Get Yer T-shirts Here!

Okay, so not here, per se, but you can get Hipster, please! t-shirts from our friends at NerdRockstar.

Yes, at long last you can proclaim your undying affection for the web's longest running (and least successful) nerd music and culture blog. And who wouldn't wanna do that?

But wait; there's more!

Not only does this t-shirt cover your naked chesticles and promote hipsterplease.com, it also boasts references to both Harry Potter and Dungeons & Dragons. That's right, kids, mix metaphors in a way that only a true nerd would by sporting this attractive tee with the Hipster, please! logo text presented in that undeniable Harry Potter typeface with the flavor text "and the plus one shirt of rocking."

"So," you're saying, "this is also an enchanted artifact that will also give me +1 to rock? But how can this be, Z?"

Short answer: magic. A double dose.

And how much would you expect to pay for such a fine piece of apparel? 10 dollars? 15 dollars? 20 dollars?

Fuck that noise; these bad boys are only $6.66, because my DarkLord demands it!

But be aware that this item will only be available for the duration of NerdRockstar's special T-shirt Sacrifice Sale. And once they're gone, they're gone.

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 72: Where a Kid Can be a Kid

Themed episodes of Radio Free Hipster are becoming fewer and far between, but this one was a request, of sorts, so I took the plunge. Plus, it's always fun to have my son help put together the song lists. Even if now he is more interested in Phineas and Ferb than in recording with his old man.

Still, talking about youth and childhood is a double-edged sword, because it also opens the door to talking about aging and the long, rough road of maturity. I tried to hit on both this time around. I hope you're happy with the results.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 72: Where a Kid Can be a Kid [hosting provided by Antisoc] Size: 39 MB Running Time: 42:42

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
This theme song keeps me young.

Track 1: Go Home Productions – "GHP Goes Bananas"
Looking back, those Sid and Marty Krofft shows were genuinely fucked up.

Z's 1st interlude: "I decided that today's ep. should be kinda chill."
Yes, since the next show will be a drunken podcast, I figured this time around I should keep shit low key.

Track 2: Chiptots – "ABC"
The only person who loves this cover more than Li'l X. is his dear old dad!

Track 3: Math the Band – "Homework Sucks"
Math has a new album out. You should buy it.

Track 4: Dave Chappelle dialog / Uncle Monsterface – "Baby Blip"
I long for the day when my own kids will make me macaroni jewelry.

Track 5: Jonathan Coulton – "Rock and Roll Boy"
"When I was born I was a young boy. / Now I'm grown, I am a old boy."

Track 6: Beefy – "Ball Pit"
This song makes me wistful. There's just something about the quality of Beefy's voice in this one that always gets me.

Track 7: Tenacious D – "Baby"
Sometimes it just feels good to follow a Beef Thompson joint with the D.

Track 8: McVaffe - "Yoshi's Lullaby"
Can you imagine how difficult it must have been to raise a young Mario and Luigi?!

Z's 2nd interlude: "I am ceaselessly amazed by the power of music to take me back to the days of my youth."
It is purported that smell is the most important sense trigger for memory recollection, but for me it's always been sound. When I hear a song, I can often immediately recall the very moment when I first encountered it.

Track 9: Lynn Ahrens – "A Noun is a Person, Place or Thing"
Originally played back in episode 18.

Track 10: My Parents' Favorite Music – "Sticks and Stones"
I think "Sticks and Stones" was the first track an artist ever let me feature on the site.

Track 11: Southside – "War Games"
It's really hard not to love a song that cribs its beat from the Fat Albert theme.

Track 12: Xoc – "Doors/Warp Zone/Rescue Jingle" / Shael Riley voicemail
Feel free to send me messages via my Google Voice widget. I'll even try and work them into future podcasts!

Track 13: Uncanny Valley – "Ladybugs' Picnic"
DJBC's Muppet Mashup album is really an amazing project. For those of us who grew up in the golden age of edutainment, it's the perfect nostalgia trip.

Track 14: Metaforce – "Intermission (feat. Onni)"
The theme music from Taxi still makes me misty-eyed.

Z's final interlude: "Maturity is not a process so much as a battle."
Seriously; adulthood lurks around every corner awaiting the perfect opportunity to strike. Sometimes it beats you down, but never give up the fight!

Track 15: Funny or Die – "The Ballad of G.I. Joe"
Just watch the video. It is well worth the time.

This show turned out a good bit different than I originally expected. It's shorter than usual, obviously, and it also took on more of a somber tone, but with good reason.

I think we as adults tend to think of childhood as being simple, when really it's anything but. Kids feel things differently than grownups: more intensely. Therefore, their victories are twice as sweet and their failures wholly crushing. That's not to say that the life of maturity is effortless, of course. Both are fraught with difficulties, but in totally different ways.

Having kids of your own really drives this home.

But in the end, the magic of childhood is that it is uniquely your own. And the power of memory allows you to rewrite that fucker any way you wish. Maybe that's why it's better that we don't get the chance to revisit all of the cherished touchstones of youth. They often age far less gracefully in real life than in our recollections.

Nerd News in Brief

For those too busy with matters of genuine importance to hang on my every word via Twitter, this week I began transitioning to a new job. It's an interesting position that's much more tonic to my unique skill set, but the changeover itself has resulted in me actually having to work while at work. *gasp*

Hopefully, I'll be able to smooth things out quickly and get back up to my regular level of output here at the blog, but, in the meantime, blame any temporary disruption of service on the heartless American nine-to-five.

What a way to make a living!

