Mid-Week Awesome

Next week, most of us Yanks get some time off to celebrate our independence, wherein we will grill things, get real drunk and play with explosives. The following weekend is Nerdapalooza, wherein we will… well, do pretty much the same things. But this week? Well, this week we are stuck in the dreaded doldrums.

But rather than look at this as dead space or down time, I prefer to see it as the calm before the storm. As a veritable prelude to awesomeness.

Yet even in that frame of mind I can't help but be antsy. So I have done what I always do when I find myself need of spontaneous mood-elevation; I've turned to my friends.

If you, like me, are trying to make this week into something a bit more enjoyable than simply biding time, I humbly suggest the following delightful distractions:

Kicking Back:
Remember that Next Level leak I got to hear from int eighty a couple of weekends back? Well, Dual Core has now favored the entire Interwebz with a sneak peak at the new album. More specifically, eighty talks some about the project and previews "Kick Back," which is shaping up to my new favorite song.

Who You Gonna Call?:
After another brief hiatus, Beefy and Jones are back with a new episode of Just Another Lazy Podcast. I found this one is particularly amusing, and not just because there's a lengthy segment about me. The boys talk Ghostbusters, new phones and part-time models. I dare you not to be amused.

Band on the Run:
For those of us who missed Schaffer the Darklord's debut with his new backing band The Darklords, take heart! STD has got your YouTube hook-up. I have recently fallen in love with their reinterpretation of old school Schaffer classic "Your Band." Oldsters like me will notice that the song's lead-in is actually a cover of Twisted Sister's "Burn in Hell," as made famous in Pee-wee's Big Adventure. But it's equally important to note that lovely bassist Dr. Darklord is actually Scaff's wife. (Yes, she is a real doctor!)

Punch-drunk:
And lastly, Seattle hip-hop institution Southside will shortly be releasing the follow-up to Radio Free Hipster staple Please Southside, Don't Hurt 'Em. I've been fortunate enough to spend the last week listening to a pre-release version of the new album, but everyone gets a chance to score the Southside Liquors promo EP. I can't seem to get it to unzip, but perhaps you'll have better luck. (EDIT: It wasn't just me; the zip was corrupt. Thankfully, Southside is re-uploading as I type this. A new link is forthcoming.) New link is here!

Nerd News in Brief

Any outlet can promise you tomorrow's news today, but what about yesterday's news?

If no news is good news, then what about old news? Isn't that still newsworthy?

I am of the opinion that just because you already know it doesn't mean it's no longer important. As such, here is last week's Nerd News in Brief.

Take that, traditional journalism!

