Calling All Producers

Nearly six weeks after its initial release date, the new Hipster, please! compilation album Old Nerdy Bastard is still incomplete. Why? Simply put, the project is cursed! At some point in the past, I must have pissed off some gypsy, and the resulting hex has made it impossible for me to round up the final 1/3 of this project’s submissions. Those who have tried have fallen victim to hard drive crashes, scheduling woes, and boils. Okay, maybe not boils, but you get the picture.

With that in mind, I’m going to do the unthinkable; I am going to ask for open submissions. The reason I didn’t do this to being with is because, quite honestly, I hate telling people no. I don’t want anyone to get all worked up about contributing only to be told that the roster is already full, but this has proven a necessary evil. Not unlike the gypsy in the previous paragraph. It's a first-come, first-served affair. Hit me up and, if I've still got a slot open, we'll talk.

So, if you think you might be interested in taking a stab a remixing or mashing up one of the acappellas I have collected for the project – yes, I already have the source tracks picked out; if you don’t mind working under some fairly tight scheduling constraints; and if you don’t fear the supernatural, give me a yell. I can’t guarantee that this album is gonna be some huge hit and that everyone involved will be showered with accolades and tons of favorable press, but I can say that you’ll be taking part in a really cool project with some amazing contributors from across the nerdy music spectrum. I hope that’s enough.

While I’m adamant about including remixes of as many of the artists who were so kind as to share their vocal tracks with me as possible, I feel terrible about making those dozen DJs, producers, and remixers who worked their asses off to get me their submissions in a timely manner wait much longer before I share their phenomenal work. We need to light this candle and we need to light it soon.

So if you think you wanna dance, my card is open. Thanks for your time.

Her code is so clever

“My GF is…,” the debut single from Dual Core’s forthcoming album Lost Reality, has just been leaked on the newest edition of GeekDad’s HipTrax. How do I know? ‘Cause I’ve the fellow what leaked it!

In all seriousness, I’ve got to give mad nerd love to int eighty and c64 for letting me share the track via this geeky new avenue. As I said previously, HipTrax is all about trying to spread the good word of nerdy music to those not necessarily “in the know” about things like nerdcore, Wrock, and VGM.

This brand new Dual Core joint joins tracks from Peeved and The Four Eyes to complete what I truly think is a really fun episode, despite the fact that a lack of sleep made my accent even more nasally and pronounced. The ‘cast is super-short, so take a listen and let me know what you think.

Nerd News in Brief

It’s April 1st, which means I should, by rights, be pranking the hell out of you right now. But, honestly, I’m just too tired. Crafting an elegant and reasonably believable lie is hard work, and I’m a man who’s not exactly getting enough sleep at present.

As consolation, take a gander at this April Fool’s Day on the Web site that Church turned me on to. Just pick your favorite gag from there and pretend that I made it up. Things are always more fun when you factor in self-delusion.

• Oddly specific: To get me back in the swing of (hopefully) posting regularly again, here’s some nerd ink. Knuckle Tattoos features some tatts you know and some you may not.
• Looks who’s one!: Congrats to my pal Jason of the ever-so scholarly blog Geek Studies. That site just celebrated its one year blogiversary, and, as an avid reader, I honestly can’t imagine an Interwebs without it.
• Back and forth: Jason and fellow geeky blogger Matt are doing a little back and forth re: the nature of broader nerd culture. What’s more, it’s starting to pop up elsewhere. Suffice it to say there are ample opportunities for you to add your two cents.
• Rise from your grave: Last week, mc chris leaked the cover for his new album mc chris is dead. It’s a subtle and humorous piece by comic artist David Mack of Kabuki fame, and you really should check it out.
• Hawkeye + Ronin = Roneye: In other mc chris/comic book news, the rapper received a little fan service in New Avengers #39. Therein the hero formally known as Hawkeye can be seen wearing an mc chris t-shirt. How cool is that?
• All aboard the Airbus: Recently, Optimus Rhyme drummer grimROCK was nice enough to point out that Lyricswiki is now housing OR lyrics. While he couldn’t attest to the accuracy of said entries, it’s better than nothing for those of us who desperately want to know what motor-mouth Wheelie Cyberman is saying! (EDIT: Lyricswiki is Rickrolling today, so beware.)
• I’ve simply run out of puns: Whore Moans has released a new track over at his MySpace. Peep “Big Bad Moans,” produced by Apeman, and be amazed.
• The Fu is Epic: Random just hipped the RT community to another great SXSW interview with interview with Negin and MC Frontalot. The segment starts around 3:40, and, while it’s pretty short, Front is nice enough to namedrop folks like Jesse Dangerously, YTCracker, MC Lars, and Ran himself.
• Get me Barack: While neither musical nor overtly nerdy, my pal Church just posted a new vid that does lend veracity to Hillary’s latest claim. Feel the funny.

Nerd News in Brief

Now that we’ve had the baby the really difficult part begins in earnest. No, not raising her. I’m talking about picking a nickname. Hey, it’s tougher than it sounds!

At first I had pegged her as Spooky, because she’s got this really unsettling gaze that she unleashes from time to time. Usually right before a slightly tardy feeding or diaper change. The problem, of course, is that “Unsettling” ain’t much of a nickname and “Spooky” isn’t wholly accurate.

Then I settled on Pinky cause, y’know, she is. But that doesn’t fly ‘cause there’s already a Pinky that I blog about often.

Currently I’m going back and forth between Tootie and Twiggy. Both seem like pretty good nick’s, but I’m gonna wait a bit before I commit. Like I said, this shit is serious.

In the meantime, here’s a very brief Nerd News in Brief.