• My GF is…: Props to Church for turning me on to Dale Chase's ode to lady programmers "Coder Girls." Peep the video on YouTube and score the lyrics from Dale' site. You'll be glad you did.
• Just Like You and Me: Also, just in time for Drunken Podcasting Month, Church ran across this veritable jewel of the internet. Brothers and sisters, I present to you Geeks Who Drink. Essentially, it's a traveling pub quiz that kicks traditional bar trivia right in the nuts. If you find yourself in the appropriate geographic area, definitely check out their shit.
• (Bad) Horsing Around: PAX attendees are encouraged to seek out those wild lads from Epic Default Productions at this year's gathering. They'll be hawking sweet merch, conducting live interviews and, of course, pranking the hell out of the greater Seattle area. It's what they do.
• Life is Grand: If you've already bought a copy of the self-titled debut from Sea-town's own Supercommuter, prepare to buy another. Wheelie and company have recently announced that they plan to donate all profits from sales of the project to the Child’s Play charity.
• Wrock This Town: Also from the great state of Washington comes news that Jarod (of AlienBobz) has made available three more outstanding live sets. You can hear The Parselmouths, The Whomping Willows and The Remus Lupins' performances from this summer's Wizard Rock spectacular at Bellevue's Lake Hill Clubhouse for the low, low price of free at Archive.org.
• Riddle Me This: And on the Wrock front, the delightful ladies from Riddle™ have recently unveiled a brand new site. And not to discount the musical talent of Georgia and Victoria, but it has the most adorable flash intro ever. Ever!
• Powered Up: RapReviews' Hip-Hop Shop podcast recently featured an interview with none other than Random. It includes a half-hour Q&A plus 3 songs from Mega Ran 9. What's not to love?
• I'm V-Pain. You Know Me.: I guess this hardly rates as news anymore – much in the same way that the sun rising in the east isn't wholly unexpected – but Phoenix loves Maja! Seriously, y'all, dude is all over the place. Check out his most recent profile in the New Times. At this rate, he will be governor of Arizona by year's end. Mark my words.
• Join the Swarm: Arguably this week's biggest piece of nerd news concerns Pensacola's imminent Nerd Invasion. NerdRockstar and Scrub Club have engineered an event so massive it will take four theaters of the Silver Screen Entertainment Complex just to contain it. Music, magic, mirth and… booze are the orders of the day this November 6th and 7th. Details are available at the official event site, and proceeds from NerdRockstar's current wicked t-shirt sale benefit the event. So go read up and then buy some shit!
• Trock Out with Your Sonic Screwdriver Out: Taking us home this week comes a metal remix of the Doctor Who theme that my boy funky49 hipped me to. It's by Daniel Cripps, and an MP3 of the track (and lots of other cool stuff) is available at his site.

Playing Catch-up

It is apparently kick-ass new album season, and I'm having a little trouble keeping up. Thankfully, I have friends who care enough to keep me from slipping too far behind. My boy Anthony, for example, was kind enough to point out a few fine new projects from the realms of chiptunes and VGM that I may have missed.

The first, of course, is the epic 8-bit Miles Davis tribute Kind of Bloop. Sure, I mentioned it in passing, but the album is deserving of far more direct praise. To that end, I not only recommend that you snag it (for a mere 5 bones), but I'd also highly suggest you check out the GM4A interview with project coordinator Andy Baio and chip musician DisasterPEACE written by everyone's homie Zen Albatross.

A similarly epic undertaking that I've discussed with various friends and scenesters but somehow neglected to pimp here at the blog is Bad Dudes/OneUp Studios' Chronotorious compilation. Headed up by the mysterious Mustin, Chronotorious boasts 15 rearranged tracks from epic Square RPG Chrono Trigger. For $12 you get the full boat on a limited edition CD, with the forthcoming Amazon MP3/iTunes release trimmed down to a scant 10 tracks. There are only 1000 of these bad boys, so snag one now while they are still easily… snaggable?

Lastly but not leastly is a release that has somehow managed to stay totally under my musical radar – I blame old age and my current preoccupation with work (yuk!) – Armcannon 2: The Return of the Attack of the Legend of Pizzor. To know Armcannon is to love Armcannon, and to love Armcannon is to give them $12 plus shipping for their first official full-length. If you love videogame covers, buy it for their ambitious reinterpretations of NES classics like the Rygar and Kid Icarus medleys. If TV or movie themes are more your thing, then snag it to hear their takes on the music rom Ghostbusters or Power Rangers. And if neither of those concepts tickle your fancy, then why the fuck are you reading this blog anyway?

An Exercise in Excess

Last year I created my own fake holiday. Why? Because this is the internet, a place where you are perfectly at liberty to do ridiculous shit like that. For those who don't remember (or chose to forget), I called my baby Drunken Podcasting Month. A fairly self-explanatory moniker, it simply challenged podcasters to get drunk before/during one or more of their recording sessions in the month of September. A handful of shows took the Drunken Podcasting Month challenge, including my own Radio Free Hipster, and much mirth was made.

This year, I'm bringing it back, like sexy, but I need your help. If it's just me and my special DPM co-hosts Church and Matt getting drunk on the virtual air it's a concept, but if other podcasters participate it's a movement. Last year's Grand Champion Drunkcaster, Meg of Brilliant Gameologists, will be unable to participate in this year's event, so it's up to the rest of us to drink more, talk louder and vomit extra violently. It is surely a daunting task, but I think we can do it if we all keep our bleary eyes on the prize.

Via to the magic of Twitter, I've been able to connect with lots of other great podcasters - @jonnynero of Epic Default, @mutantpop of Radio Clash, @jayslacks of the 10 o'clock Podcast, etc. – and I'm hoping I can sweet talk them into getting crunk for the cause, but, much like the Blues Brothers, I need you, you, you.