• Shtick to It: MC Lars's This Gigantic Robot Kills received a favorable review from AllMusic, which aptly pegged the release as having some of his "catchiest songs yet." But then again, you already knew that.
• The Cropduster: Shael Riley is rocking the Chester A. Arthur. If this means nothing to you, you are deficient in your knowledge of American presidents. And you also obviously don't follow our Twitter exchanges closely enough.
• Styrofoam Peanuts: Recently, nerd rock luminary Weird Al Yankovic dropped a new Doors-flavored single called "Craigslist." My only complaint? No allusions to prostitution.
• Wizards & Warriors: I typically characterize our Wizard Rocking brothers and sisters as the most civil of our kind, but let there be no mistakin'; they too can let the claws out. For example, last week Dinah wrote a piece about the evolution of The Parselmouths, which culminated in a suggestion that perhaps the band should change their name to reflect their new style. At that point, shit got real. Thankfully, it looks as though the community has managed to work things out amicably.
• Smarten up Your Playlist: GeekDad Brian recently turned me on to the Skeptic's Mix Tape 2009, a collection of delightfully geeky tracks about science, skepticism and critical thinking that are kid-friendly, catchy as hell and also free. And no, "Origin of the Species" did not make the cut.
• Taking it Back: Meanwhile, GeekMom Natania passed on this jewel. It's a piece from artist Erik Stell about our tenuous ownership of the word "geek." I was pleased to find that Eric seemingly takes a similar stance as me with regard to the essence of nerd culture, and I especially like his parallel of surviving abuse as "paying one's dues." Well said, my brother.
• You're Gonna Like the Way You Look: And on the subject of "geek chic," Church sends in this abomination. As a nerd, I am offended by this dissection of our apparent "style." As a fan of fashion, I am equally offended that the AP quotes some dude from Men’s Wearhouse.
• A Woman Scorned: The Geek Girl Diva got some props last week from NewsARama for her scathing criticism of the LA Time's wholly insulting "Girls’ Guide to Comic Con." Go ahead and read the whole thing. It's totally worth it.
• He's Feeling Numb: Also from Church comes this link to an audiobook version of William Gibson's Neuromancer. It's read by Gibson and includes music by U2. I imagine listening to it will somehow alleviate Third World debt. Probably through clever manipulation of the Matrix.
• BattleStarTrektica: It's a summer of glorious performances of sci-fi music as far as the eye can see! Assuming, of course, that your eyes only see SoCal and Texas.
• 1.21 Gigawatts: Also on the road this summer is your boy Random. Capcom has sponsored Ran's "Back to the Future Tour," which will be bringing videogame-based hip-hop to the nation. Look, some dates! June 22, 2009 @ The Cavern, Dallas, TX; June 25, 2009 @ Café Coco, Nashville, TN; June 26, 2009 @ Tacony Billiards Club, Philadelphia, PA; July 3, 2009 @ Dubland Underground, Rochester, NY; July 9, 2009 @ Midtown Tavern, Harrisburg, PA; July 17-18, 2009 @ Otakon (Baltimore Conv Center), Baltimore, MD; July 25, 2009 @ Comic-Con (San Diego Conv Center), SD, CA; August 15, 2009 @ San-Japan, San Antonio, TX.
• Because You Demanded It: You look sad. Are none of the aforementioned events near your locality? Then why not use Eventful to request Chicago's chip-rocking powerhouse I Fight Dragons hit up your zip code? It's super easy.
• Giving the Devil His Due: mc chris's latest EP, Part 1 Part 6 is now available on iTunes. As iTunes is inherently evil, it's really a nice match.
• Shameful: Meanwhile, the venerable MC Frontalot has released a new single from his latest Final Boss. "Shame of the Otaku" is available for download right the fuck here. He's also made a couple of commission pieces available over here.
• Corny Elmo T-shirts: At their recent Hot Topic in-house, funky49 , Krondor Krew's Shinobi Onibocho and EPP's MC Wreckshin covered MC Lar's "Hot Topic (is Not Punk Rock)." And funk read the lyrics off his phone. Which is also not punk rock.

Making the Kessel Run

I'm afraid that this week's Nerd News in Brief has been unavoidably delayed. I do, however, have a fairly legitimate excuse. You see, today I am doing the unthinkable; actively promoting a project.

I have, on numerous occasions, characterized myself as being "allergic to hype." I started Hipster, please! to spread the nerdy gospel, but I did so with the caveat that I refused to beat people about the head with my message. I am of the opinion that if you simply leverage your energy to do what you love good things will come. And while this has certainly proven to be true, that doesn't necessarily mean that said good things will come immediately. This is how I have maintained what I sometimes jokingly refer to as "the world's oldest and least successful nerd music and culture Web log."

Yesterday I was informed, however, that Radio Free Hipster's nomination for Speculative Fiction Podcast of the Year has been accepted for this year's Parsec Awards.

First, I want to take a moment to thank everyone who helped get my name in the hat. When Church first suggested that I was somehow eligible for such an award, I was skeptical. But, as fantastical worlds are very much a part of geeky music, I couldn't exactly argue. Moreover, I was even more skeptical that anyone would take the time to go through the nomination process - not to mention the fact that I felt like a tool for bringing it up - but many of you did, and that really means a lot.