• Spun: Thanks to my old friend Darth Apu for letting me know that MC Frontalot, or rather the documentary about the man, garnered a mention in this month’s SPIN magazine. He says to look for “the tiniest mention” in the NOISE section on pages 33 and 34. It’s only a sentence, but at least it’s something.
• Getting elevated: Speaking of Nerdcore Rising, the lovely Nagin Farsad and the equally lovely Frontalot were recently interviewed for a really great piece over at Quirkee.com. It’s a helluva read that even touches on the eternal and ever-so sticky question of an inherently racist slant in nerdy rap. Thanks to Church for hipping me to this one.
• They really are: For a more personal piece on a recently released nerdy music movie, check out Lizz’s take on We Are Wizards. While the doc’s already garnered some really complimentary press, this will give you the opinions of a seriously informed Wrock aficionado. Check it out.
• Accio tour help!: Wizard Rock sirens Lena and Lauren are coming to your town. Hopefully. The trick is you gotta help them get hooked with a venue. Apparently many of the libraries they’ve contacted thus far haven’t been too quick with the callbacks, so if you’ve got an in at any of the cities in question why not help the ladies out? Oh, and don’t forget to friend the tour mates on MySpace. Make like Matt and Church and give the Wrockers some love!
• Taking a leak: Late last week I became the first person to receive a copy of Dual Core’s forthcoming release Lost Reality. I’m not at liberty to say anything about at present; I mostly just wanted to gloat. Fuck-to-the-yeah! What I can tell you is that the album will be officially released on April 4th (at Notacon 5 in Cleveland), and that you should expect a review from me shortly thereafter. Not to spoil anything, but, uh, it’s good. Real good. And the guest artists will shock and amaze!
• Something blue?: In other album news, Ultraklystron just dropped a collection of some old and new covers called Imitate. The EP features Karl’s amazing cover of Lupe Fiasco’s “Daydreamin’” that appeared on the Hipster, please! compilation Nerdcore Undercover as well as his amazing and hilarious cover of Beefy’s “Nerdcore For Life.”
• The saga continues: Rhyme Torrents mastermind and imbiber of all controlled substances High-C just put out the official call for last Rhyme Torrents disc. High-C explicitly mentioned that he wants to make sure this one top shelf, featuring “high-bitrate, well-mastered, expertly-crafted, funky-yet-nerdy-yet-not-contrived, pieces de' resistance.” The album release will coincide with this year’s Nerdapalooza in Orlando, and thus will no doubt attract some serious attention. Interested parties are directed, as always, to the RT boards.
• 2 Legit: Big up to the one and only Random, whose Mega Ran album has now been officially licensed by Capcom! While Ran admits “knowing you are not gonna get sued has to be the best feeling in the world,” a little heartfelt congratulations form the scene couldn’t help but make things all the sweeter. Head over to Random’s MySpace to give him a virtual pat on the back.
• Wherein being a sellout is a good thing: Previously, Dan announced that Nerdcore For Life would be making its world premiere Saturday, April 5th at the Wisconsin Film Fest. New news from the NC4L camp has just come to light concerning the tickets for this event; after being on sale for less than two weeks, all 199 tickets to the screening have sold out! Head over the doc’s MySpace and give them a hearty “well done” as well!
• Me too: On a more personal note, the first episode of my new Wired project, GeekDad’s HipTrax, has garnered a significant number of downloads and some really great feedback. Thanks to everyone who checked it out and double-thanks to everyone who helped me spread the word. Keep your eye on your aggregators next week when ep. 2 drops. I really think you’ll dig it.
• What’s pink and sucks?: The other Z – you know, the one who hasn’t been shirking her duties over the past week – has a new edition of her enchanting classic game review series Little Miss Gamer. Check out Z’s thoughts on Kirby’s Adventure and be summarily charmed.
  

We have achieved babytude!

I think I'll call her Pinky.
--Z.

Before I depart…

Tomorrow is Baby Day.

Okay, I’m not sure if that is a wholly crumulent holiday, but it is when I expect the arrival of the latest edition to the Family Z. But before I begin boiling water and gathering clean towels, let me take care of a few last minute announcements.

First and foremost: Nerdapalooza ’08! Hot off the (virtual and/or totally imaginary) press is info from my pal Hex. According to the press release I have in-hand, last night on the live Nerdapalooza podcast, “it was announced that both LogicOne and MC Frontalot are confirmed for the July show of Nerdapalooza Southeast 2008; that the other tentative large-scale nerdcore show (INFO2k8 ) will be merged with Nerdapalooza; and that tickets [are now on sale and have been set for] $25 for the entire weekend.” Be forewarned that there are only 300 tickets available for purchase and that ticket prices will certainly rise as the event’s date draws nigh. Check out the Nerdapalooza blog for further details.

Next, let us take a moment to mourn the loss of another geek icon. Visionary sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke passed away yesterday evening. At 90, he had lived a full and exciting life, and, as the writer of such nerdy touchstones as 2001: A Space Odyssey, he no doubt trashed better fiction than most of us will ever even conceive, much less commit to paper. Clark was a futurist who wrote about our tech-heavy era years before even the faintest glimmer of this digital world took shape in the public eye. Moreover, he always endeavored to keep the science in science fiction. Not that's nerdcore.

And lastly, on what I at least hope is a happier note, the latter half of this week should see not one, but two births within my little family. No, Em isn’t having twins. (And damn you for even thinking that!) In addition to a new baby, we will also be welcoming to the world a brand new podcast. With the help – and, indeed, at the urging – of Ken Denmead, my friend and editor from Wired, GeekDad and Hipster, please! have activated their Wonder Twins powers to bring you another geeky music podcast. GeekDad’s HipTrax is a bi-weekly mini-cast that features a small, family friendly selection of songs from the realms of nerdcore, geek rock, chiptunes, VGM, and Wizard Rock, as well as a little dialog about the artists and their respective scenes. I like to think of it as a more accessible alternative to my long-running Radio Free Hipster: the Nintendo Wii to RFH’s Sega Dreamcast, if you will. Episode 1 should premiere later this week with a kick-ass new theme song from Canadian Beat Ninja Snake Eyes. Keep an eye on the Geekdad blog in rapt anticipation.

Wherein I beg for assistance

Dear Internet,

Please don’t revoke my geek card or anything, but I need your help. You see, the new firmware update for the EZFlashV, my DS slot 1 solution of choice, is now available and it includes auto DLDI patching for homebrew games. I love me some homebrew games and I’m really, really jazzed about the option of not having to patch the damn things manually.

Unfortunately, I’m currently using version 1.66, and the 1.7 kernel (AKA: the new hotness) includes the bootstrap loader updater that requires I follow some very specific instructions so as not to brick my card.

Said instructions are, sadly, less than clear. Observe:

Bootstrap loader upgrade instruction

Don't extract the EZ5SYS.BIN in the 1.68 package to your MicroSD root folder unless you already meet the condition 1 and 2

1. Your EZ5 cart must already updated to boot from EZ5SYS.bin. if you used the EZ5SYS.bin rename to EZ5UPLDR.bin update before. please update the smaller EZ5UPLDR.bin in the 1.68 package. the bootstrap loader update will not start unless the cart use the EZ5SYS.bin boot method.

2. Charge your DS power to full, connected with a charger will be better.

3. After you meet the above two conditions, extract the EZ5SYS.bin to your MicroSD root folder, put MicroSD into EZ5, EZ5 into DS, power up EZ5 as usual, the upgrade process will automatic start check the bootstrap loader version and upgrade. the process cost 3-5 seconds, Don't power off warning will displayed on the screen. power off DS while upgrade in the processing will cause your EZ5 cart bricked permanently. EZ5 will boot in desktop after upgrade. you can safe power off your DS now.

4. to verify the bootstrap loader version. just check the EZ5 boot menu by boot up EZ5 while R key pressed.
Black BG and big white font means older version, deepblue BG and small white font means new version.

5. Upgrade prcess only show one time, once you upgraded sucessful, it never show up again. please use 1.68 kernel as usual. even rename it and flash it to chip will be ok.

Since I don’t speak English as a second language as a second language, that all seems a little opaque to me. Anyone care to explain ‘em to poor little clueless me?

Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.

Nerd News in Brief

Two words, folks: baby imminent.

Yep, apparently that little gal is coming out this week whether she wants to or not. Whether by her own volition or through the medical wonders of induction, the family Z. should have a new member by week’s end.

And I am terrified.

