weezer joint and mc's "Fett's Vette," for those who missed it) and a series of larger-than-life rock classics spread between both Protomen sets (my favorite of which had to be Sunday's "Total Eclipse of the Heart,") I'm afraid it will never be the same again.

Hit Me Baby, One More Time: Captain Dan
The talk of the town after Captain Dan and the Scurvy Crew's late afternoon set on Saturday was less about the performance itself and more about the tech, specifically Dan's new hands-free mic. Many an MC called him out on this unorthodox new addition, but I think we all know it was the ninjas doing the bulk of the smack talk. While it did admittedly make the Cap look a bit like an overzealous employee running a Long John Silver's drive-through, it also freed him up for more stage antics. Ere go I will call it an overall win.

Blow up the Small Stage: Illbotz/Adam WarRock and Tribe One/Dual Core/Mega Ran and K-Murdock
Like its predecessor, Nerdcore 2011 boasted a pair of stages: the larger NOS-sponsored main stage and a smaller GeekDad stage set around the corner from the main conference hall. The big stage was, for the most part, home to the more rock-centered acts while the GeekDad stage boasted the hip-hop. A few acts, however, seemed wholly unaware that they were on the "little stage." Roanoke's Illbotz, comic shop hip-hopper Adam WarRock and perennial favorites Random and Dual Core blew that fucker up with energetic sets that could scarcely be contained by the room's meager geography.

Them's My Boys: Adam WarRock/Stevie D
I joke that I go to Nerdapalooza to hang out and that the music simply provides for that primary activity a nice soundtrack. Sure, that's only partly true, but it seems like each year I spend the bulk of my time – both while watching performances and after hours – hanging out with a widening circle of friends. This year Adam WarRock and Stevie D joined the ranks of my true homies alongside previous Nerdapalooza acquisitions int eighty and Sci-Fried.

The Preternaturally Chill Award: The OneUps
I was a little intimidated by the prospect of meeting VGM legend and super producer Mustin, but I was delighted to find him to be an easily approachable, almost unbelievably chill individual. I can't properly quantify how much time he and I spent just talking between sets, but it would likely have to be calculated in hours. His band, The OneUps, brings that same sort of effortless cool to their performances. Even on a bill opposite brilliantly aggressive VGM acts like Arm Cannon, those guys truly shined.

Best Stage Banter: Inverse Phase
Already handicapped by holding down the chiptune scene almost entirely on his own, Inverse Phase was further stymied by receiving a lunchtime slot on Sunday. Everyone was hungry, tired and hung-over, but those who made their way to his performance found themselves treated to a uniquely enjoyable set of covers, originals and audience participation. His rousing game of Name That Tune will live forever in the annals of Nerdapalooza history.

Breakthrough Artist: Shinobi Ninja
Nerdapalooza 2011 introduced me to a number of new artists. Koo Koo Kangaroo filled a gap left by the longtime absence of Monsterface and Math the Band, while Beebs and Her Money Makers brought beards, kazoos and a dash of Florida ska-core to the table. My favorite, however, was blistering Brooklyn rock/hip-hop fusion outfit Shinobi Ninja. They offered not only one of the finest performances of the show, but also provided an ideal backing track during GeekDad Curtis's tattoo session.

Hosts with the Most(s): Schaffer the Darklord and Nelson Lugo
While they will always be primarily remembered for bringing many-a scantily clad woman to the Nerdapalooza stage, STD and Lugo managed to keep the train rolling all weekend long with an intoxicating blend of humor, insight and charm. They also do bar mitzvahs.

A Winner is You: Beaker
Those same gents hosted a weekend-long ThinkGeek raffle at Nerdapalooza 2011. From which my boy Beaker won practically everything. Remember, kids, you can't win if you don't play.

Quick Picks

We're less than a month out from Nerdapalooza 2011, and my excitement is building. Earlier this week I did my first piece of promo for the festival over at GeekDad, and, in lieu of hosting Hex and the boys on Radio Free Hipster for the umpteenth time, I'm planning to have the Nerdapalooza crew on the next edition of my Wired.com podcast HipTrax.

What can I say? Supporting NAP has long been a personal mission of mine.

I think the most intriguing thing about this year's event is the wider variety of artists and styles represented. Nerdapalooza 2008, my first geek-centric music festival experience, leaned very heavily toward nerdcore hip-hop. Last year's iteration, however, made serious strides to include significantly more geek rock and VGM artists.