In order for the trick to work, however, I now find myself attempting to distill a year's worth of podcasts into a 10 minute "highlight reel." It ain't easy, but if you took this seriously enough to put my name out there, I damn sure better take it seriously enough to give it a proper go.

Even with my characteristic self-deprecation aside, I don't see myself as having any real chance of winning this thing. But as the old adage goes, it is an honor just to be nominated.

Hark! A Press Release!

As if you hadn't noticed my incessant yammering regarding the event, it is once again Nerdapalooza season.

I'm going; are you?

No?

Thefuckyousay! Take a gander at this here press release, and perhaps you'll be motivated to reconsider.

The Best in Town

It is no secret that, due to my rural isolation, I rarely get the chance to catch my favorite acts without a significant road trip involved. Thus, when int eighty emailed me to say he would be in nearby Clemson, SC for SoutheEast|LinuxFest, I was ecstatic. I have literally been a fan of Dual Core since the opening strains of their debut album Zero One, and after Josh (my best friend and regular travelling companion) and I hung out with him at Nerdapalooza '08, a similarly instantaneous bond was formed.

Last Saturday, Josh drove down from Charlotte, picking me up on the way, and we headed to my state's premiere town-built-around-a-college. Once there, we were reunited with eighty and introduced to the one and only Remington Forbes (fellow Cincinnati native and eighty's longtime friend/collaborator) at local restaurant, watering hole and stuffed penguin sanctuary Rock Hoppers. As the sun went down and the DJ's set came to a close, it was show time.

The set itself was phenomenal! Short but undeniably sweet. Eighty brought it every bit as hard for a room full of a few dozen Linux faithful – a group to which I will henceforth refer as to "Free as in Beards" crowd – as he did for a whole bar full of nerdcore fans at 'Palooza. And Remy, who I'd never had the pleasure of hearing live before, came correct despite the fact that he spent his entire time at the venue leading up to the show tossing back beers with me. Suffice it to say that it was well worth the drive just to catch them performing "Cipher Punks," one of my favorite tracks from the Zero One.

Stuff started off with an impromptu run-in, a crazy idea from eighty that Josh and I fully endorsed. After that, Remy and eighty favored us with some of their unique on-stage chemistry and literate, technological rhymes.

The order of the day (night?) was freestyling, which both rappers performed expertly. And between the well-rehearsed verses and the improvised lyricism, the guys managed to keep their intended audience – which included the young attendee who served as the band's own S1 – enthralled while even eliciting interest from the venue's other patrons.

After the show, eighty, Remy, Josh and I claimed a booth and shot the proverbial shit. It was here that I received my fair share of that free beer that Linux lovers are always talking about, as the drink tickets were plentiful. We talked Nerdapalooza line-up, operating systems, building climbing vs. dumpster diving, the evils of purple drank and, of course, hip-hop.

Due to South Carolina blue laws, our guests got to experience what we sometimes refer to in the local parlance as being "closed out" – the bar stopped serving shortly before midnight and then turned the house lights up to persuade those of us who had settled into drunken stupors to vacate the premises – but that just gave us a chance to step outside and get a quick album preview.

A small crowd gathered around Josh's truck as eighty played a trio of early mixes from Dual Core's forthcoming release Next Level. Both to maintain whatever meager "journalistic integrity" I may possess and because eighty is a friend, I won't elaborate too much as to what we heard, but I can tell you that the tracks further expanded upon the Dual Core sound we've come to love. Lyrically, eighty was as on point as ever, and, musically-speaking, c64 seemed to be working with instrumental beds that were a bit denser and noticeably sharper. This, in turn, gave the selections an almost darkly futuristic feel. Of particular note was the final cut, which used an urgent vocal hook that sampled, among other things, an easily recognizable line from a Dual Core guest rapper from a previous release.