Li’l X. is 3, which means I’ve had just enough time to totally forget all the shit you need to know when you have an infant around. Plus, she’s a girl! There’s a whole new bunch of stuff I’ve gotta learn right there! It’s a logistical nightmare! Like that whole front-to-back thing. Who knew?! I certainly didn’t.

But I digress.

Just let me explicitly state that you folks probably won’t be hearing a lot from me this week. I’ll do my best to keep you in the baby loop, but I can’t promise too much more.

I’m sure you understand.

• CongressMonkey?: Leave it to Church to send me a link to a post from this CNet blog about Democratic Representative Bill Foster of the 14th Congressional District of Illinois. Not only is Foster “a physicist with a Ph.D. from Harvard,” but apparently dude’s got teh mad coding skillz. (Note the z.)
• No sleep ‘til: Brooklyn’s The Depreciation Guild will be performing on Thursday, March 20th at Galapagos (70 N6th St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY) at the first of this week’s Crashin’ In parties. The party runs from 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM with a meager $8 admission. The Guild takes the stage at 9:30. See the Crashin’ In site for more details and a full band list.
• Feed the tree: In less sunny gig news, Matt, otherwise known as Wrocker The Whomping Willows, is looking for a little fan assistance re: his Easter weekend gig in Columbus, Ohio. Whompy says, “I booked next week's show at Skully's literally three months ago. I assumed everything was cool, and I've been really excited about it because Skully's is a great place to play. However, they apparently just realized that next Sunday is Easter and that might affect attendance. So, the booker sent me an email stating that we, the bands, have to pay the club's production costs upfront if we want to play the show, otherwise they will cancel.” As anyone who’s ever gigged independently can attest, pay-to-play is shit, so Matt is hoping that Columbus area fans that are planning to attend will contact Skully’s at 614.291.8856 to let them know that Wrock does have a following in Ohio and that he won’t be playing to an empty house. Help a brother out.
• The Prodigal Son: Those of you hoping to catch the high-toned honky known as mc chris live and in concert are in for a treat. Not only will mc be playing this year’s Warped Tour, he’ll also be touring before and after the festival. Perhaps most surprisingly, mc chris will be returning to the PAX stage this year! Crazy, no?! Personally, I’m positively dizzy with questions, the most obvious of which is, of course, will Optimus Rhyme also be on the bill? Keep a keen eye on the PAX site for more news.
• So indie that his shirt don’t fit: Are you wondering where Drown Radio’s Me Geek Pretty One Day album is? You ain’t alone! Doc recently posted an update about the project and it’s delayed release at his site. Check it out and reap the rewards of another free single. That oughta curb your bellyachin’! ;)
• Your dreams were your ticket out: Don Vito has dropped a new demo at his profile over at thesixtyone that you definitely need to hear. It features The Ranger, T.Y.T. and MC Gigahertz and it is called “Welcome Back to the Web.” Take a listen and then feel free to let me know what clever Welcome Back, Kotter headline you would’ve attached to this piece.
• Why I love The Moaning Myrtles – Reason # 467: Today’s vid come compliments of Matt, my direct link to the wonderful world of Wizard Rock. It features The Moaning Myrtles, a group whose praises I have sung in the past, getting their groove on at the Hallows & Horcruxes Ball. Pay close attention around the 4 minute mark, when Wrapping commences.
  
  

Nerd News in Brief

There are lots of different types of nerds, and many of them are what you might call handy. You know the type: crafters, engineers, tinkerers and the like. Guys and gals who are good with their hands and can build or fix or mod damn-near anything swell within our ranks. This is a nerdy trait, to be sure.

Unfortunately, I seemed to have been shorted in this particular area.

Last night, in preparation for that ever-approaching due date, I decided it might be a good idea to put the new infant car seats in our automobiles. I was able to get both properly installed, but only after hours of arduous work and a string of profanities that blanketed the neighborhood like a wicked fog.

Truthfully, I felt a little bad about that – the problem with the safety seats, not the swearing – but then I remembered that each of us has a different dorky skillset. Mine, it just so happens, doesn’t generally lend itself to physical labor. Unfortunately, writing a well researched 5 paragraph essay about car seats just doesn’t seem to get the damn things installed.

• Nerdy politics update: Thanks to my always helpful associate Church for hipping me to another in what’s becoming a veritable avalanche of geeky political stories during this election year. Apparently, Obama is a Star Trek fan. Suddenly, all the nerdy musician endorsements make since!
• Anarchy in the UK: Dan (of NC4L) is looking for UK nerdcore artists. Not to be in the film, mind you, which is pretty much already done, but to talk to an English reporter doing an article on the genre. If you fit the bill and would like to have Dan pass on your contact info to this gent – who writes, coincidentally, for a “big paper” – contact Dan via RT or email him at Nerdcoreforlife-at-gmail-dot-com.
• Twilight to Midnight: UK game rockers Spheres of Chaos have just released an excellent new EP through their Netlabel Pterodactyl Squad. Check out Stratospheria – particularly shit-hot track “Megafauna” – as well as the label’s other free VGM and chiptune albums. Where so much of game-related music is heavily bent toward well-worn classics, Pterodactyl offers something truly unique: original compositions and non-traditional (read: independent or non-existent) game soundtracks. Definitely take a listen!
• Sweet home Tacoma: MC Gigahertz is playing a gig next week in his native Tacoma, WA at Bob's Java Jive (2102 S Tacoma Way). Fellow MCs 508 Disturbance are also on the bill. The show starts at 9:00 PM on Friday, March 21st, and it’s 3 bones at the door. This is a 21+ affair, so be legal or at least look that way.
• Too much (Donky Business): Much nerd love to my pal Hex for hipping me to borderline ridiculous but no less awesome mash-up album Donkey Business by Norwegian Recycling, an album that he was introduced to via my home-skillet Ant from GM4A. The crux of the album is that the producer took songs from the Donkey Kong Country franchise and mashed them with acappellas from Eminem, Skee-Lo, Jurassic 5, and the like. Even better: it’s free!
• All nerd, all the time: The Spork of Rocket Propelled Geeks just announced that Rocket Propelled Radio – the net’s first 24-hour all nerd music station – now has its own site. Check it out. Request some songs. Waste company time and company bandwidth while simultaneously getting your geek on. Oh, what a world we live in!
• geek.film: This year’s SXSW saw its fair share of nerdy music represented, particularly with regard to the film portion of the event. The Wrock tinged We Are Wizards, the chippy Blip Festival: Reformat the Planet, The Front-a-licious Nerdcore Rising, and the MMORPG centered Second Skin (which totally counts in this context as it includes a track by my man Random), are all coming out of the festival with positive reviews and healthy buzz. Congrats to the stars, crews, and filmmakers all around. Now please show these docs somewhere within driving distance of my locality!
• Spokane for (C’mon, that punny!): And to take us into the weekend, here’s another little piece of documentary news. Thanks go out to my bro Matt for reminding me of the recent announcement concerning the Wizard Rockumentary. The film will be premiering in nerd Mecca Spokane, WA at 11:59 PM on April 11th, 2008 at the Garland Theatre. Check out the trailer below and find your appetite for geeky music docs once again whetted.