Nerdapalooza 2011 has continued this trend, and, while the absence of regular headliner MC Frontalot makes me a bit wistful for year's past, I think this new direction is the right move. That's not to say that the pendulum has already swung the way of the rock, mind you. In fact I'd argue the lineup strikes a nice balance, with Dual Core contrasting nicely against Sci-Fried and so on.

The roster of debut performers is especially impressive, and I've spent a great deal of time pondering over whom I'm most excited to check out. On the off chance that you actually give a shit, here are my top picks for must-see Nerdapalooza newbies:

• The OneUps - Bringing an ample serving of jazz-pop to the typical grinding guitars of Videogame Music is exquisite Arkansas-based collective The OneUps. Both a pleasant surprise and a totally logical choice, this is one featured act that will surely stand out from the crowd.
• Consortium of Genius - Comedy music (specifically from the Funny Music Project community) is well represented this time around, but New Orleans's mad scientists Consortium of Genius are a personal favorite. Renown for both their stylistic flexibility and their over-the-top stage show, I am fully expecting to be wowed by the pure power of their COGitude.
• Metroid Metal - Last year aggressive geek music came to us courtesy ofThe BossFights and local legends Sci-Fried. This time around they will be joined by both the metal majesty of Arm Cannon and the epic concept rock of Metroid Metal (featuring founder Stemage and Arm Cannon's own danimal.) I've been waiting ages to catch this crew live, and Nerdapalooza 2011 has finally afforded me the opportunity.
• Illbotz - As evidenced by the frequency with which they're played on my podcast, the Illbotz are my boys. In fact, they're possibly my most anticipated new act of NAP 2011. I am looking forward to both catching their live performance and getting totally shitfaced with them immediately thereafter.
• Adam WarRock and Tribe One - I've been an Adam WarRock fan since the first verse of "I am Him." The good news is Adam rolls through the Atlanta metro area regularly. The bad is that I'm never on that end when he does. Once again, Nerdapalooza is enabling me to see one of my favorites perform live for the first time.

People Mover

Before I dive into yet another album review – and believe me, one's a-comin' – I wanted to pause so as to allow us to catch our collective breath.

There. Isn't that nice?

In the midst of the aforementioned punishing review schedule I've actually found the time to assemble another edition of Radio Free Hipster. This one is themed around love and should drop next Monday. Which, if memory serves, is Valentine's Day. #lookatmebeingallappropriate

And with that in mind I'd also like to spotlight yet another video. This one comes courtesy of my northwestern brother Jarod of AlienBobz. Over the last couple of months he has shared a ton of concert footage shot in and around Seattle, much of it from acts like Billy the Fridge, Klopfenpop and Death*Star.

Likewise this clip comes from local Sea-town heroes People Within, fronted by former Optimus Rhyme co-vocalist Broken English. It's for their cut "Love Sick," which I think serves as a fine lead-in for the next podcast.

Peep the vid below, and check AlienBobZ.com for links to equally fine audio from the gig(s) in question.

Call Me Uatu

In case you missed it, Kirby Krackle celebrated their triumphant return to Seattle – after a lengthy sojourn here on the east coast at New York Comic Con – with a show last week at famed local watering hole the High Dive. In tow were local nerdcore hip-hoppers Death*Star and Beefy, thus making it a true Sea-town musical affair.

A number of great videos of the set have already surfaced on the YouTubes, with my favorite footage coming from user futuredirt. To give you an idea of the level of awesome that was achieved at this event, here's a little taste.

It's a version of E for Everyone comic-funk classic "Can I Watch You?" featuring ol' Beef Thompson.

Nerd News in Brief

Today is October 1st, or as I like to call it The First Day of Halloween. In addition to my regularly scheduled nerdy musings, I will no doubt be favoring you with tons of ghoulish distractions over the coming weeks.

I mean, it's what I do!

But for now, dear friends, please enjoy this non-Halloween-themed edition of Nerd News in Brief.