Throughout the night it was revealed that Remington Forbes was on track to be featured on a cut or two, and eighty revealed that a new song I had previously heard would also be tapped for Next Level. From all I heard, I have to admit that this has easily jumped to the top of my most anticipated albums list, and, knowing eighty, I'm sure he'll be more than willing to keep me in the loop as it comes together. (And I'll also let slip that there was an insinuation that some of this new material could conceivably be performed live at this summer's Nerdapalooza. /fingers crossed)

So, in summation: Josh and I had a great time hanging out with int eighty again, Remington Forbes is a gentleman and a scholar (and a die-hard KRS fan), the set was short but amazing and the new Dual Core album is shaping up to be a worthy successor to their previous exemplary work. Oh, and also, eighty will totally get you drunk if you're not careful. Consider yourselves warned.

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 68: Country Mouse, City Mouse

I've been making a lot of theme-less episodes of the podcast lately. This is another one.

I sometimes wonder which people like more: heavily conceptual shows with specific subject matter or these less structured editions. I reckon the harsh truth is I'm the only one who puts that much thought in to it. Most of you just come here for the music, which is really the whole point.

This ep. in particular works in some fairly disparate elements. It's got a nice heavy movement in the middle of the first set, and winds down the second with significantly more pop sensibility. It was also a good opportunity to spotlight a number of new releases. Most of which are free, so be sure to follow up.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 68: Country Mouse, City Mouse [hosting provided by Antisoc] Size: 45 MB Running Time: 49:12

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy) "
Because there truly is no better way to start the day.

Track 1: Reaper dialog / mc chris – "mc chris ownz Paper Planes (M.I.A. Remix)"
No offense to my brother Marty, but I am livid that Doll House gets another season while Reaper gets shitcanned. Well, I suppose there's always syndication.

Z's 1st interlude: "Hello, friends and neighbors."
In real life my neighbors are seldom my friends.

Track 2: Jay Tholen vs Shael Riley – "Dial-Up Town"
Shael Riley is my favorite thing to happen to digital pitch correction since Auto-Tune the News.

Track 3: Southside – "Downtown"
Word on the Twitter is that Southside has a new albums in the works. I am greatly pleased by this.

Track 4: Marc with a C – "This Stuff Is Gonna Kill Me"
Marc has a ton of free stuff at his site. I suggest you head over there and snag some of it. It's perfect for summer listening.

Track 5: The Ranger – "Gonna Be (Digital Nasty Remix)"
Is it wrong that I find Ranger's admission that he's training his young daughters to be revolutionaries nothing short of heartwarming?

Track 6: Bloodhag – "Douglas Adams"
Go buy Hellbent for Letters. It will change your life for the better.

Track 7: Year 200X – "Metal Gear"
I'm gonna go ahead and say that Year 200X is my favorite game covers band. It's the truth!

Track 8: Dr. Awkward – "Next Gen (ft. KABUTO THE PYTHON)"
KABUTO does a lot of collabs, but I think he and Awkward gel completely. Both are talented, intelligent, occasionally offensive and always entertaining.

Track 9: Optimus Rhyme – "Anxiety (live)"
"Bring the Jackson 5 back."

Z's 2nd interlude: "The electronic alter-ego of nerdcore hip-hopper signed long int."
Big up to SLI/Dmitri!

Track 10: Magitek – "Weapon Select Thugmasta J" / Doctor Horrible laugh
MisterB would like to remind you to download Odd Entities. I second that emotion.

Track 11: Wordburlgar – "The Route"
Burg's live version of this at Nerdaaplooza SE '08 was unbelievable.

Track 12: Coldplay – "Clocks (killsaly's breakbeat mash)"
killsaly does some of my favorite remixes. I can't figure out why more artists don't hit him up for collabs!

Track 13: Uncle Monsterface – "Heart"
I am still holding out hope for an Animal Crossing remix of this track.

Track 14: Jonathan Coulton – "Take Care of Me"
Accordion solo. Need I say more?

Z's final interlude: "While I sort of missed the boat on the whole Coldplay thing."
Because of my life-threatening allergy to drive-time DJs, I don't listen to the radio. As a result, I tend to miss out on a lot of artists until they are wholly insulated by hype. Maybe that explains it.