Nerd News in Brief

My lovely wife is currently what can only be termed crazy pregnant. A lady should not be required to be as pregnant as she is right now. It just seems inhumane. Unnatural. Patently uncomfortable.

How a woman can carry an ever-growing child for nine months, and then, when it reaches its largest point, pass it in front of a room full of strangers, and not totally hate the frail, wailing creature that results is sort of amazing to me. And let us not forget that my wife’s already done this once before. She totally knows what she’s getting into.

Suffice it to say, in her current state, Em isn’t exactly in the mood for my unique brand of bullshitery. As such, I spend even more time than usual tending to Li’ X. or, failing that, entertaining myself.

To that end, I just purchased Super Smash Brothers Brawl. Should you care to take a hand at beating the ever-loving hell out of me via online multiplayer, my code is 1246-8385-6262. But don’t get pissed if I have to cut out of a match in a hurry. At this point childbirth is imminent.

• Roll 1d20 for all the friends that I made: No sooner had I completed RFH 41 than I discovered that Doctor Popular had made his own tribute to Gary Gygax. Fuck! That totally should’ve been in the show! Check it out at thesixtyone or at the Drown Radio site to find out why.
• Preliminary pimpage: On a related note, Doc also graced me with a sneak preview of his new album Me Geek Pretty One Day, and it’s pretty damn phenomenal. He manages to cover hip-hop, glitchy instrumentals, slightly skewed R&B, and even indie pop ably! Plus, there are a ton of extras, and, though they’re optimized for his fellow iPhone users, the MP3 ringtones and wallpaper work fine on other phones as well. But I’ve said too much! More on this as the release date draws nigh.
• Easter gig = obligatory Peeps joke: funky49, Redvoid, Krondor Krew, and Emergency Pizza Party will be playing at The Uptown Bar in St. Petersburg on Saturday, March 26th. The flyer boasts music, alcohol, foosball, and bunnies. For three bucks a head, that’s a pretty sweet setup.
• Why Can't I Shoot The Dog?: Comedy rap act Sudden Death has, at long last, released its new album Fatal Error. Priced at $9.99 for 16 tracks, 2 bonus songs, a video interview, and a video game, it’s a pretty easy sell. Sudden Death will also be playing some gigs that may (or may not) be in your area: 3/28-3/30 - Memphis, TN @ MidSouthCon, 4/4-4/6 - Stony Brook, NY @ I-CON, 4/25-4/27 - Richmond, VA @ RavenCon, and 7/4 - Orlando, FL @ Nerdapalooza II.
• So rad the extra d is canonical: Geeky rockers Totally Radd! also have some shows lined up in the near future, starting tonight in Las Vegas at Revolution Lounge in the Mirage. The rest of the itinerary breaks down as such: 3/12/08 - Santa Fe, NM @ High Mayhem, 3/15/08 - Austin, TX @ NYLON Magazine Party, 3/16/08 - Austin, TX @ Emo’s, and 3/18/08 - Phoenix, AZ @ Ruby Room with The Minibosses!
• Behind my whiskers: The collective bane of Dr. Wily’s existence, The Protomen, are also playing a number of gigs, specifically in Illinois. Here it go: 3/27/08 - Chicago @ Empty Bottle, 3/28/08 – Chicago @ Ronny's, 3/29/08 - Springfield, IL @ Black Sheep. They also have a new song up for free download. It’s about beards. I’m totally not making this shit up.
• A winner is he: Last month, mc chris was interviewed by a program called The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, of which he is an alum. You can check out all three parts of the interview at mc’s site, and you can view a young Chris Ward's award winning piece at nerdcore.info.
  
• Help a sister out: On the Wrock side of the fence, Matt reminded me to mention that Lena of The Butterbeer Experience is lobbying to be included, on some level, in the process of scoring Warner Brother’s take on the final chapter in the Harry Potter series. It’s a long shot and petitions like this don’t have the best track record, but dreams, my friends, are made of sturdy stuff! Peep Wizrocklopedia for the full story, and offer your signature to the cause if the spirit moves you.
  
• New hotness: nYgel, no doubt sensing that I needed something to listen to, recently posted a new remix. Check out his MySpace for the “Hardly Tell Remix” featuring YTCracker, Elijah Lucian, Conyeezy, and what appears to be the guitar hook from the chorus of Weezer’s “Say it Ain’t So.” Also on nYg’s MySpace player are around 1/3 of the tracks off his forthcoming release Free to a Good Home. You’ll wanna check these out.
• ALL CAPS: Rhyme Torrents moderator Attack Slug also just dropped a new track. It features KABUTO and is called “Insanity.” He’s also made an acappella available in case other producers want to take a stab at remixing it.
• Not to be confused with Scott: Via my pal Ant from GM4A, La Rock Inc. Records has a new compilation album coming out on April 8th featuring the likes of Dual Core and Square Wail. Moreover, each week La Rock will be posting tracks from the album on their MySpace player for your enjoyment. Check it out and spread the word.
• Incontrovertibly pimp: And to wrap things up, here a little vid that Church hipped me to from nerdcore icon Monzy. It’s called “So Fucking Pimp.” And it is indeed.
  

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 41: The There be (Dungeons &) Dragons Mixtape

Interestingly enough, this episode got its start as an actual mixtape. A group of my friends from high school do a regular CD swap a few times a year, and this was to be one of my submissions. Unfortunately, it sort of ran out of steam and set unfinished for months, silently mocking me from its seemingly insignificant folder on my desktop.

Given that my free time is further dwindling due to the eminent birth of our new arrival, I struck upon the idea to turn it into a podcast, to build on what I already had and make a second RFH mixtape. The WFWFTW mix was, by leaps and bounds, my most popular episode to date and folks regularly ask me for another. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to give the people what they want.

And then, right in the middle of my fevered editing, Gary died, making this edition a little more relevant.

The final product is, in part, a memorial to Gygax. However, in a broader sense, it’s more a love letter to the tabletop gamer.

Some of these tracks are explicitly about or specifically mention Dungeons & Dragons. Some are about other, related games. Some of them simply contain the sort of fantastic storytelling and toothless aggression that we dice-slingers know and love. And some ably mock our pastime and our attitudes. But let us remember, that in order to properly scorn the geek lifestyle, one must have an intimate knowledge of our culture and rituals. To adequately crack wise at our expense generally outs you as one of us. We’re bulletproof in that regard.

This episode feels a bit less cohesive than its predecessor. In fact, it sounds to me more like a collection of loose musical vignettes bound together by the dialogue from that classic Dead Alewives bit. A series of modules, if you will, which I imagine most of you may find fitting.

As I know you might not be intimately familiar with all of the included tracks, here are the customary show notes to let you know those responsible for the musical portion of this mix. Some of them might seem almost profanely ungeeky, but trust me; they each play a role.

Questions and comments regarding this edition (or damn near anything else you may find of interest) are encouraged, and your time and consideration are, as always, appreciated.