• Pretty and Witty and Bright: Though I am probably not their target audience, I have to kick off this month's NNIB recap by giving a nod to the crew over at Pretty Gamer. It's a site with a firm focus on all things she-nerd related. From game reviews to no-food-in-the-house cooking tips to dating advice, these ladies have you covered. They even recorded their own drunkcast, which pretty much assures their hardcore status.
• The Wooden Anniversary: Five years ago our friends Harry and the Potters helped launch the Harry Potter Alliance with an Amnesty International charity show in their native Massachusetts. To commemorate this anniversary (not to mention the rousing success of the HPA), the guys are doing it again. Catch the Potters, The Whomping Willows, Lauren Fairweather and Justin Finch-Fletchley and the Sugar Quills this Sunday, October 10th at The Center for Arts at the Armory. Be there.
• For the Shorties: On the subject of worthy charities, I'd also like to remind you that October 16th is the date of the 3rd annual Extra Life video game marathon. My good friend Jonny Nero (of Epic Default fame) is taking part to raise money for his local Children's Miracle Network hospital, and the brother needs sponsors. A simple $1.00/hour sponsorship goes a long way, so peep Jonny's personal Extra Life page and please consider donating.
• To the Nines: Nerd rapper extraordinaire Conyeezy is presently working on 9 different albums! In anticipation of this marathon of future releases, 'Yeez just dropped a free 9-track mixtape called Appetizers. It contains one track representative of each larger work, and I suggest you cop it immediately.
• Blowing in the Wind: Also on the new release front, Rappy McRapperson and EPP's MC Wreckshin have just released their impressively titled The 2nd Best Mixtape Ever. Ten songs deep and boasting just a bit more than a half-hour of playtime, 2BME covers all the hip-hop bases – from double rainbows to blowin' dudes. Experience the weirdness.
• They're Undeniable: Are you tired of "California Gurls" parodies? Understandable, but please take a look at one final selection. It's my boy Insane Ian's most recent FuMP – a fun freebie entitled "CosPlaying FanGurls."
• Take a Knee: Recently, nerdcore king and famed hacker YTCracker dropped his iPhone from the 27th floor of the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. The phone survived the fall, once and for all demonstrating the true power of science.
• My Closing Argument: Thanks go out to Church for pointing me toward this CNN piece on Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock that features some great quotes from Brendon Small. Not the least of which is the astute observation that all musicians are nerds.
• Across the Pond: For those who missed it last week, the BBC profiled MC Frontalot, Scrub Club's MadHatter, Nursehella and Adam WarRock. An accompanying nerdcore-centered edition of the Outriders podcast was also released.
• Say it Bold: Star Trek is often the go-to property when nerds discuss the important progressive sociological underpinnings of science fiction. However, in an interesting (and hilarious) piece at Autostraddle, writer Boylio enumerates the ways in which Trek has failed to stand up for the LGBT community.
• Bubblegum Tate: This edition of Geek vs. Nerd is brought to you by the (voice) cast of Futurama. In early September, the guys sat down with CNN Entertainment's Geek Out to discuss, among other things, cool nerds and the gerds of our future.
• Local Color: The San Francisco Bay Guardian also chimes in on the subject of geeks, nerds and what lies beneath – even going so far as to mine the wisdom of resident "super nerd" Doctor Popular.
• LOL Money: As our esteemed Nerd Chieftain of Fiscal Responsible, Church was happy to hip us to this epistle concerning financial nerds. He also uncovered Merle Hazard, "the first and only country singer to write about mortgage-backed securities, derivatives, and physics." Thank him kindly. 
• Labored Day: And in what I promise is this edition's final rumination concerning nerd identity, author Ethan Gilsdorf recently dropped some knowledge at Psychology Today concerning both Dragon*Con and PAX. And apparently he was really excited to give away a copy of his book!
• Indivisible: Thanks to MaryBeth (AKA: Nagini), I am now completely enamored by the new song/video from Grace "Snidget" Kendall. It's entitled "Soren Lorenson (My Invisible Friend)," and it is a special kind of all-ages awesome!
• Lost Like Locke: And I'd be remiss if I didn't also point y'all toward the latest street-level sermon from the White Shinobi himself T.y.T. Check out the new video single "Life is What You Make of It (2010)" featuring Togo.
• Code Monkey: In other YouTubery, my brother DataVortex turned me onto this coder-centric take on "Alors on Danse" called "And So You Code."
• Hangin' with Your Atari: And though I can't imagine you haven't seen it yet, the new Inverse Phase joint "F___ed 6502 (8-bit Cee Lo - F**k You parody)" is total fucking brilliance.
• Dance. Kill. Laugh. Kill.: Closing us out today is a special treat from AlienBoBZ. September saw the debut gig of Seattle's Supercommuter, and Jarod was there to record the show for posterity! You can cop the live audio from Archive.org and check out full video on the AlienBoBZ YouTube channel. Make sure to give Jarod some love for all the hard work.