Track 15: Snake Eyes – "Chocolate Treadmill"
I now have a new favorite Snake Eyes song.

With a road trip looming, I think the next episode is gonna centered on travel music. After that, it's anybody's guess.

Whether or not I'll even have time to drop yet another podcast in early July (before I leave for Orlando) is still up in the air. But, failing that, I do have another pet project I've been working on that might serve as a substitute. We'll just have to see.

Until then, comments and requests are greatly appreciated.

Further Down the Rabbit Hole

I've already mentioned the various shades of weirdness going on with My Parents' Favorite Music, right? Hacked MySpace, Japanese schoolgirl abduction, time travel and the like? Well, I am… uh… pleased(?) to announce that stuff just managed to get even more bizarre.

This morning I stepped out of the shower to find a text from Steffo. Well, at least it said it was from Steffo.

It read as follows:

Hey its Steffo. Don't worry I'm not dead. Just had to find my window to get some internet time without the ladies knowing and well I had to tell you guys something. I recieved a letter. Now I have everything I need. Come the 16th these girls wont know what hit em.

There was also an image file included, which I am sort of hoping just didn't dither properly on my little enV2.

At any rate, I'm assuming this is for public consumption, so I figured I'd toss it out there. Anybody want to venture a guess as to what the hell this thing is?

If nothing else, I assume all will be revealed tomorrow. Which is good. As right now I've got nothing but questions.

Nerd News in Brief

Hey, you know what's happening this weekend, right? You don't?! For shame!

Tonight, funky49, MC Wreckshin and Krondor Krew will perform live at the Hot Topic in Tampa's University Mall. Show up. Hear music. Buy ironic t-shirts.

Tomorrow night is a eastern seaboard double-header, as infernal fiend Schaffer the Darklord premieres a newly retooled set featuring his backing band the Darklords at Arlene's Grocery. Meanwhile, in my own Clemson, SC, int eighty of Dual Core will play the SouthEast|LinuxFest after party at Rockhoppers.

Suffice it to say, this weekend the east coast is bringing the noise.

• Contest of Champions: Summer means contests, and this one's a veritable beast. OverClocked ReMix in association with 8 Bit Weapon and Nokia have put together a remix challenge that can only be called epic. In short, the artist who best remixes/reinterprets the music from 8BW's Reset Generation soundtrack will win, among other wicked-awesome stuff, a brand new Nokia N81 with 8GB of memory and Reset Generation pre-installed. Hit up OCR for full details, and then get to work!
• All the Way Live: And speaking of 8 Bit Weapon, here are some pics from their recent E3 after party. It was hosted by Girl Gamer and Digital LA at The Conga Room. And it was obviously awesome.
• Sale of the Century: Harry and the Potters have a trio of WRock shows lined up in the coming weeks. On June 19th they'll be at Oldham Elementary in Norwood, MA, on the 20th they're at Brooklyn's the Bell House and on the 21st you can catch them at Philadelphia's First Unitarian Church. The band is also having a $5 CD sale through their Web store, so you'll definitely wanna check that out!
• 100% USDA Grain-fed Geek: MadHatter and our friends from the Heartland have a lot going on at the Scrub Club stronghold. New models, new music and new plans are the order of the day. See the Scrub Club hub for more details.
• He's Our Beyonce: Random has recently released a track about Halo from the (apparently) abandoned Cartridge Family project. Peep the hotness at Ran's board.
• The Power Within: For years fellow fans have been asking me what became of former Optimus Rhyme collaborator Broken English. At long last, I have an answer. If you still use the MySpace, be sure to give these guys a friend request.
• Free to Be: Thanks to Kyle of Nitro Game Injection for hipping me to this piece from GameSetWatch. It contains a translated version of the "Falcom Music Free Declaration" from the site of Japanese game developer/publisher Falcom. It essentially invites "both commercial and non-commercial groups to use songs from its remarkable catalog without any charge or prior permission for television shows, radio programs, commercials, web sites, concert performances, and more, so long as a copyright notice is included."
• Hip to be Square: Laura Klotz posted an interested piece to the Geek Girls Network blog earlier this week about the reclamation of the term geek. She also discusses several instances of lady geeks in popular culture including one Liz Lemon, who's been, as Church points out, getting ample props of late.
• You Don't Say!: Jason from Geek Studies passes on news of another geek outing. This time Energy Secretary Steven Chu admits he's a nerd. Really? You don't say, Steve!
  