And for the record, you won’t be punished with an experience penalty for listening to this across multiple sittings. I am nothing if not a fair DM.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 41: The There be (Dungeons &) Dragons Mixtape [hosting provided by Antisocial] Size: 68.3 MB Running Time: 1:14:40

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – “Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)” / funky49 – “Radio Free Hipster Theme (Cover – Redux)

I decided to include the “theme song gets fucked up because it’s a mixtape and not a regular edition” motif again. My pal funky49 was nice enough to do his own cover version of the track, and this seemed like good time to use it. If anyone else is interested in putting their own spin on the theme, I may decide to make using alternate themes a habit for special mixtape eps.

Background Music :
The background music used behind Crystal’s introduction is from the classic D&D arcade/Saturn title Shadow Over Mystara. It seemed only fitting.

Track 1: A Tribe Called Quest – “Scenario”
Busta Rhymes spouting “Raaaahr raaaahr like a dungeon dragon” is universally agreed on as one of hip-hop’s nerdiest moments.

Track 2: The Misfits – “London Dungeon”
I decided early on that, in addition to songs about/referencing gaming, I also wanted some songs about dragons. It seemed only fitting, then, that I also had some about dungeons.

Track 3: Frontalittle Squad – “Saving Throw”
Yes; that really is Tycho rapping the last verse. He is multitalented.

Track 4: Shael Riley – “Down with Bane”
Not only does this one cover D&D, it also references a number of classic White Wolf franchises. Shael has tabletop acumen to spare.

Track 5: Jay-Zeezer – “Allure in the Garage” / Weezer – “In the Garage” / FLomid – “In the Garage”
This is what I like to call my “In the Garage” medley. Sure, many of us actually gamed in the kitchen or den, but I felt it worked in context.

Track 6: ZeaLouS1 – “Double Dragon (feat. Super Dragon X)”
From Z1’s Collaboc1de; this one features SDX of Metamystiks. It is fierce.

Track 7: Swollen Members – “Red Dragon Whoa”
Swollen are another act that ain’t exactly “nerd music,” but I love the band, the song, and the way that it rolls out of the “Double Dragon.” Plus, I’ve always thought that MMI and Swollen Members have a certain level of lyrical aggression in common.

Track 8: Brad Neely – “Be Aggressive Brad”
A last minute addition, I’m almost shamed to say. In retrospect, I don’t know why it wasn’t on the original playlist.

Track 9: Queen – “Dragon Attack (1991 Bonus Remix by R.A.K. and Jack Benson)”
What can I say? What nerd doesn’t love Queen?

Track 10: Grandmaster Pink & Diabolik – “Rollin 20’s”
This is the song that singlehandedly started the whole project. One of Pink and D’s best.

Track 11: Mazedude – “Kid Icarus Funky Dungeon OC ReMix”
More dungeon-y goodness courtesy of OverClocked ReMix. I love the music from Kid Icarus, and this really drives home how enchanting those melodies truly are.

Track 12: DragonForce – “Storming the Burning Fields”
Nerd metal at its finest, or, at least, its most accessible. I think a lot of people probably never even realized this group existed until Guitar Hero 3. While their style is borderline obnoxious, you really have to respect their talent.

Track 13: Taika – “Shining in the Darkness: Down in the Dungeon Just Creatures and Me OC ReMix”
Once again, when you want quality songs about dungeons, look no further than OCR!

Track 14: Dorothée – “Sourire du Dragon”
The theme song from the French language version of the old cartoon.

Track 15: Krondor Krew – “I Play D&D”
I could not, in good conscience, make a Dungeons & Dragons podcast without including this one. Krondor Krew love them some RPGs. Shinobi’s bit at the end is one of my favorite moments of this podcast.

Track 16: Mastodon – “Crystal Skull”
Though obviously not a nerd metal outfit, Mastodon boasts some of the most dork-friendly sci-fi/fantasy concept albums of the modern age. They also appeared in the ATHF movie, which gives them nerd points whether they want ‘em or not.

Track 17: Lords of the Rhymes – “Orc Interlude”
Technically, this song should’ve probably been about Ogres, but I think that a LOTR track was long overdue by this point.

Track 18: Beefy – “Tabletop”
From Beef’s forthcoming album Rolling Doubles. He was nice enough to leak the track to me for inclusion. Okay, so maybe leak isn’t wholly correct.

Track 19: Stephen Lynch – “D and D”
I’m not a real big fan of Lynch, but the song was fitting. Plus, he’s funnier than Dane Cook. But then again, so are most things.

Background Music:
Crystal’s second bit is backed up by music from Tower of Doom, SoM’s sequel.

Track 20: Uncle Monsterface – “(thank you) Gary Gygax”
Uncle Monsterface conceded to let me use their new tribute track as an outro. It seemed like a fitting place to end. Much thanks to the band for favoring me with the song.

The Zen of JoCo

A couple of weeks back I had the good fortune to interview nerd troubadour Jonathan Coulton for GeekDad. I’m not sure if it’ll go down in the annals of dork history as a defining moment of music blogging or anything, but Jonathan was great and I think the piece really came together. It was posted this morning, so head on over and take a look. If you feel so inclined, feel free to Digg or Stumble or… um… Reddit… Redd… Redditit… Okay, I have no idea what the proper verb tense of "Reddit" is in this situation.

At any rate, links to relevant social bookmarking sites are at the end of the post. Lemme know what you think.

Nerd Aid

Okay, so somehow I managed to miss this until Glenn Case mentioned it on his MySpace yesterday. I'm not saying I'm the most "plugged in" cat on the Intertubes or nothin’, but I figured if I had somehow passed this over then some of you may have as well. As such, let me relate the following:

The long and short of it is that Shael Riley's brother (and frequent co-conspirator) Devon underwent emergency surgery late last month. Thankfully, he's recovering, but, like so many of us, the ensuing hospital bills are presenting a brand new, long-term problem. In addition, bills for little incidentals – like say food and rent – tend to pile up regardless of whether or not you’re physically able to drag your ass to work.

I don’t know Devon Riley, but I am familiar with his work. Moreover, I have every indication that he’s a great guy. A great guy who has, unfortunately, had a run of pretty shitty luck.

His friends have set up a little blog where folks can go to wish Devon well as he recovers. While there, you can also give a little donation through Paypal, should you feel so inclined. Surely the great Nigel Edmund Silverman deserves a little love from fellow geeks and gamers.

More Nerd News in Brief

The problem with pulling double duty between Hipster, please! and Geekdad is that, many times, the things I do for one don’t necessarily translate well to the other. Sure, there’s a commonality, but I don’t expect that GD readers would respond to my foul mouth and healthy disrespect for copyright laws quite as warmly as you do.

Still, there are some exceptions. I actually have a couple of things coming down the Geekdad pipe in the near future that I think you folks will really dig. I’ll not divulge too much so as to keep a minimal level of mystique, but as plans solidify I’ll be happy to drop some knowledge.