If you are a podcaster, why not get drunk? If you are a drunk, why not try podcasting? If you are a graphic designer, why not pitch me a snazzy Drunken Podcasting Month logo that participants can use to promote the event? September comes but once a year, but the shame and embarrassment you'll feel from having all of the wired world hear your intoxicated ramblings will surely last a lifetime.

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.

Live to Fight

There are many places where I expect to encounter The Grammar Club. Strip bars. Red-light districts. Prison. But one place I never anticipated running across them, or at least their music, is in a promo video for Australian mixed martial arts. I stand corrected.

NerdRockstar Wants to Give You a PS3

Typically, when one is vying for a handsome prize in a random drawing, one keeps his fucking trap shut so as not to further decrease his chances of winning. But you know what? I'm not gonna do that. In fact, I am gonna spread the word and encourage all of you to toss your names in the proverbial hat as well. 'Cause I am cool like that.

Many of you no doubt caught my mention of geeky clothier NerdRockstar last week. Well, today I again invoke the name for a trio of wonderful reasons. Which I will now innumerate:

First, NerdRockstar has just rolled out a brand new t-shirt design for my Janglish-slangin' brother Maja. It's a take on the classic Sega logo, and uses the same font as the famed "Nerdcore is Not Dead" design. Exciting shit, no?

Even better is that the fact that NR's Jason has challenged himself to offer a new shirt design every day for the next month! His Thing-a-Day program thumbs its nose as Coulton by kicking out brand new products at breakneck speed. Already available are designs for Portal aficionados and those clever Steampunks.

And there was one other thing too.

What was it?

Oh yeah, NerdRockstar is giving away a goddamn PS3! One of the new slim ones! For free!

As the crew continues its mission to spread the word about the shop, they are turning to the community and rewarding their efforts. Simply buying any piece of merch from the virtual storefront or proclaiming your love for the site via your social network of choice nets you an entry into the drawing, and multiple entries are encouraged. Peep the blog for full details, and then do your best to win Sony's newest multimedia monster.

While I Was Out

I am back! And I have returned with yet another pebble of personal truth. (In addition to a metric ton of sand in my ass crack.)

The nature of this revelation? I am not particularly good at vacationing.

You see, my regular day-to-day life is pretty chill. I have a great wife, two wonderful kids, a job that's annoying far less than half the time and a pair of blogs/podcasts that are more enjoyable to me than they have any right to be. In short, things are typically kinda low key. Stuff is fairly relaxed. Shit is pretty sweet.

Now contrast this with vacation, an unsavory event during which I am beholden to attempt packing an entire year's worth of relaxation – relaxation in this case meaning non-stop movement from dusk to dawn – into a scant week.

Surely you see my point.

The strange thing is that while I was away "relaxing," the nerdy world went right along spinning. Indeed, no sooner had I set out than things commenced a-poppin'. Particularly on the new release front, there have been a number of interesting developments.

The rock opera rebellion that is The Protomen's Act II is so close that you can almost taste it. But should you prefer to experience music via a more traditional sense, perhaps you should turn your attention to the recent leak of "Light up the Night." The commander himself describes it as "the first glimpse of the second half of Act II," but I'd simply say it's another exemplary effort from our heroes.

Meanwhile, from the soggy streets of Seattle comes word of the long-awaited debut album by People Within. Fronted by Optimus Rhyme alumnus Broken English, People Within meld hip-hop, jazz-funk and punk into an unbelievable musical menagerie. Though the official release date is set for September 12th, I was lucky enough to score a preview copy. I'll be sure to toss some tracks into forthcoming podcasts so as to acclimate the uninitiated to the new sound of the Pacific Northwest.

But certainly the timeliest of news concerns today's release of the 7-song MC Lars and K.Flay EP Single and Famous. Due to my out-of-townedness I only downloaded my review copy last night, but it's already managed to insinuate itself into a perpetually packed song rotation. It's very much the spiritual successor to the Lars and YTCracker collab The Digital Gangster LP as it's another musical expression of friendship and fun, but don't feel like you have to take my word for it. The EP is available at a sliding price point – another similarity to the DGLP – so go ahead and pick it up in any of its varied forms.

Savvy fans will also notice talk of a Lars/K.Flay/YT tour, information regarding which I will try to secure before my review of Single and Famous hits the interwebz.

Gone Fishin'

As I mentioned earlier, the family and I are about to head out on our annual vacation to the Carolina coast. As is tradition. Of course, this year it's pulling double duty, also serving as a clever ruse to prevent me from squandering any more Microsoft Points on clothing for my Avatar.

It occurs to me that I have, essentially, been playing virtual paper dolls. My shame is palpable.

Now, I am nothing if not self-aware, so I realize that Hipster, please! exists primarily to act as an at-work time-waster for the bulk of its readership. Therefore, I've elected to provide a handful of pointers toward interesting digital destinations that you might peruse during my absence. I believe you'll find them worthy diversions.

1. Songs from the Pit
   As long as you’re here, why not check out my review of Shael Riley and the Double Ice Backfire's Songs from the Pit. It's a fine album, and I genuinely enjoyed musing about it. I'd also urge you to track down a copy of your own. It's analog-tastic.
   