• Ye Olde Sourcebook: Matt is a good friend. Knowing my love obscure manuscripts and also realizing that I don't typically follow XKCD too closely, he sent me a link to this little jewel. It all makes sense now.
• Guthurt: My (occasionally) Charleston-based brother ProjektZero is currently selling beats for $5 a pop. More specifically, he's selling said beats to try and earn a little scratch to cover some whopping medical bills. Give this a read and give some thought to picking up an instrumental from PZ for your next project.
• Firaga!: At 33, I have officially crossed that line where buying toys for myself is completely unsettling to all involved. Still, I can't help but want one of these Black Mage figures. They are made of plastic and win.
• Blockhead: funky49 knows the children are our future. Teach them well, and let them create giant robot exosuits.
• Across the Pond: Anthony points out that UK geek rocker DanPlusAdd has put a new face on his recently resurrected homepage. Give it a look-see for all pertinent information concerning the folksy Brit, and be sure to join his mailing list.
• Clothe Thyself: Also from the shores of the honky motherland comes news of sexy new Superpowerless shirts. Mommy, why is that teddy bear so sad?
• Tetrominosexual: Mike Damanskis is a sick, sick man. So much so that he elected to celebrate 25 years of Tetris by concocting the Hardcore Tetris Orgy. And I love him for it. This one's not safe for work and will likely dismantle your childhood. But it's kinda worth it.
• All My Little Handhelds: Matt also wanted to share this find by the great Neil Gaiman. It's a Magnetic Fields cover as performed via LSDJ.
• 75% Awesome: Sadly, it appears as if our friends at PBC Productions have decided they will not, in fact, favor us with another season of The New Adventures of Captain S. So take a moment and reflect on how a straight-D student became a hero to us all. Now tip the bottle.

New Traditionalists

The misconception about traditions is that we've always observed them. Though it may certainly seem like it, your family hasn't always gone directly for their stockings first thing on Christmas morning. Your dad hasn't always taken your mom dancing for their anniversary. Your grandpa hasn't always gotten drunk and went on a lengthy tirade about immigrants at Thanksgiving dinner. (Okay, maybe he has, but that's just because he's an ill-tempered and indisputably racist old drunk.)

That I'm saying here is that every tradition starts out as just some crazy idea. These customs become more accepted and widely observed over time until their eventual mass adoption, but each germinates from a modest or otherwise unremarkable proposal. These rituals that so strengthen our bonds and further foster community cohesion all begin their lives as idle suggestions. And I'd like to make one of my own.

Nerdapalooza is fast on its way to becoming a true geek institution. Each year we gather in Orlando for a weekend of music, fun, fellowship and beer. While that may be enough for some, I think it's time we take it to the next level.

With each new iteration, Nerdapalooza's players and participants and attendees change. The venue shifts. But that's all well and good because the all-important spirit stays the same. But what if we supplement this spirit with a dose of tradition?

I'm not calling for anything drastic, mind you, just something easy and fun. Another little touchstone to get excited about amid the larger hallmark of geekdom that is the festival itself.

My idea is to encourage participating artists to work a cover song into their set. Sure, it's not the most earth-shattering of proposals, but it's simple and it has a certain charm.

Keep in mind that this is just a suggestion; I am in no way, shape or form the governing body of nerd music. This is just a silly idea from a silly old man. Just something to add a little more palpable level of consistency to an event that is purposefully malleable.