• Ghosts I (available intravenously): I don’t like Nine Inch Nails – a 40-year-old man trying to be angsty is just a little bit sad – but I do like Antisocial. As such, I’d like to call you attention to his new project. Soc is working on “a quick little project called Seven Inch Spikes: Apparitions. Basically the concept is derivative (remix, rap, rework, cover, inspired by, parody, etc) works of the new Nine Inch Nails album.” Parties interested in participating should give Soc a holler and/or peep RT for further details.
• G4 - Now with 50% less suck!: YTCracker is seeking to help G4 reclaim its former glory(?) via the power of music. He has recently licensed his track “DugDig” for a year as the BGM for a commercial for X-Play. Yes, Warwick Davis was Willow and an Ewok and Leonard Nimoy was Galvatron and Spock. But Adam Sessler? He’s just kind of a tool.
• A place to call home: Nerdapalooza has a new and improved online presence. The URL is humorous and borderline inappropriate so I really can’t help but love it. The site was also designed by Game Metal mastermind Girlz Melon for added rock-ass geek cred!
• Japanese stunt man?!: T.Y.T. has a new video available for your perusal, and this one’s not on YouTube. You can, however, peep “Saturday Night SYN” elsewhere. And trust me, you’ll want to watch what T.Y.T. describes as “a totally retarded hyphy in face skull crushing video!”
• Here I am…: Thanks to my brother Matt for hipping me to a special new track by Wrockers The Owl Post. This one’s a collab with Adam from The Mudbloods. It’s called “Scarhead Theme,” and it’s available at the Post’s MySpace.
• Wrock you like a hurricane: In other Wrock news (also courtesy of Matt), Lena (of The Butterbeer Experience) and Lauren (of The Moaning Myrtles) are planning a joint tour. The duo is also working on an EP together, and are currently looking for artistic assistance for cover art design. There’s a tentative Baltimore date on said tour, which hopefully means Matt and Church can do a post-gig write-up. /stern look
• Further developments: Earlier this week, it was widely reported in Wizard Rock circles that The Parselmouths were parting ways due to the approaching nuptials of member Brittany. The band’s forthcoming gig in Kansas was expected to be their last, with remaining Parselmouth Kristina soldiering on with a new huckleberry. A recent follow-up, however, has clarified the previous information; it now looks like Brittany is just taking the summer off to get married, and fans can expect more of the classic Brittany/Kristina lineup in the future.
• Tag-team: On the VGM front, my pal Anthony has officially announced the next GM4A compilation Here Comes a New Challenger. This one features collaborations between nerdcore vocalists and chiptune/VGM musicians. He even included a preview track to tide us over until its release.
• Across the pond: Speaking of game music, congrats go out to the fine folks at the Gamewave Podcast. Much like my own Radio Free Hipster, the Gamewave guys have just celebrated the posting of their 40th podcast. (No small feat, I assure you!) If you haven’t yet, I’d highly suggest giving the ‘cast a listen. Joe and Mike are not only VGM aficionados, they’re also game musicians themselves, and their show is not to be missed.
• 1D4 moments of silence: I’m gonna break with tradition and end NNIB without a video today. Instead, here’s a little image that Church found that sort of managed to stick in my brain. We all know that Gary Gygax shuffled off this mortal coil earlier this week, but did you realize he did so - fittingly enough - on GM's Day? Moreover, did you know that his passing is the only thing that could make a lolcat utterly despondent? Didn’t think so.

You Brought us Geeks Together

In the wake of the yesterday’s passing of tabletop legend Gary Gygax, geeks everywhere have memorialized him in their own indubitable fashions. Though the various epitaphs scrawled across blogs and Internet message boards may seem sardonic and mocking to outsiders, those of us in the know realize that these references to Constitution modifiers and saving throws are, more often than not, the result of genuine, heartfelt sentiment regarding the passing of a man who helped to craft those undeniably dorky concepts.

And while the Web’s foremost comics mark Gygax’s passing with images and its most studious bloggers do so with words, nerdy musicians pay tribute in song. The first of these, to my knowledge, comes from self-described “Sock Puppet Rock Band and Multimedia Extravaganza-thon-a-rama” Uncle Monsterface.

Frontman Marty Allen says, regarding the track,

we realize all too well the unfortunate truth is that too often, folks wait until someone has kicked the proverbial bucketcan before they say all the nice things they meant to say about them. that isn't reason enough not to, let it just serve as a collective reminder to us all that we should tell people that we like them and that we like what they do. before they [d]ie. people have tried to convince me otherwise, and i refuse to believe it. but if you miss the boat, make them a song.

And with that, I submit for your approval “(thank you) Gary Gygax,” freely downloadable from UncleMonsterface.com.

Irreverent? Yes. Strange? Absolutely! But also sincere and ridiculously nerdy. Because Gary deserves no less.

On the passing of Gary Gygax

For those of you who haven’t caught wind of the recent news, Ernest Gary Gygax – co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons and a pioneer of tabletop roleplaying – has passed.

Even now, Gary is being memorialized by our geeky peers in a manner befitting a gentleman of his standing. I’m sure there’s little I can say that hasn’t already been covered by those more astute and well-spoken than I, but I don’t reckon I’ll let that stop me. I can't imagine many of us who are active participants in the geekier side of popular culture would be doing what we do if not for Gary, particularly those of us who fancy ourselves writers.

The worlds he helped to forge provided many of us a canvas upon which to paint idealized versions of our flawed and corruptible selves. Around that table we weren’t lonely and awkward kids; we were paladins, warriors, and rogues. We found ourselves transformed from a motley crew of neighborhood chums to a party of daring adventurers.

His game gave us a voice. It gave us a realm of wonder and fantasy to explore with our friends. Goblins to slay and treasure to discover. It rewarded our creativity and helped to foster our ingenuity. Moreover, it provided us a mechanism through which to tell our own stories.

In truth, it wasn’t until I discovered D&D (and, yes, a number of other similar games) that I ever felt I had tales worth telling, that I ever felt that I was a part of that grand tradition of southern storytellers. My now infamous and much mocked tattoo isn’t just about embracing my dorky nature, it’s about acknowledging the reason that I began to write. And now it’s about memorializing yet another in a long succession of fallen heroes.

Gygax was just a man, as small and flawed as any of us, but he helped a generation embrace storytelling and nerdy camaraderie as an active pastime. He helped an innumerable number of misfit kids find brotherhood with paper and dice. He will be missed, but his legacy lives on.

For we are that legacy.

If you know the dir of the nerdcore rhyme

While my attention was focused on other matters my pal Anthony managed to scoop me on this, but I thought I’d toss it up just in case any of you missed it. It’s an outtake from Nerdcore Rising that features “Gabe & Tycho explaining every single accursed little lyrical twist in their official theme song.”

It’s a spectacle that could easily be described as slap-nuts funny. Observe.

And all you SXSWers, please don't forget that you have three chances to check out Nerdcore Rising at the festival next week. Front will be around for a little Q&A after every showing, and of course, he and the boys will be performing at the premiere after-party Sunday night. Prince Paul has been officially confirmed as has an open bar, but you’ll need a festival pass or a premiere ticket stub to get in.