2. Next Level
   Of course, I can't talk about new albums without mentioning Dual Core's most recent offering. c64 and int eighty have reached a very dangerous point where I expect perfection in their output, and, interestingly enough, Next Level delivers in spades. Further, let me say that it's slated to be my primary road trip soundtrack for a very long drive. In summation: pick it up.
3. The 8th Day
   And speaking of albums, did you know Random's The 8th Day is currently on sale for half price? That's, like, under $5 for one of the bestest hip-hop albums ever. That's what we call a deal, friends and neighbors, but it's a limited time offer. Get on that shit.
4. "He Doesn't Love You"
   If your interests skew a bit more toward the Potter side, then be sure to peep "He Doesn't Love You," the newest track from Riddle™. It's an acoustic rocker (Wrocker?) centered on Amortentia, and the "relationship" between Merope Gaunt and Tom Riddle, the elder. As a fan of tragic love songs, I am beholden to recommend it heartily.
5. Social Knitworking
   Andrea, Jenn and Joanna have recently taken their geektastic knitting circle into the virtual realm for all to enjoy. Social Knitworking is both a podcast relating to the fine art of yarn-craft and another great online hub for nerd culture. Head over there and see what marvelous madness these fine ladies have cooked up.
6. NerdRockstar
   If you dig that "Nerdcore is Not Dead" t-shirt that Andrea is rocking in the recent Social Knitworking vlog, then definitely check out NerdRockstar. It's an independent merch site that does much more than just shirts. Although the shirts are pretty goddamn awesome.
7. Geek Amigo
   Equally awesome is the new Geek Amigo community from our friends at Scrub Club. Focused on music, media and culture, it's an ideal chill spot. Give it a look. Hell, you might even make a new friend.
8. Fermilab Rap
   After his turn as MOSI's Rapbassador, my pal funky49's was approached by Illinois's Fermilab about crafting a rap theme for their National Accelerator Laboratory. Not only has the news of this collaboration began to pop up in various news outlets around Chicago, but funk has been blogging his trip. For science!
   
9. Glenn and Rachel
   I'd also highly suggest you check out the performance videos by Glenn Case and Rachael Lane from last month's Song Fight! Live event in their native Spokane. Their setlist featured "Pencil Me In," "Georgia's Hands" and "Need Stilts:" three of my favorite tracks!
10. Twitter
    Lastly, if, for whatever bizarre reason, you really want to know what I'm up to while I am AFK, feel free to follow me on Twitter. I'll be tweeting intermittently from my cell throughout the trip, and, while I can't promise it'll be an incredibly compelling read, I'll do my best to include the requisite level of snark. I do what I can.
    

Twenty-Side Identity Crisis

Shael Riley is the geek rock Woody Allen.

Think about it; his music, and indeed his very artistic voice, speaks volumes about love, sex, the folly of the human experience and one man's life in Gotham. But, just like Allen, this isn't the true source of his unique brand of genius. In both cases that has more to do with a knack for properly quantifying relatable elements as part of a greater whole: rationing out tiny bits of truth amid a grander scheme of the unbelievable and genuinely entertaining fictional narrative.

Just as Allen's early work is often characterized by zany comedies, Shael's back catalog is heavily slanted toward what I have personally referred to as "all-purpose absurdist nerd rock." Yet beneath these outlandish stories, there exists an almost uncomfortable sliver of universal truth. Because whether it's Annie Hall or "Heart Tits," everyone has found themselves in a relationship that just isn't going to work.

Shael's newest album with his band The Double Ice Backfire takes this songwriting style in an exciting new direction. It plays with the aural palette of the instrumental backing by combining driving guitars and chippy percussion in a way not unlike fellow hybrid poppers I Fight Dragons. But lyrically, it sees Shael's traditional slant on relatable absurdity climb to amazing heights.

1. "Publishing Rights"
   Like a lot of Shael's work, "Publishing Rights" is rowdy, sex-obsessed and a little misogynistic. Oddly enough, these are the characteristics of many of his best offerings, and this is no exception. Part rock 'n' roll fantasy, part MTV nightmare, it's a chip-rock masterpiece that's solidly about control and who has it. Schaffer the Darklord makes an unexpected appearance as the shadiest of shady dealers, and comes strapped with his trademark verbal sneer. For those who haven't heard a Shael Riley track since Toybox, this one likely displays a notable leap forward in both songwriting style and vocal delivery, but those of us who've been paying attention will likely find it more an incremental tweak on his Grammar Club-era output.
2. "How to Fire a Gun"
   Heartfelt and interestingly layered, "How to Fire a Gun" is an unassuming joint with a great big chorus. It contains a grocery list of idle wants that seem to belie the song's underlying sense of lost opportunity. To fire a gun it to be safe. To be a doctor or a lawyer is to be respected. To understand technology is to be in control of one's future. And yet our narrator has none of these skills, feels none of these strengths. It's a soul-crushingly beautiful ditty that, oddly enough, can "make you re-assess your life."
3. "The Other Side of Memphis"
   I can't help but think that "The Other Side of Memphis" was, at some point, this album's opener. It has a sweet lead-in and a perfectly interlocking guitar and percussion line that makes for instant pop perfection. (Taken to even further by the flawless bridge-to-solo movement.) Sadly, we never truly learn the nature of our protagonist's – Shael? Blane? Duckie? – true fascination with Andie Walsh. As such, this one seems to come off as a love song about the idea of romance, as opposed to its (im)practical application. EDIT: It's just been brought to my attention that The Double Ice Backfire's Ricky Henry wrote the lyrics and chord progression for this track. Ricky speaks his piece about the song (and the recent passing of John Hughes) in this blog post.
   