Hell, I'm not even married to this idea myself! In fact, I'd love to hear each of your suggestions for potential Nerdapalooza traditions. I love the event and I'm thrilled for the opportunity to simply attend, but I can't help but think it's time we add another layer to the Nerdapalooza soufflé.

Pay it Forward

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

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

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

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

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

• Spread the Word:
  The easiest thing a fan or fellow scenester can do to support Nerdapalooza is to simply talk about the event. Mention it to your gaming group, at your comic shop, on your blog, through your social networking site of choice or in your favorite BBS. Link to the official event blog or the Nerdapalooza Twitter account. Remember what Bob Geldof taught us, raising awareness is sometimes as important as raising money.
• Spread the Love:
  You can also help lessen Nerdapalooza' s financial burden by volunteering at the event. In exchange for pledging 3 hours of your time each day selling merch, corralling bands and helping set up the stage, you get free access into the event. You also get the chance to interact directly with the featured acts, and Hex and company are more than willing to make sure your volunteer time doesn't interfere with you catching your favorites as they perform. For more info on the volunteer program, email volunteer@nerdapaloozafest.com.
• Spread the Green:
  The most obvious way to help Nerdapalooza is, of course, to hit them with some dough. The event has its own donations page ready to accept Paypal contributions of any size. Those looking for a potential return on their investment should also check out Game Music 4 All's "Get to Nerdapalooza" fundraiser. This raffle contest offers you a chance to win CDs, specialty swag and even a dinner date with the lovely Lo Tech (of "Dungeons & Dragons Rap: Part One" fame.) And if you're looking for an even more unorthodox approach to financially supporting Nerdapalooza 2009, I'd even suggest hitting up your favorite act from the confirmed artists roster and asking if you can donate directly to their travel fund.

In the end, there's no wrong way to support Nerdapalooza. Whether with time, money or goodwill, whatever you give will surely be greatly appreciated. And, most importantly, it will ultimately help our community continue to support children in need.

Nerd News in Brief

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

But I still had Twitter.

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

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

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

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

Hipster-Free Singles Club Vol. 1

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

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

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

Or has it?

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

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

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

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

Oh, and available for free!

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

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

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

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

In its entirety (RAR format)

Single file downloads:

Front Cover by Dave "The Knave" White

Back Cover by Dave "The Knave" White

Printable CD Cover by Dave "The Knave" White

Track 1: Hidari – "ChocolaTommy"

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

Track 3: Snake Eyes – "Chocolate Treadmill"

Playlist File

Liner Notes

Nerd News in Brief

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Show Notes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DON'T PANIC

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nerd News in Brief

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

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

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

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

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 66: Lovely and Talented

The title of this episode comes from my recent introduction (on that other podcast) of Marian Call, though frankly I use the same idiom around here fairly regularly. It's become a well-worn broadcast meme in itself, and, to be honest, I reckon it's almost a little demeaning if you look at it critically.

I guess the difference is I actually mean it. Whether it's Marian or Switchblade Kittens or Zombies! Organize!!, I really do find their musical contributions exquisite (lovely) and their aptitude notable (talented).

Still, perhaps this simply serves to underscore the unique brand of misogyny that runs rampant in our subculture. Just as women are often marginalized in the mainstream, so do they receive a similar disservice within geekdom. Perhaps worst of all, these geek girls must also cope with the mock surprise associated with being a female adherent to the stereotypical male discipline of nerdery.

I talk a bit about this in this edition of the show, but mostly I just attempt spotlight the female voice – both literal and figuratively – in nerd music.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 66: Lovely and Talented (hosting provided by Antisoc) Size: 45.3 MB Running Time: 49:30

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
If Baddd Spellah was a woman, he'd be sassy dame!

Track 1: I Fight Dragons vs. Imogen Heap – "The Process"
Imogen Heap is, despite her Grammy nods and mainstream accolades, a supporter of nerdy endeavors. Don't believe me? Ask Pixelh8.