Nerd News in Brief

I try to do good. I honestly do. Sometimes it just doesn’t pan out.

Last week, acting on the urgings of a number of Radio Free Hipster listeners, I submitted the podcast to iTunes. I figured it would make it easier for y’all and it might even bring in a few new listeners. (Sure, I’d have to deal with mocking, sub-literate reviews from every yahoo with an account, but such is life.)

The submission process was painless enough, but it was almost immediately rejected.

I can only imagine it had something to do with that magical mixture of profanity and copyright infringement upon which the podcast is based. Apparently, I’m just not iTunes material.

The resubmission process seems to involve me changing some information within the RSS feed and trying to trick iTunes into giving me another shot, which, honestly, sounds like a lot of work. I’ll try and get to that at some point in the foreseeable future because my stats show that most RFH listeners use that app, but I’ve got other fish to fry at present.

In the meantime, the handful of you that use Podcast Alley – who were more than happy to accept my feed submission, I might add – should feel free to review the show over there.

Likewise, anyone wishing to speak their piece about this humble blog can direct their adulation and/or venom at my listing over at Blogged.

• Nerds heart Violet: The always delightful Violet Blue has posted a handful of her favorite nerdcore videos over at her blog Tiny Nibbles. Included among them is her preferred selection from mc chris’s recent “Nrrrd Grrrl” video contest. Violet also gives some love to Radio Free Hipster favorite Schaffer the Darklord and a number of other notable nerdlinders. I demand that you all reciprocate!
• The Viking of Rap: Nerdy rhyme-slinger extraordinaire and all-around great guy MC Lars took some time last week to let fans know what he’s been doing since the 2006 release of The Graduate. The answer: lots of stuff. Most importantly, Lars confirmed the speculation that his next album will drop later this year. I, for one, can’t wait.
• It’s an Oddworld: Game music composer Michael Bross recently made the multitracks for one of the songs from the Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath soundtrack available for remixers. Bross was kind enough to pass this info along to Anthony of GM4A who was, in turn, nice enough to pass it on to me. I’m now telling you about it, thus keeping this chain of nerdy love intact. You can grab the “Fighting Outlaws” multitracks at Michael’s site.
• Myf’s got a story to tell: After a brief hiatus (due to some recording issues), Myf is back with a vengeance! He just dropped a rough mix of a new joint called “Pieces (It All Falls)” over at Rhyme Torrents, and you simply must check it out. Moreover, Myf’s promised “a lot of new stuff now that everything works again.” This is indeed good news.
• RPM Challenge Round-up: As I mentioned previously, several notable nerdcore artists participated in last month’s RPM Challenge, and now the time has come to bask in the glory of their collective artistic outcome. DJ Snyder and Entity created the phenomenal Calvin & Hobbes album, which combines smart hip-hop and ample guest stars to create an affair to remember. Redvoid and funky49 again activated their Wonder Twin powers to create another Superfiends release; Prestidigichillitation is a concept album designed to “comment on the state of life in the Western world but locate the true nature of the self amidst the chaos and greed of modern life.” And lastly, Emergency Pizza Party came through with their most compelling release to date Ughuuhghhhh, which sees the group recapture their former glory as Florida’s most surreal geeky rap trio.
• And yet I do it alone: In other new release news, Hand’Solo is offering to sell early bird copies of their new release Aging is What Friends Do Together (technically not due out until mid-April) to interested parties. The price is $15 payable via PayPal or money order/certified check, and that includes mailing costs within North America. Info and links to sample tracks can be found at RT.
  
• “Celebuglies” is the word of the week: mc chris’s much talked-about track with Talib Kweli is now available for your listening pleasure. Check out “Screamin (feat. mc chris)” at the Idle Warship MySpace. For those not familiar with IW, it’s a musical project of Talib and Res that focuses heavily on the modern American fascination with celebrities and their often troubled lives. Check it out.
• Everybody’s stoked: Are you excited about SXSW? Of course you are! Church points out that the certified “docu-geeks” at the Second Skin blog are particularly excited about the premiere of the MC Frontalot documentary Nerdcore Rising. What? You’re particularly excited about it too? What are the odds?!
• I promised I wouldn’t get heavy on this joint: Random will also be in Austin this week for SXSW. On Friday, March 7th he’ll be at - wait for it - the Second Skin movie premier, the film featuring his track “Grow Up,” at the Austin Convention Center Theater at 9:00 PM. And on Saturday, March 8th he’ll be performing at The Music Gym Lounge at 6:00 PM.
• Apparently, he likes Harry Potter: Last week that bastion of nerdy musical excellence Penny Arcade finally acknowledged the unmitigated badassery of Wizard Rock. While Tycho admits that he’s unable to work any more bands into the program for this year’s PAX concert, this could be a sign that some Wrock may make its way into future events. Wait… Gabe and Tycho like nerdcore, mash-ups, and Wrock, and yet they don’t listen to RFH?! Probably because it ain't listed in iTunes. ;)
• The year in Wrock: Leave it to Matt to remind us that the results from the 2008 Wizrocklopedia People’s Choice Awards are in. Fervent congratulations go out to The Remus Lupins and The Moaning Myrtles for multiple wins as well as to The Whomping Willows for snagging the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Just him: UK Wrocker Peeved, whom I mentioned last week, has just been interviewed over at Marisha's Wrockin Meet the Band's Journal. Peeved a really interesting cat – not to mention an incredibly talented musician – so head on over and take a look. Marisha’s also got a ton of other great Wrock interviews over at her place as well, so be sure to hang out and take ‘em all in.
• Everything's shiny, Cap'n.: In one final piece of Wizard Rock news, Lauren (of the aforementioned Moaning Myrtles) has a new track on her MySpace player called “Engines Make Me Hot.” It’s about Kaylee from Firefly, and it’s pretty much the bestest song ever. So, for continuing the grand tradition of Wrockers covering non-Wrock topics, not to mention her amazing piece of Cheap Trick filk, I award Lauren these Internets. May she do with them as she pleases.
• Your Heart’s in Your: To take us home today, here’s a little behind the scenes piece from the shoot of the as-yet-to-materialize video for The Grammar Club’s “Heart Tits.” It was filmed by the PBC crew in September of last year in Brooklyn. It features lots of dancing. Mostly by Shael. It’s a good time.
  

The Age-Old Question

On one of the mildly temperate afternoons last weekend, I took Li’l X. to a local park. He’s three; parks are kind of his thing.

After scoping out the nature trail and feeding some fairly cantankerous ducks at the lake, X. took to the playground and I settled on a nearby bench. I am thirty-two; benches are kind of my thing.

Park benches, for those of you not in the know, are like parking lots for fathers. They’re usually pretty crowded so you just try and find a vacancy that will accommodate your specific footprint and wedge in. I was lucky enough to find myself seated with a little extra breathing room. That is, with only one other wayward dad next to me.

He and I exchanged pleasantries and enjoyed the relative silence that a wide open space can provide. After a bit we talked tersely about our relative children and their activities, until, at last, the conversation turned to that question that grown men feel compelled ask each other in casual situations.