4. "Asian Kids Have All the Best Moves"
   Shael marks the album's mid-point by emerging from a stylistic cocoon as some hybrid of Jason Mraz and Frank Zappa, speak-singing a song that sounds both uniquely personal and wholly surreal. Lyrically impeccable, neurotically uncomfortable and musically thrilling, Shael, Ty and Ricky manage to craft that rare piece that's hard to describe but a joy to experience. The standout track among an offering of surgically precise thrillers, "Asian Kids" may well be Shael's best song to date. Both the functional and artistic center of Songs from the Pit, this one proves an amazing focal point that affords a further relevance to the album as a whole.
5. "Hipster Hoax"
   Some songs hit painfully close to home for the same reason that some stories make us reflect on our own experiences: because they shout our personal truths from the mountaintop. They tell our secrets. "Hipster Hoax" will likely strike a similar chord with anyone reading these words. Anyone who's a natural outsider. Anyone who's suddenly found themselves confronted by some twisted mirror image compliments of the present "geek chic." Anyone who understands irony as a literary device as opposed to a way of life. The music skillfully plays peek-a-boo with its lyrical weight, which only serves to add an additional layer of thematic exasperation. Well played, boys. Sure, maybe I don't feel the coda, but that doesn't diminish the rest of this song's considerable power.
6. "Chinese Ninja Warrior"
   If Songs from the Pit has a weak point, it's "Chinese Ninja Warrior." That's not to say that the song is in any way bad; it simply pales a bit next to the project's other offerings. A lighthearted, movie soundtrack-style introduction to Mortal Kombat's Sub-Zero – and a cover, at that – is exactly the kind of musical madness upon which Shael has built his church, but in context it comes off a little thin. Still, it's an enjoyable romp resplendent with churning guitars, high-register vibrato and a delicate chippy fade-out. It's an interesting diversion.
7. "tip eht fo mottob"
   An unexpected bit of electro-funk permeates what could laughably be called the title track. It boasts a groove the likes of which we have yet to hear on the album, and one that is not expressly indicative of the work of frontman Shael Riley in the slightest. This combined with some tightly compressed instrumentation and understated vocals makes for yet another amazing song. With lyrics that read like the plot of some sadistic videogame and a warbling rhythm that can't help but make your head bob, "tip eht fo mottob" has an almost ska-core upbeat and sea-shanty delivery that makes it play like a twisted offspring of The Specials' "Ghost Town."
8. "Asian Kids Have All the Best Moves (solo piano)"
   Somehow this song sounds even more earnest when cast against a stripped-down piano. With its beautifully rendered suburban malaise, it's an ample restatement of purpose for Songs from the Pit. The resonance of its terse last note is both consciously and emotionally staggering.

When Shael Riley mentioned to me – via Xbox Live, his preferred method of communication – that he was releasing a grunge album, I was stunned. I mean, expressing oneself in this modern era through a flavor of alternative rock as dated as grunge is as ill-advised as releasing an album on cassette an odd choice, to say the least. Still, I figured if anyone could execute such a feat, it'd be Shael.

And while I was on-point with my assumption that Songs from the Pit would be an intriguing and well-crafted musical experience, I can't help but feel as though Shael mislead me a bit. What he and the inexplicably named Double Ice Backfire produced is much more tonic to post-grunge; it's more Weezer than Pearl Jam.

Still, even if it lacks grunge earmarks like sloppy, trudging guitars and ill-timed transitions, it certainly hits close to its established themes. In fact, one could even view Songs from the Pit as a veritable concept album steeped in the idea of angst, alienation and the lower middle-class identity crisis.

It's that sense of desperately grappling for identity and success that energizes songs from "Publishing Rights" to "Asian Kids Have all the Best Moves." It's the anxiety that plagues the narrator of "Hipster Hoax." It could even be said that it's what drives the blissful escapism of "Chinese Ninja Warrior." But perhaps that's just me insinuating my own life experience into Shael's skillful narrative.

You see, while Songs from the Pit is first and foremost an undeniably pleasing musical journey, it also leaves itself open for subjective interpretation. If that's your thing. If not, then simply enjoy the album for its myriad of musical merits.

Either way, I feel confident you'll be amused (and intrigued) by what you hear.

"You can pretend that you're something you like. When you're poor and white."

Nerd News in Brief

Looks like the family and I will be taking a bit of a vacation next week. So if things get a little quiet on this end, there's no need to send a search party. I hope.

But since I'll be away from the keyboard for a few days, I'll try and crank out a couple posts' worth of geeky goodness before I leave. Y'know, to see you through the lean times. I've got an album review lined up that I think you'll find interesting, and of course there's this week's NNIB.

Why, here it comes now!

