Reverence Through ReMixing

The OverClocked ReMix project is difficult to explain but simple to understand. Since 1999, David Lloyd and a steady stream of contributors have been providing fans with an ever-growing deluge of original compositions based on and incorporating elements of console, computer, and handheld gaming soundtracks. While this dedication speaks volumes about the OCR community and its appreciation for the sometimes primitive, sometimes extravagant, always elusive tracks from gaming's history, there is more to their mission than simply retooling game music for its own sake.

The manifold purpose of OCR is to “honor and appreciate the often-overlooked men and women who write quality music for a medium that is too frequently considered to be ‘disposable'”, to facilitate the expression, experimentation, and improvement of current and future ReMixers, and to provide free, quality music to anyone inclined to listen.

David (AKA djpretzel) was kind enough to take time from his busy schedule to discuss the site, game music in general, and the magic of melody with Hipster, please! Read on, and be afforded a glimpse at a gentleman who seeks not to preserve video game music solely for gamers, but to help garner game music and those who create it a genuine level of universal artistic appreciation.

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Despite the fact that you take great pains to prevent such misinterpretations, is there still lingering confusion concerning the traditional concept of a remix (referring to a more cosmetically altered form of an original work) versus that of a ReMix (which is generally much more comparable to an arrangement or full reinterpretation)? Do some people still not get it?

Some people still don't get it, but most do. All you have to hear is a single ReMix that's really been drastically rearranged for it to click: "oh, they're not just sampling the game music and adding beats - it's much more". It's a pretty unintuitive term, and the mixed capitalization doesn't really disambiguate it much, but it hasn't been too terribly problematic, either.

The primary tenet of the OverClocked ReMix project is focused on the fact that video game music is not disposable; that it is, in fact, art unto itself. Considering the fact that video games themselves are generally viewed as inherently inferior to the likes of literature and film, does the struggle for legitimate recognition of game music as art ever feel like an uphill battle?

Yes, but in a way it should be an uphill battle, and that's part of the appeal. It's taken a good long while for film composers to get the respect they deserve, and for people to realize that film scores can be decoupled and appreciated on their own - that there's enough depth there - so it makes sense that it's going to be a harder sell to get the same appreciation for games.

I think games are undergoing an important shift in public opinion right now, what with the Congressional attention in the United States and censorship elsewhere. There's an increasing divide between an older generation that's outraged at violence and sex because they have a limited view of games as being for children, versus a steadily growing demographic of adults now in their twenties and thirties that have grown up with games, who realize it's an artistic medium like any other and isn't limited to one demographic. As members of this second group age, move into the workplace (and elected offices), and have children of their own, I think we'll start witnessing a sea change of sorts, and that games will be elevated in the collective consciousness and appreciated alongside art, music, and film, not beneath them.

That's a long ways off, and while it certainly sounds both ideal and idealistic, it's probably more fun to be running a site like OCR right now, trying to shift opinions earlier on, fighting the uphill battle as you say; it's more fun bucking trends and public opinion than following them.

You make an excellent point about the aging of the video game generation. One needs only to look at the widespread modern acceptance of Rock ‘n Roll to see what happens when a youth-centered cultural touchstone matures with its fans.

Do you feel that recent high-profile projects such as Video Games Live and Play: A Video Game Symphony represent a breakthrough in a more mainstream acceptance of game music? Have you had an opportunity to attend any such events?

They represent a breakthrough of sorts, but I think the fans already existed, and were just waiting for events like these to come along; what they're really doing is finally capitalizing on a pretty significant demographic, giving it the respect it deserves, and putting on an amazing show as well.

I haven't yet attended Play, but I met up with Tommy Tallarico in Philly for Video Games Live. He's a great guy, very approachable, and as close to an "oracle" of video game music knowledge as exists on the planet. The concert was impressive, with both musical and interactive elements; I think I was the only person who let out a particularly hearty cheer when they played one of the themes from " Outrun ", but the audience was definitely into it as well. Plus, our official podcast VGDJ was given the chance to interview Tommy, Jack Wall ( Myst series), Michael Salvatori ( Halo & Halo 2 ), Gerard Marino ( God of War ), Martin Leung (the Video Game Pianist), and Marcus Henderson ( Guitar Hero ) - you can check the coverage on the website at www.vgdj.net - it's episode #43.

Would you say that ReMixes share a commonality with modern mash-ups/bastard pop , specifically with that genre's focus of the juxtaposition of unrelated works and styles?

A limited commonality, yes. Mash-ups certainly have a similar spirit of repurposing to them, and certainly go beyond the traditional confines of normal remixing. I've heard some damn good ones, too. However, they're still limited in scope to using borrowed audio from the original pieces, lacking the flexibility that comes with rebuilding a song from scratch. I think mash-ups are more about finding interesting intersections between tracks, whereas ReMixes are more about finding totally new directions to take tracks in. I might be biased, but I also think the latter approach is more honorific of the pieces' original composers. That being said, there's some great stuff being done on the mash-up front, and I think we overlap with its ideology of juxtaposition and reuse.

Likewise, do you see ReMixes as closely related to the current game rock movement? Does the manner in which bands like NESkimos and The Minibosses combine a reverence for the source material with self-expression and rock ‘n' roll showmanship echo the spirit of OCR?

Absolutely. A lot of the time, songs that game rock bands actually put out would constitute ReMixes. We've got three tracks from Game Over and a Minibosses mix on the site, amongst others. It's essentially a subset of ReMixing that's genre-specific, and places more emphasis on live performance. Sometimes there's not as much arrangement going on, and that's where the divergence seems to lie - there's often rock "covers" of game music that are essentially note-for-note, with instruments swapped out. But usually there's some degree of rewriting, often for percussive reasons or to throw in some guitar hero soloing or what not, and in those instances we're basically one and the same.