Nerd News in Brief

Earlier this month, Dr. Demento's weekly syndicated radio show went off the air for good. Since 1974, the good Dr. has been sharing not only parody and comedy music, but strange and nerdy recordings of all stripes with the world at large. Sadly, with the recent attempts at streamlining the failing industry, this material was deemed an ill fit for the modern radio audience.

I am of two minds regarding this. First, I find it unfortunate that a broadcasting luminary was cut loose for no better reason than the bottom line. But on the other hand, who the fuck listens to terrestrial radio anymore? It's a sinking ship, and Demento is likely much better off proceeding in the current manner, as an internet-only broadcaster.

This means you can still get your Dr. Demento fix via his web site, unfettered by the whims of mundane America.

• Pac-Man Fever: On the continued subject of nerd history, my pal Brux passed on word of some newly revealed sketches of Toru Iwatani's original Pac-Man design. Look on and be amazed.
• Fully Functional: Speaking of Demento, and thus by extension Weird Al, here is "White & Nerdy." Star Trek style.
• Shat My Dad Says: Also in the Trek vein, Church points out that William Shatner will be directing a new documentary. About himself. I don't even have a joke for this one.
• Zombies Beware: Also submitted without commentary: the axe holster.
• Run for the Hills: Which may or may not play into the new Zombie Fit fitness program. Sadly, it includes parkour. So my ass is out.
• Lusty Lab Coats: Church also directs us toward an interesting item for skeptical nerds. A group of science-minded UK geeks are putting together a (sanitized) pinup calendar to raise money to support libel reform. Anyone familiar with Simon Singh's recent run-in with the British Chiropractic Association surely understands the rationale behind this cause.
• The Many Moods of Koji Kondo: NeatoRama recently put together an astounding collection of covers of the classic Legend of Zelda theme. Our friends I Fight Dragons made the cut, but nothing can hold a candle to the LoZ wedding march!
• King of Kings: Likewise, Topless Robot kicked off the month of June with a list of the "16 Most Gloriously Nerdy Musical Acts." Among those listed were Gwar, DEVO, Stovokor and MC Frontalot.
• The Doctor is In: Earlier this month, Toronto's The Star ran this piece on geek chic and the buying power of the nerd community. Perhaps most importantly, it includes knowledge dropped by my longtime home-skillet, Geek Studies' Dr. Jason Tocci.
• Earth Girls are Easy: And just when you thought I'd gone and presented some genuinely compelling ideas on the current chic de geek, here's a piece from Whitney Matheson's Pop Candy about the god-awful Nerd Girls reality show. I weep for the future of television.
• Step 1 – Annoy the Shit Out of Z.: To balance out the two, here's an explanation of the trend from How Stuff Works. The more you know!
• For the Venn: And to return to another well-worn subject, Antisoc drew my attention to this recent xkcd. I believe it squashes the nerd vs. geek argument once and for all.
• I Summon E. Coli!: I also have to give it up to Church for hipping me to Healing Blade, a fantasy card game rooted in real-world infectious diseases/therapeutics by the fine folks at Nerdcore Learning. Never let it be said that Magic the Gathering can't be out-geeked!
• Charge of the (Dr.) Light Brigade: While the summer nerd music event on everyone's lips is surely Nerdapalooza, be aware that purveyors of the world's only traveling Mega Man rock opera, The Protomen, will also be on tour during the month of July. Look for them with special guests Super 8 Bit Brothers and The Adventures of Duane and Brando throughout the southern US.
• Your Yacht Got Capsizeded: In other new music news, Frontalot has just unveiled the video for his new single "First World Problem" over at the SPIN Magazine web site. It's animated, but not in the same manner as the performer's stage presence.
• The Dogg That Don't Bite: Not to be outdone, decidedly un-nerdcore rapper Snoop Doog has just released a video for his track "Oh Sookie." It's a musical tribute to True Blood's Sookie Stackhouse. Yeah, I'm as confused by this development as you are.
• Heads Up, Glasses On: Also making waves with a new vid is I Fight Dragons. Their bowling alley anthem "Heads Up, Hearts Down" has gotten the Avatar treatment. Meaning, of course, that now it's overly long and wholly derivative. Wait, no; I mean now it's in 3D!
• Trying to Unlock Your Heart: But in-amongst all these fine new specimens of video entertainment, the one that's taking us out this time around is from none other than Seattle comic book rockers Kirby Krackle. It's an animated interpretation of the song "Up, Up, Down, Down" from their debut album. It's all about nerd love, courtship and cannibalism.