• I Claim Full Responsibility: Those of you who catch mc chris on his fall tour may be in for an additional surprise: I Fight Dragons! Yes, IFD has signed on to support mc this time out. Specific dates and venues are still forthcoming, but my excitement regarding this matchup is already here.
• A Single Bound: Speaking of I Fight Dragons, Shael Riley recently released a cover of their track "No One Likes Superman Anymore." You can procure this rare jewel here.
• The Progenitor: In other epic cover song news, Ketan did a rendition of YTCracker's "Meganerd" at an open mic night earlier this week. It occurs about 12 minutes before the end of this footage.
• Getting Caught in the Rain of Fire: Also this week, Glenn Case laid bare the simple truth that "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" and "Hotel California" are virtually identical. Peep game.
• Made Sweet Love to a Manatee: Weird Al's new track parodies the style of the White Stripes, has a video from political pranksters JibJab and is about Charles Nelson Riley. Odds are you know what at least one of those three things are.
• I Tilt on My Axis: funky49 is a champion of education. When he's not writing songs about museums, he's sending me links to other folks' songs about the Earth. A prime example is this cut from Flocabulary.
• None of Your Business: This week my boy Beefy gave us a little taste of his forthcoming release With Sprinkles. It's kind of a different sound for Beef, but I like it!
• Less Cliché Than Advertised: This week also saw a new drop from Ultraklystron. The Cliché Remix LP is, not surprisingly, a collection of remixes from The Fourth Estate and Opensource Lyricist. It is also, as Karl so eloquently put it, "super free."
• They Keep You Safe: With the release of The Protomen's Act II looming – it'll drop September 8th – those freedom fighters would like to remind you that the official release show will occur on Friday, September 25th at Mercy Lounge in Nashville. In the more immediate future, catch them at Knoxville's The Midtown on August 20th, Richmond's Plaza Bowl on the 21st and Baltimore's Ottobar on the 22nd for 64Bit Genocide.
• Having an Emo Day: UK geek rocker Dan Plus Add sent me some previews from his newest (unfinished) album earlier this week. The as-yet unnamed project seems far more focused on personal storytelling than his previous efforts, but fans of his folksy style will no doubt be pleased.
• Tourmates: Also from across the pond comes word of an "ad-hoc tour" featuring Superpowerless, BType, and Jaylyn Coffin. UK readers who might be able to pull together some last minute gigs for the trio over the coming 3 weeks are encouraged to holler at Oliver and company (LOLs)!
• Some Enchanted Evening: Harry and the Potters' semi-annual t-shirt sale is currently on like the proverbial neck bone. Now through August 15th, you can score a Potters shirt from the comfort of your own internetz. Also available is the band's career retrospective Priori Incantatem. Have you bought shit from a boy wizard today?
• They Own the Publishing Rights: Church (by way of his new love TechDirt) passes on news of Harvard's recent bought of trademark trolling. Shit! Looks like Harvard now owns the phrase "trademark trolling," and I think that means I owe them 20 bucks.
• The Tabletop Goes Digital: Also from Church comes this link to Pen, Paper & Pixel's "Tabletop Projection" project. It explains how to use a mounted digital projector to create amazingly adaptive maps for your gaming sessions.
• Make it Stop: Apparently everyone has fallen into the "geeks vs. nerds" trap. Even AllGov. They have a new piece about the recent Medicare row that references this imaginary battle. Via a Venn diagram. Ugh.
• You Say Tomato, I Also Say Tomato: And on the subject of everyone's new favorite buzzword, Church also directs your attention to new a "geek" article at Esquire. Then he quickly counters with a "nerd" piece from Ypulse. I think that fucker's playing both sides!
• And Now You Know: Dear Internet, Please buy me this t-shirt. It is graph-tastic.
• He's a Dick: Having trouble remembering the plot of the Star Trek remake? Jason of Geek Studies found this appropriate summation.
• Legendary: I'm obviously not stalking Felicia Day closely enough, as I'm only now getting into Atom's The Legend of Neil. It stars The Guild's Sandeep Parikh and features Day as a naughty fairy. Season 2 has just launched, so it's a good time for fellow noobs to come aboard.
• Not Tired of Them Yet: In yet another piece of post-Comic-Con coverage, MCs Lars and Frontalot talked to G4's The Feed about web comics. What? No love for Scary Go Round?
• A Thousand Words: I know I promised no more waxing philosophical about Nerdapalooza, but int eighty posted a pic that I think really captures the heart of the event. Boo-yah.
• For Your Perusal: I recently asked Shael Riley what the Uruk-hai read in waiting rooms. He was kind enough to break shit down for me.
• Lords on Acid: Closing out this week is a video for Shael and his band the Double Ice Backfire: a cover called "Chinese Ninja Warrior." It's from their new release Songs From the Pit. Enjoy the cryomancy. Also the rock.

With Special Guest Star: Me

I've been getting a lot of interesting requests of late. And not of the typical go-fuck-yourself variety, either. No, these have been requests to guest on other blogs and podcasts, which is actually really cool. It's not like I'm exactly swimming in free time or anything, but I genuinely enjoy the opportunity to spread the nerdy gospel via exciting new avenues.

Earlier this week, for example, I joined Jarvis Slacks and Nate Kowal (of Best Gamepad Ever) on the 10 PM Podcast. Therein we talked sci-fi, videogames and even a bit about nerdcore. But mostly we laughed. It was a good time.

Should you care to experience it, hit up Jarvis's blog for the link or simply turn your iTunes in this direction.

It's like a robot-space-western-superhero-Xbox-explosion in your ear canal.

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 71: Lullabies from the Underground

I am beginning to think that my un-themed episodes are simply multi-themed. I mean, this time around we get half a set about robots, multiple references to Final Fantasy and tons of cover tunes. All unintentional, I might add!

But subject-centered or otherwise, this is a show I'm quite proud of because it covers all the bases. From nerdy rap and geek rock to bootlegs and chip music, it moves around a lot, but I find it a consistently good listen.

I sure hope you feel the same.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 71: Lullabies from the Underground [hosting provided by Antisoc] Size: 47.3 MB Running Time: 51:42

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
Featuring the dulcet tones of Mr. Beef Thompson.

Track 1: Wordburglar – "S'up Burg"
Burg is not nerdcore, but I believe his style hits close enough to attract both that audience and more traditional heads. And, for my money, you just can't beat Canadian hip-hop.

Z's 1st interlude: "Made of win and liquid awesome."
Give Burgie's Basement a listen and tell me otherwise. I dare ya!

Track 2: ToToM – "Freight Train Control"
Dylan Mashed is one of those projects that borders on madness. I heartily approve.