Z's 1st interlude: "Yet another mash-up, albeit with a totally different feel."
There are a lot of bootlegs in this ep, but I tried to incorporate examples that used female vocals in different ways.

Track 2: Danzig vs. Missy Elliot – "Wicked Missycat"
Unlike "The Process," which layers vocals, "Wicked Missycat" instead juxtaposes Elliot's rhymes over some melancholy metal. I find the results pleasing.

Track 3: Nursehella – "Keep It Real (Represent My Nuts)"
Sadly, Nursehella has a relatively meager back catalog, but, as scant as it may be, it's truly impressive.

Track 4: 1337 Geek Beat – "Hutzumi"
I haven't played track since episode 16, and oh how I've missed it!

Track 5: 8 Bit Weapon – "Closer (Bitpop Mix)"
I recently reviewed the previous 8 Bit Weapon full-length. As I recall, I said some really nice things. Those also apply to their new Electric High EP.

Track 6: Switchblade Kittens – "She Has a Rep"
Only the Kittens could get away with a concept album based on the works of Meg Cabot. Though the references are lost on me, the songs themselves are pop perfection.

Track 7: Lauren Fairweather – "I Want You to Whomp Me"
Wizard Rock is renowned for its female-friendly slant, and because of that I actively limited the amount of WRock in this episode. I didn't want my selections to be too predictable.

Track 8: K.Flay – "I Rap Nice (UM Stream mix)"
While certainly not nerdcore, K.Flay made her presence known to dorks everywhere via some stellar contributions to The Digital Gangster LP. Since that time I have played a lot of her work around the house, both for my own enjoyment and in the hopes that it will inspire my daughter to become a suburban rap queen!

Z's 2nd interlude: "Interspersed throughout that set you also heard snippets of Majel Barrett-Roddenberry."
Because of this ep's proximity to the release of the new Star Trek re-imagining, this seemed like a obvious choice.

Track 9: Wendy Carlos – "Two Part Invention in D Minor"
Thanks again to Krys for this suggestion. I think it fit perfectly!

Track 10: Little Red Car Wreck – "Static Cling"
LRCW's Motor Like a Mother was the original inspiration for this episode. Thanks, Doc!

Track 11: Zombies! Organize!! – "Crunk in the Mall"
My love of Z!O!! is well established. I find there fusion of nerdcore, art rock and minimalist synth arrangements intoxicating.

Track 12: Echo Slightly – "Echo Slightly"
This one was a last minute addition to the show. Captain Dan sent me a copy of their release Birds Fly South, and I have to say that it's some wonderful downtempo.

Track 13: Marian Call – "I'll Still Be a Geek"
Marian Call is an amazingly talented songwriter, and her voice is hauntingly beautiful. It's not exactly standard fare for RFH, but I hope y'all enjoy it.

Z's final interlude: "I think we should know better."
I am as guilty as anybody when it comes to playing into old gender stereotypes with regard to nerds. Still, I promise to work on it if you will.

Track 14: The Reborn Identity – "Ladykillers"
Ladyhawke? Not so nerdy, but I think there's some geek appeal to her work. Plus, her grocery list of medical ailments (everything from sever drug allergies to Asperger's) should make for a sympathetic case to frail dorks everywhere.

My pal Jason is fond of saying that one manifestation of nerd culture is a flagrant disregard for gender roles. But while it's true that geeky guys may reject traditionally macho endeavors, that doesn't somehow make us immune to sexism. Women are an important part of our culture, and until we can let go of this outdated notion that nerdery is a boys club, then we are just as narrow-minded as our one-time tormentors.

When the mainstream media is seemingly startled by the notion that there are female gamers, comic fans or geeky musicians, it's a little silly. When we on the inside react the same way, it's actually rather insulting.

Again, I know I'm as guilty of this as anyone, but I do think it's time we reexamined how we perceive the ladies in our midst. They are not oddities or conversation pieces; they are our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters. And they are every bit as important to our culture as their male counterparts.