“So, what do you do?”

I replied with my standard answer, noting that I do some light IT work at a college but that I am a writer. As if on cue he asked what kind of writer, and talked turned to the blog. (It’s my biggest project and the one that takes up most of my free time, ere go it tends to get the most face time.)

This, of course, required further elucidation, particularly with regard to my musical interests.

“What, exactly, is ‘nerd music.’”

I replied that nerd music is an extension and, in some cases, a celebration of the geekier side of popular culture. This placated him and soon we collected out rugrats and parted ways.

It wasn’t until I got home that night that I really started thinking about my answer. After some contemplation I found it to be totally inadequate.

Not inaccurate, mind you, but fairly insufficient.

What I should’ve said goes a little something like this:

Nerdy music is many things to many people. Or, more specifically, it is what you need it to be.

Within the framework of the greater culture, nerdy music can take a myriad of forms, from hip-hop to punk rock to smooth jazz to chirpy electronica. Each of these styles may lyrically center on anything from video games to television and movies to personal, slice-of-life recollections to wholly romantic declarations to nothing in particular.

Its artists are doctors and dropouts, saints and criminals of all ages and colors and persuasions, and their instruments are computers, Gameboys, guitars, accordions, microphones, and turntables.

They are classically trained and ruthlessly amateurish. They are world-renowned and complete unknowns. They are performers and wallflowers. They are totally serious and just fuckin’ around.

Their songs are benign and malevolent. Accessible and oblique. Proudly dorky and subversively vague.

But most importantly, nerd music is functional.

Whether you want to let your geek flag fly or simply mock your dorkier predilections, it entertains your fancies. Like all art, it invites you to make of it what you will. It permits you to bend it to your desires.

It’s just like any other music, except for the fact that it’s ours. Whoever we decide to be.

I reckon that’s one way to clear a park bench. ;)

Nerd News in Brief

Winter has again returned to the Deep South. This is rather unfortunate for me because today is also comic book day. This means, of course, that no matter how much I might want to stay indoors, I am honor bound to journey out into the greater world.

But before I freeze my ass off for the sake of Teen Titans, New Warriors, and the obligatory X-book, here’s a super-sized edition of Nerd News in Brief.

• Nerd Ink: The Next Generation: I’m tempted to say that this Green Gadgets Design Competition concept that Church found will be the ultimate in Nerd Ink. That is when these things become reality.
• Vote Gilderoy: Also from Church, geek politics got elevated this week as well, in the form of this piece from The Vindy. I’m always amazed that folks don’t invoke Harry Potter as a go-to allegory for the current political climate more often. The roles into which this particular piece casts certain players, though, makes me wonder if my books may’ve been misprints.
• Compliments of a little bird: I recently got a leak of a new (mostly) finished track from nerdcore supergroup the 8 Bit Boys and I simply must make a statement regarding its awesomeness. While I can not divulge any info concerning the song itself, I can tell you that 8 Bit Boys includes Entity, YTCracker, The Ranger, and TyT, four of the scene’s finest. You can learn a bit more about the project and get some samples at the 8BB MySpace profile and at the Rhyme Torrents forums.
• Sounds from Down Under: And the aforementioned group ain’t the only thing that The Ranger has been into of late. Earlier this week he dropped “Rap Bukowski” over at RT. The track uses a beat from another Australian artist, Diabolik, and the lyrical style combines some of Ranger’s finest with an all-to relatable hard-living pastiche.
• Straight Outta Belcompton: In turn, Diabolik and his partner in crime Pinky will be performing at The Basement in Belcompton (which I assume is in/around Canberra Australia) on Friday, March 14th. Doors open at 9:00 PM and the price is $10 Aussie.
• Get twitterpated: Likewise, Entity is also dropping some new tracks backed up by none other than DJ Snyder. The new single is called “Thumper,” and you can even pick up a bundle of the original, the instrumental, and the acappella if you have the urge to noodle with it. It too is made of win.
• In my America: American Gamer now has a proper home, compliments of co-producer Macross. Check it out for full tracklisting, individual song downloads, and info on the parties involved.
• I really hate to trip: My pal Antisocial recently released another cover; this time it’s Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise.” Though the original was never a favorite of mine, Soc does an excellent job and really brings that sort of borderline futurepop sound that he’s becoming known for. This should keep you well entertained while he works on more original material.
• Find Your Way: Snake Eyes, who some will remember from the CDD and the rest of you were introduced to earlier this week, hipped me to a really interesting post over at Canadian video game site Angry Robot. Contributor Nadine wrote a fantastic piece about composer Nobuo Uematsu (of Final Fantasy fame). It’s definitely worth a look by you rabid VGM fanboys – I’m talking to you, Anthony – as well as more casual listeners.
• “I didn’t want to be that person.”: Geek music icon and professional Internet celebrity Jonathan Coulton recently got some face time over at Yahoo! News’s People of the Web segment. The video is great and the written accompaniment is equally illuminating. Thanks to my home-skillet funky49 for hipping me to this one.
• Defense philosophy: For those not following the story till now, mc chris has recently been further courted by a number of record labels. The recounting of his recent meeting with Interscope was particularly entertaining, as mc really explained his take on the situation and his feelings toward the meeting's outcome aptly .
• It could get elevated: In festival news, more info concerning the post-Nerdcore Rising SXSW premiere gig has surfaced. Front and company will proceed to get down with their bad selves on Sunday, March 9th at Latitude 30 in Austin “sometime around midnight.” Prince Paul is still slated to spin records. (Holy fucking shit! Again!) And, according to Frontalot himself, everyone is invited.
• So check this: In other festival news, the recently released video for MC Lars’s “Hipster Girl” has been accepted into the Garden State Film Festival. The Jersey adjacent can catch its showing on Saturday, April 5th. Additional info can be found in Lars’s recent blog post.
• Every button tells a story, don’t it?: Last weekend, Anthony from GM4A was nice enough to direct me toward what's become my new favorite chiptune release, Controller 1 by Shnabubula. The album’s a free download, which should make it a no-brainer, but let me reiterate; you’ll wanna check this one out.
• All we are is dust in the wind: Matt just let me know that Kansas is getting its own mega-Wrock fest in the form of The Hallows and Horcruxes Ball. The event will be held Saturday, March 8 at the Kansas State University Student Union in Manhattan, Kansas, and, in true Wizard Rock fashion, all proceeds will be donated to First Book. This one features The Remus Lupins, The Parselmouths, The Ministry of Magic, The Moaning Mrytles, Ginny and the Heartbreakers, and the Mudbloods: a heavy-hitting lineup, to be sure!
• You can’t take my best friend’s sister: To take us home, here’s another jewel from the Wrock scene. It’s Welsh Wizard Rocker Peeved’s minimalist reinterpretation of “Save Ginny Weasley” by Harry and the Potters. After watching this, immediately go to his MySpace and check out his phenomenal remix of RiddleTM’s “Ode to Voldemort.” Then politely welcome your new musical overlord.