Track 3: Supercommuter – "Itty Bitty Pigeons"
Let me again urge you to pre-order the CD version of Supercommuter. You'll score the MP3 version early.

Track 4: Random – "Short Circuit"
Though it's been pulled, you can still find DaChip out there. Plus, there's an additional disc of bonus cuts!

Track 5: Facts of Life dialog / The Four Eyes – "Goin' Berzerk"
Why did all the episodes concerning sex always cast poor Natalie in precarious situations?

Track 6: I KILL PXLS – "My Final Fantasy"
I KILL PXLS has lots of free tracks available at his site. Peruse them at your leisure.

Track 7: Wilbert Roget II – "I Can Still Do Vibrato"
One of the many perks of having a pal like Shael is getting weird-ass album recommendations like Songs to Giraffe.

Track 8: Uncle Monsterface – "Toxic"
I understand Monsterface Industries is working on a new project at present. Color me excited.

Z's 2nd interlude: "I am a man who loves him some Facts of Life."
The facts of life are all about me. Or so says the theme song.

Track 9: Americans UK – "If You See Us Running, You Better Run With Us "
I'm heavily into AUK right now. They've got the same sort of musical appeal as, say, The Buzzcocks (with maybe a pinch of Leatherface). Plus, the lads are comic nerds, so that earns 'em extra points.

Track 10: Stevie Kincade – "Aquareous"
Aussie rappers join Canadian and Seattle-area rappers as the perfect trifecta of genuine hip-hop and unbridled nerdiness.

Track 11: DJ Schmolli – "The Trooper Believer"
Man, this song is gonna piss Maiden fans off! ;)

Track 12: Bit Shifter – "The World Has Turned and Left Me Here"
I am enamored with what grace Bit Sifter slides in some "Wave of Mutilation" into this track.

Track 13: Kwikspell – "Ode to Umbridge"
Kwikspell's debut is a little rough around the edges production-wise (which I'd argue actually adds an interesting garage aesthetic), but it shows some really clever songwriting. Plus, she collaborates with what has got to be the best named Wrock outfit ever: Statutory Snape!

Z's final interlude: "An exciting new way to leave feedback."
Feel free to use the widget in the sidebar to leave me a Google Voice message.

Track 14: Dual Core "Here to Help" / Beefy's voicemail
I actually got to meet Remington Forbes a couple months back. Seeing him and eighty on stage together was awe-inspiring. I will always consider him to be Dual Core's unofficial third member.

Beefy was nice enough to break in my Google Voice mailbox last weekend, so I happily included his message at the end of the show.

That Beefy, he's m'boy.

I've already got a few things cooking for upcoming episodes. I've invited MadHatter to come on and give me a Nerdapalooza recap, as well as drop some knowledge regarding Scrub Club. I've also got plans for another romantically-themed show, and my friend Cromer had requested that I again let my kids help me put together an ep.

Not sure which come first, and I reserve the right to get sidetracked, but those are all show ideas that currently tickle my fancy. If you've got something you'd like to hear, don't be afraid to speak up. I live for your input.

Because You Demanded It!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I haven't the words to describe what you are about to witness. Language simply fails at moments like these. But suffice it to say that video footage of Brandon "Blak Lotus" Patton's impromptu performance of "Munchin' the Cooch" from last month's Nerdpalooza appearance has finally surfaced.

Much thanks to the delightful Kourtney Campbell for favoring us with this moment of musical mastery!!!

Nerd News in Brief

Say, if you're not doing anything tonight and you find yourself in or around the Brooklyn area, how about heading out to this weekend's Death By Audio show? There you can support my friends Uncle Monsterface and Math the Band as they play the rock and roll music.

There will be puppets, beer and guitars. And honestly, what else do you need?

This all-ages event is $7 at the door and commences at 8:00 in the PM. And I guarantee it'll be awesome! If I had a reputation, I would totally stake it on that fact.

As for now, here's your regularly-scheduled Nerd News in Brief.

• The Long Con: Church was nice enough to hit me up with a pair of interesting post-Comic-Con wrap-ups. The first, from TV Squad, breaks down what the event was and was not. The second is from People.com, and it discusses the women of Comic-Con. And by "women of Comic-Con," they apparently mean famous actresses who were there to promote shit. Points for trying, People, points for trying.
• Ran Gives Back: Speaking of Comic-Con, check our Random's post-event review at YouTube. Therein you'll also learn how to win a copy of the ultra limited edition Marvel vs. Capcom 2 mixtape. On vinyl no less!
• Nerd to the Core: And don't forget to check out this fine selection of Comic-Con weekend performances from our old pal Ant. They'll make you wish you were there all over again.
• Hard to the Core: Ross from Original Nintendo also sent me a link to this ridiculous speed run of Super Mario Bros. Frustration hack. Watch it with your eyes glazed and your ass puckered.
• Like a Gay Musketeer: In other YouTubery, here's a rap about LARPing. It features and autotuned wizard.As well it should.
  