Nerd News in Brief

This Nerd News in Brief was set to drop yesterday. But then, a cold!

Still, I'm cutting myself some slack. I mean, at least I'm putting 'em out on an almost regular basis again.

So I got that going for me. Which is nice.

At any rate: NNIB!

• The Rising Phoenix: This Memorial Day weekend, geek rockers Kirby Krackle will be appearing at the Phoenix Comicon from May 27-30. They'll be performing Saturday night at 8:30 and you can see them throughout the event at table T-8, so definitely head out to catch 'em. Just, y'know, bring proof of citizenship.
• The Return of the King: Just in time for E3, my pal Anthony and the Game Music 4 All crew have planned the triumphant return of their West Coast Wigout event. WCW2 goes down on June 15th at Gallery Nucleas in Alhambra, CA and features The Megas, Mega Ran, Evilwezil, Tanuki Suit Riot and more. Check the event's official page for full details and hit up Gallery Nucleus for discounted early bird tickets. 
• Comical: This week's edition of web comic W-A-S-D featured something a little different. Okay, four things a little different – MC Lars, YTCracker, MC Router and Mustin. See for yourself. 
• I'm with JoCo: This just in – Jonathan Coulton will be presenting new material from his forthcoming album at live dates throughout July. Also, he is slightly neurotic. These are the reasons we love him so.
• Confirmed Bacheler: Big ups to Harry and the Potters' Joseph DeGeorge who is now a Bachelor of the almighty Arts thanks to his time at Clark University. The Potters will be playing throughout the northeast in the month of June, so head out to a show and congratulate him yourself. 
• Very Metal: Congratulations are also in order for VGM masterminds Powerglove. The guys were just signed to record label E1 Music, home of both Swedish melodic metallers In Flames and the Sesame Street catalog. I think they'll fit in nicely somewhere between the two. 
• The Lass That Loved Starfleet: Y'know what we don't have enough of around here? Talk of sci-fi musicals. Thankfully, Church came through with this story concerning a H.M.S. Pinafore/Star Trek mash-up. The best part? It's playing throughout June at LA's Crown City Theatre. 
• Unquantifiable: This week's celebration of Geek Pride Day sparked lots of talk within our community. One particularly interesting piece that came out was this missive from AOL's Tony Deconinck. It starts strong, reminding us that we don't need our own fake holiday to be who we are, but ends with a whimper and a whine. In this case more "if you don't know all this shit you're not one of us" foolishness. 
• Nerd Words: Church supplements this with a link to Technologizer's astute (and timely) investigation into the origins of the term "fanboy." Oh, the power of words! 
• Klingon as a Second Language: In case you somehow missed the buzz surrounding this piece, here is the finest geek parenting story of all time. It is truly a viktorious read. 
• Strike Quickly and Fade Into the Shadows: Somewhere in Australia, there is a pack on ninjas protecting German exchange students. I don't know if this exactly plays into the whole nerd culture slant of the post, but it is pretty fucking awesome nonetheless. Also, if this were Twitter I would be honor bound to hashtag it #krondorkrew. Just so you know. 
• Betty Rage: For those of you with oddly specific fetishes, Church found this collection of NSFW retro 50s-style D&D pinups. My opinion? Needs more Halflings. 
• A Famicom Affair: Let it be known that Mega Ran/K-Murdock masterpiece Forever Famicom is presently available for pre-order. Pre-ordering nets you a physical CD (upon release), an instant download of the album and a fine selection of bonus tracks. Music get! 
• A Massively Useful Thing: Earlier this week, on Towel Day to be precise, my boy Antisoc dropped his new album Future Hop. I've already said my proper piece about it, but let me reintegrate that you need to add it to your collection immediately. Oh and Beefy, give Mark his goddamn shirt! 
• Rumble Pack: Also on the new release front is an ambitious and imminently satisfying mash-up project that combines hip-hip a cappellas with beats cribbed from classic N64 tracks. It's 15 joints of geeky gamer genius from PK Mao, and it's free! 
• Six Shooters: Another amazing freebie comes to us from epic comic book rockers Americans UK. Their newest single, "John Loves Wayne" has just been made available. The song also ties into the band's newest 40-page comic anthology, available from Indy Planet. 
• Horses With Fake Legs: Our musical allies from netlabel Pterodactyl Squad have just released their 25th album! It comes to us from chip-rockers Noisewaves. And, like all the fine music from the Squad, this instrumental 5-tracker is freely downloadable. 
• Bringing the Heat: The last few weeks have also seen an interesting crop of new music videos. The White Shinobi T.y.T. is back with a new collab with Savannah-area rapper Darkchild entitled "C-port 2 Tokyo." Meanwhile, Shael Riley's new video for Double Ice Backfire banger "Publishing Rights" is on fire. Literally. I couldn't decide which to end on, so I've elected to give you both. 'Cause I'm sweet like that.

Nerd News in Brief

I'm actually preparing to mail off the first round of Hipster, please! bumper stickers next week. (Well, those and also one much-delayed CD!)

I had planned to include a little something extra for you early adopters: ultra-limited edition badges. Not just any old pinbacks, mind you, but HP buttons emblazoned with the mighty d20.

Unfortunately, they were nicked by some random passerby. Or possibly an unscrupulous FedEx guy. :(

For the life of me, I can't imagine why anyone but me would want 50 Hipster, please! badges!

• Do the Donkey Kong: Our friends at OverClocked Remix have just released another one of their astounding game music projects. Donkey Kong Country 2: Serious Monkey Business is 3 discs of banana-collecting fury, and boasts tracks from VGM legend virt and the game's original composer David Wise. Oh, and it's free. So get on that shit!
• Shat-talkin': There are some questions that are of great, almost cosmic importance to all mankind. One such example concerns whether or not William Shatner wears a rug. And one brave blogger seeks to uncover the truth.
• Those Were the Days: On the subject of Trek, Church found this post from Moviefone in which they examine some silent 8mm footage from the 1975 Chicago Star Trek Convention. He also found this fantastic set of insider Trek photos. Get your nostalgia on. 
• Scotty Needs Brains: Also from Church comes news of another literary mash-up from Quirk Books. Night of the Living Trekkies finds a convention floor overrun by flesh-eating ghouls. Think of it as a tribute to nerd survivalists. Failing that, hope it's a better read than Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
• Needs More Squash: And on the topic of the undead, here's a song about Plants vs. Zombies. Because music aids photosynthesis.
• Undatable? That's Debatable: Apparently roleplayers don't date or have sex. Which means my children… aren't really mine?
• Baby Booties: And since I've invoked the subject of youngins, let me pause to congratulate Captain Dan Dolan (of Scurvy Crew fame) on the recent birth of his son! But take that patch off his eye, Dan. It's just confusing the lad.
• Girls on Film: Also let me congratulate my homegirl Eye-Shuh the OmegaBat, who was this week featured on her local Fox affiliate's news show in a bit about gamer girls. Okay, so maybe the piece was actually about the abysmal GameCrush service and the real lady gamers thing was just a tack-on. Still, Eye-Shuh was on TV. That's the important part.
• Random Access: Mega Ran has once again found himself on the receiving end of some good press. Spinner caught up with him at SXSW for a nice sit-down, and you can also read about him in this month's Nintendo Power. (The latter of which, it bears mentioning, was written by my journalistic homey Nathan Meunier.)
• Chesticles: Another cat who got some much-deserved SXSW love was the great Jesse Dangerously. Peep this feature to learn Jesse's favorite childhood cartoon and to get some hot topless Canadian MC action.
• Marathon Man: Marc with a C will be playing Stardust Video in Orlando, FL on Saturday, April 3rd. It's a free, all ages event, and the plan is to stretch it into one of his old style "marathon shows" (of Wikipedia fame). Make plans to attend if you're in the area, and request "You've Got This Curse" on my behalf.
• For the Win: And mid-month, don't miss the mc chris goes to hell cd release party at Comix in NYC. This gig is made even more interesting by the fact that, if the event page is to be believed, it marks mc's first attempt at stand-up.
• The Final Countdown: In other new album news, MC Frontalot's Zero Day is set for a proper release on April 6th. You can, however beat Dame Time by pre-ordering right the fuck now, which entitles you to instant downloads of the whole album. Consequently, you can also snag an early copy at PAX East. If, that is, you are sufficiently bold.
• Sneak a Peak: Not to be outdone by Church's earlier contributions, my friend Matt came through this week with news of a brand new nerd culture outlet: Geek Peek Post. Give it a peak (peek?) for some preliminary posts on nerdcore, geeky TV and general dorkiness.
• Nerd Ink – Muppets Edition: And this round of nerd ink, also provided by Matt, features the most epic Doctor Teeth and the Electric Mayhem tat I have ever seen! An admittedly narrow field, of course, but still a phenomenal piece of work.
• His Feet are Longfellows: Much love to poetry geek Radames Ortiz for pimping my site/show out on a recent edition of The PoetTech Podcast. Give is a listen for more info on his current collaboration with electronic musician Jonathan Jindra.
• Phone Home: Also on the electronica front, the venerable Doctor Popular has released some information concerning his current musical project. The tentatively entitled Beeps & Smudges will feature a number of notable contributors and is being composed chiefly via the iPhone version of Nanoloop!
• Fully Functional: And speaking of podcasts, Sci Fi Songs' John Anealio has just announced that he and author Patrick Hester are hard at work on a new project called the Functional Nerds Podcast. Give it a listen.
• The Air up There: Taking us out of this week is an excellent solo piano rendition of Air Man's theme from Mega Man 2. It's performed by Rob Kovacs of progressive indie band Return of Simple. And it is ridiculously awesome.