• Brings All the Boys to the Yard: Oh, and have you seen that vid of Bill Chott and Captain Moerke of The Browncoats making Mudders Milkshakes? It's puke-tastic! Literally. (Blame this one on Church, folks!)
• Even Nerds Gotta Eat: Earlier this week, @xarquis tweeted about a site called NerdDinner. It's an easy way to arrange regional geek gatherings at your favorite restaurants. Check it out, content in the knowledge that I will totally pimp your attempts at nerd herding.
• Super-Sized: Congratulations go out to Maja for getting yet another pop for his recent string of McDonald's spots. Word is there's also a G4 appearance on the way, so keep an ear to the ground for that one.
• Their Powers Combined: And congratulations are also in order for Superpowerless, who recently joined Dr. Awkward, Benjamin Bear and the rest of the Hee-Haw Gang at Scrub Club Records. Hit up Scrub Central for more details, and keep an eye out for future releases from the UK artist through this Midwest powerhouse.
• AC/D.C.: Back on my side of the country, MAGFest preregistration has opened. Now in its 8th year, the Music And Gaming Festival will unleash another weekend of gaming and rocking next January 1-4. And not only does pre-registering save you some scratch, it also affords you entrance to the event's New Year's Eve party!
• This is Me. Thunderstruck.: If you're in the market for a true musical oddity, check out Hellsongs. This Swedish trio performs amazingly mellow covers of metal tracks. Thanks to Dave the Knave for the pointer.
• Faygo, Face Paint and Family: Another unlikely combination is mc chris and Juggalos. Strange but true: mc will be playing the 10th Annual Gathering of Juggalos, along with Ice Cube, Tech N9ne and GWAR, in Cave-in-Rock, IL. Hit the event's site for full details and one hell of an eclectic list of performers!
• Something to Lick: The Painted Man recently posted a review of MC Lars's This Gigantic Robot Kills, and provides some fine motivation to pick it up if you haven't already. You should also check Lars's newest video podcast for some tomfoolery with our own YTCracker, as well as an introduction to the stringed instruments of antiquity. Oh, and even more post-Comic-Con revelry.
• Creepy Uncle: Of course, I can't end this week's news without pointing out that there's a new episode of Vagina Deep in Podcast awaiting your perusal. It's got mCRT and ghosts. A winning combination if ever I heard one.
• All That Jazz: Taking us out is some great game music. It's Kento's ragtime take on "Saria's Song" / "Lost Woods" from Ocarina of Time. Check out the video, then grab the MP3 and, for the musicians in our midst, the sheet music.

Vote for a Scrote

I don't ask you guys for much because, let's face it, I'm in no position to be making demands. Still, this is the kind of thing that's quick, easy and free, so I'll put it out there.

My friends the Brilliant Gameologists are up for an ENnie Award for Best Podcast - which they are - so I simply wanted to ask if any of you would be willing to head over to the poll page and cast a vote on their behalf. There are 19 other RPG-related categories that could use your input as well, so be sure to plug your favorite publishers and products to boot.

And, on the off chance that you're not already a subscriber to the BG's podcast, I'd highly recommend you check them out. Whether you're a life-long tabletop gamer, a new convert or somewhere in the middle, I think you'll find the topics relevant, the discourse illuminating and the humor refreshing.

There's also Zeke's singing, which is truly what keeps me coming back.

Look at That Handsome Bastard!

In case you missed my earlier tweet, I am currently Nerdabout’s "Geek of the Week." Hell yeah I am! This means that I got a nice little plug on Discovery’s Science Channel web site, as well as a certificate suitable for framing.

Okay, I actually made the certificate myself out of construction paper and glitter glue, but that other part is totally true.

I’d really just like to take a moment to thank all the little people who helped me along the way: the fairy folk, the gnomes, Hobbits, the Keebler Elves and the citizens of the bottled city of Kandor. But most importantly I would like to thank the kobolds. Where would I be without their constant moral support and classic Germanic mischief?

In a word: nowhere.

In all serious, though, I would like to thank @sciencechannel and @nerdabout for giving me this most esteemed nod. And I’d also like to thank everyone, regulars and half-interested passersby alike, for checking out the blog and the podcast. You are the wind beneath my wang wings.

Oh, and for the record: yes, that is a picture of me in a gibbet. You know you’re a GeekDad when the only photos you can find of yourself are from your family vacation.

Highlights (Like the Magazine)

I'm really trying to stop rambling on about Nerdapalooza, as I understand that it's sort of asinine for me to do so. I mean, I wasn't even there!

Still, I think this is just a little too interesting not to pass along. It's an event recap by Corey Clark that my boy MadHatter turned me on to. It features music by Schaffer the Darklord, performance clips from The Grammar Club, The Megas, MCs Frontalot and Lars, and some great interview snippets with the fans, performers and organizers.

Give it a look-see. Then be sure to rate, comment and/or pass it on.

The Return of Dub Cyber

I have made no secret of the fact that there's been an Optimus Rhyme-shaped hole in my heart ever since the band split last year. (Yes, Church, Optimus really broke up.) Thankfully, a recent missive from Mr. Cyberman has helped to abate the pain.

You see, the debut album from Supercommuter, a new hybrid nerdcore/chiptune outfit featuring former Optimus frontman Wheelie along with Stenobot and Tron Jaun, is slated for release on August 25th. (Which falls dangerously close to the one-year anniversary of Optimus's farewell show.) And if you pre-order now you'll also get the digital version early!

Over the weekend, I was fortunate enough to score such a digital copy myself, and it's easily as excellent as I anticipated.

Skeptical fans are encouraged to check out both this week's Hiptrax podcast over at Wired and next week's edition of Radio Free Hipster for a pair of sample selections. But I'll warn you not to bother wearing socks, as they will just be rocked right the fuck off.

All 11 tracks of the self-titled Supercommuter are available for a mere $9.99 via the band's official merch stop. Shipping is 2 bucks for those of us in the States and $4.50 for fans in Canada and the UK.

There's also a listing at the same virtual storefront for a pretty swank t-shirt that's, sadly, not yet available. But hopefully we can demonstrate enough interest in the album to expedite its appearance as well.

In short, go over there and pre-order a copy. Maybe two. I mean, you're already in the market for a new favorite band, right?