Nerd News in Brief

This week I managed to surpass 1000 Twitter followers. Not exactly sure that's newsworthy, but it does bring up an important question. Namely, why the fuck are there 1000+ people interested in what I had for lunch and what manner of t-shirt I am wearing daily?

I mean, even allowing for bots and PR people, that's still, like, a couple dozen actual followers.

Of course, I reckon the fact that I had funky49 unwittingly campaigning on my behalf probably didn't hurt matters.

Now, with that aside, on to Nerd News in Brief.

• Wrock Meets Wrap: It's kind of short notice, but Harry and the Potters will be playing a free show with Wiz Rapper extraordinaire MC Kreacher today at the Brooklyn Public Library’s Main Branch. Show starts at 3:00 PM, so get a move on!
• Just Like Spinal Tap: In other Potters news, the band is currently in the market for a new drummer. New England-area percussionists are encouraged to jump on this shit.
• Subtle, Like a Knife: Matt was also quick to tell me that Wrockers Lauren Myrtle and Whompy have started a new band called Armoured Bearcub, the music of which will center on Pullman's His Dark Materials. Check out the duo's MySpace for a taste.
• All About NEETs: Word from the house of Olson is that Ultraklystron has "pulled a Random" and released a stripped-down freebie version of his recent full-length The Fourth Estate. Karl also entered a track into the Nerdcore Rising Song Fight! competition, which you can find linked from his site.
• Pssssst! Over here!: I heard a rumor that Dual Core's got some t-shirts on the way. Seriously, man, peep the action shot! When will they be available? How much will they cost? Beats me, but I'll share details as they I learn them.
• Flavor is in the Tongue of the Beholder: Krondor Krew's Masu was nice enough to hip me to several new limited edition flavors of Jones Soda. Themed around D&D, if you can believe it!
• Cityspeak: Thanks to my boy Brooks for restoring my faith in technology. Yes, Nissan engineers are working to make their electronic cars sound like the spinners featured in Blade Runner. In related news, Carlos Ghosn is a replicant.
• Play the Game: And, of course, Church sent me my requisite "geek chic" story. Let's see here… thick eyeglasses… comic books… reference to Revenge of the Nerds… sweater vests… BINGO! I got geek chic BINGO!
• Do Not Feed After Midnight: This week, mc chris finally released a full set of dates for his fall Gremlins Tour. Now the only question is, do I catch him and I Fight Dragons in nearby Columbia, SC, or do I make the drive to the ATL?
• Wait... Maybe They Are: Much nerd love to my friend and provider of bandwidth Antisoc for giving me lots to write about this week. In the past few days he's not only released an excellent chiptune remix of MC Lars's "White Kids Are Hyphy," but also an appropriately hyper video for his track "Caffeine Trip" and his own drunken podcast. It's the Antisoc hat trick!
• Party Like a Rockstar: Jason Rockstar also jumped on this year's Drunken Podcasting Month festivities by putting together his own drunkcast. It features a new track from Schaffer the Darklord, and also lots and lots of slurring.
• In Living Color: And while you're out there downloading things, promise me you'll snag AlienBobz new live sets from Beefy, Southside and People Within. They are all freely available at archive.org. Now promise me!
• Bleep on the Street: And last but not least, big ups to Zen Albatross for sharing the Crunchy Co Records video recap of the Lo-Tek Resistance chiptune guerilla concert from this year's PAX. It closes out this week's NNIB on a high note.

Nerd News in Brief

It's always great when a independent, intrinsically geeky musical community gets some major media attention. Yet it's all the more crushing when that spotlight, rather than shine on the true face of the scene, instead chooses to highlight only what it wants to see.

Such is the case with TIME's recent piece on the Kind of Bloop chiptune tribute album. Therein, the interviewing journalist misquotes (the ever-living fuck out of) artist Shnabubula.

Check out the whole story, and help spread the word.

• Hold the Beef: Beefy has just launched a new BBS at his site beefyness.com. Mr. Thompson states that these forums will be a well-mannered and low-key hangout for fans of nerdcore, JALP and other flavors of geekery. Join up and feel the love.
• Twice Removed: Superpowerless has been mad prolific this week. His YouTube channel has been ablaze with new solo content and the triumphant return of Scared of Dinosaurs, but most impressive is his remix of The Grammar Club cover of Jonathan Coulton's classic "Code Monkey." Can you say meta?
• Truth Hits Everybody: New info from the Centers for Disease Control suggests that most gamers are old, fat and miserable. This, however, does not explain the wealth of 12-year-olds calling me a fag on Xbox Live.
• Know the Name: MC Lars and K.Flay have dropped a new video for the debut single from their Single and Famous EP. It's the title track, and it will likely make you call your ex and demand all your shit back.
• Sock It!: This week, a cat got over a million Twitter followers. To commemorate this auspicious occasion, MC Frontalot wrote a new song. I could get all emo over this, but Front wrote a song about me ages ago!
• Ultra-Mega OK: Megaran has pitched a panel idea for SXSW 2010 entitled "Video Games and Hip-Hop: Making the Connection." Go vote it up at PanelPicker and help drag the gaming industry further away from shitty soundtracks!
• It's a Party: mc chris will be celebrating his birthday this year at Atlanta's Dragon*Con. RSVP to let him know how many Yoda cupcakes to bring – the party is Star Wars-themed – and to volunteer for the decorating committee.
• Nerds, Gender and Introversion: Church points you in the direction of this Washington City Paper post concerning why nerds can be so damn sexist, then Matt counters with this Bitch Magazine article about gender in the (heavily female-slanted) communities of Wrock and Twi-rock. Lastly, Jason completes the cultural hat-trick with this Comics 212 piece about the new "post-otaku" movement.
• My Hero: Also from Matt comes fantastic news for all of my brothers and sisters who are, like me, shit-scared of the undead. When the zombie apocalypse ultimately arrives, math may be on our side!
• Kick Back: For those who have been sitting on their hands with regard to Dual Core's newest masterpiece, please be aware that Next Level is now available from the Amazon MP3 store. You're really running out of reasons not to buy it.
• Maja League: Once again our boy Maja finds himself on the receiving end of some good press. This time southwestern MC made an appearance on his local FOX affiliate. Check out this vlog of the event on his YouTube channel.
• RAWK!: And while you're getting your YouTube on, be sure to check out P4KO's rocked up cover of the Street Fighter II credits song ("Ready to Fight"). You can also score an MP3 version of the track if you like. And you will like.
• Gonna Make You Sweat: One final piece of necessary YouTubery comes from our sock puppet pals Uncle Monsterface. They are gonna whip that ass into shape with some "Sweat Sexxxy." And you can rock out with the guys themselves this Sunday at the Coney Island Museum. It's their last show of the summer, so be sure to come out!
• Legendary: Closing us out this week is another great piano piece from Kento. This time around he's playing a lengthy Zelda medley with the help of randomly drawn title and mood cards. It's a very cool concept that I don't think has received the proper attention as of yet. Give it a look-see.