Game music is viewed much differently in Japan , with regard to popularity and accessibility. Would you prefer to see the West follow suit?

Yes, but in our own way, over time, and for the right reasons. I think it's almost inevitable, at some point, but I'd rather it be because the overall perspective on gaming has changed than because Jay-Z decided to record an exclusive track for the next Grand Theft Auto . Not that licensing and tie-ins aren't one sign of industry maturity, and not that I don't like Jay-Z, but I'd wanna see a deeper appreciation develop that was built up over time.

With regard to your own ReMixes , do you see yourself more as a songwriter, a musician, a producer, all of the above, or something totally different?

All of the above, but the closest thing to ReMixing in my mind should be songwriting; a good ReMix involves an arrangement that's expansive enough to incorporate a ReMixer's own compositional ideas, and that's at the very heart of what we're doing. Musicianship can be important, production is always key, but you can't get by at all without the compositional aspect, as it's what defines what we're about. This certainly holds true for me, but I'd hope that it also holds true for other mixers on the site.

Your arrangements espouse a deep understanding of song structure and an appreciation for a memorable melody (with “ ASSAULT ” and “ Hillbilly Rodeo ” both standing out as personal favorites). What is your level of traditional musical training?

Well, ironically (perhaps tellingly), I dropped out of Music Theory in high school; I couldn't handle the rigidity and mathematical approach to formal musical structure. I'd rather learn by doing, even if I get a lot of things wrong. I was, however, in school band for six years, playing the trumpet and later euphonium , so I learned all of the basics about scales, meter, how to sight-read , etc. and was exposed to a wide variety of musical genres both via band and my family and friends. I still prefer an intuitive approach to composition, and always will - it might limit my work in some ways, but it makes it a hundred times more fun to create, and I think that energy reinvests itself into the music. Different people work in different ways, and I'm definitely more on the intuitive, unstructured side of things when it comes to music.

Speaking of “different ways”: How do you approach your ReMixes? Do you focus on an element of the original track and see where it takes you, or do you have an idea in your head before you even begin the process?

Yes. In other words, depending on the mix, it varies. If I focus on a specific element, it's always going to be a melodic element; I've written entire mixes simply because there was a single, five-note passage at the end of a melodic phrase that I absolutely wanted to hear with the interval transposed up a third on two notes, or something similar. So often it's very, very specific, and keys off of a particular aspect of the source tune. Other times, it's more general - I had the idea for my Super Mario 64 ' SunkenSuite ' mix in my head for weeks before I finally laid it down, so most of it was already written, so to speak.

What is your production setup, and what gear and tech would you recommend for an artist who wants to delve into ReMixing?

I'm a Cubase SX user. The sequencer you use is the heart of your system, whether it be Cakewalk SONAR , Apple Logic , Pro Tools , Reason , or FruityLoops . Reason and FruityLoops offer beginners who are totally new to making music the best bang-for-the-buck, I think; FruityLoops in particular, as it can host other VSTi instruments and effects, of which many are freely available. All you really need for these tools is a soundcard with relatively low latency (the Audiophile 2496 is cheap & excellent - I've got two), and optionally a keyboard (I've got a Midiman Radium 49 and a Yamaha Motif 6 ). The keyboard can just be a straight MIDI controller, which are pretty cheap - it doesn't have to be a thousand dollar workstation with lots of bells and whistles (although those are *very* fun).

I say that a keyboard is optional because we've got several ReMixers that input everything using a mouse, and don't play anything live. I'm the exact opposite - even a really basic part like a kick drum or a snare, I'll input live, both for fun and for the natural variations to velocity, etc. this can lend. For about $400 you can get FruityLoops, an Audiophile 2496, and a decent MIDI controller, and that's a very potent setup that people have done amazing things with. I've accrued far more toys, from Gigastudio to Colossus to a range of Native Instruments softsynths, that I both use and love, but I'd like to think I could still make enjoyable music using a paired-down FL or Reason-based setup, and that's what I'd recommend to beginners.

I also use a Rode NT1 condenser mic for vocals, a Roland VM3100 mixer , M-Audio BX8 monitors , AKG K240 headphones, and for mastering I almost always run things through T-Racks , BBE Sonic Maximizer , and for any sort of editing, Sound Forge .

That's a lot of tech!

Not to compare apples to oranges, but do you generally prefer classic 8 and 16-bit gaming soundtracks to the modern emphasis on full orchestration? Did the limitations of the medium's early years serve more to hinder or to inspire?

I'm a very melody-centric person when it comes to music; I remember intervals, passages, etc., and if the tune's not there, not conspicuous and catchy to some degree, then I'm not feeling it. Because 16-bit and especially 8-bit consoles limited what composers could do from a production perspective, I feel like there was more emphasis placed on melody, and for me, that's a positive thing. It's not that redbook audio and modern production values aren't conducive to wonderful melodic composition - we've clearly seen massive evidence to the contrary. But the overall trend today I feel does weigh production and sounding "slick" over original melodic/harmonic components. There's tradeoffs either way, but most of my favorite game soundtracks are from the 16-bit era.

Are there, in your opinion, any gaming soundtracks that should be considered off limits to ReMixers? Are there any tracks that should be viewed as “hallowed ground,” or is everything fair game?

Nothing's off limits or sacrosanct. There are soundtracks that are far more challenging, but not because they're too revered, but because compositionally they're too intricate, abstract, or repetitive. It's not that we don't revere the best game soundtracks out there, though: ReMixing is our form of reverence.

What is your favorite classic gaming system from a musical standpoint and the standpoint of games and gameplay?

From the standpoint of music, though it pains me as a Sega man to say it, there's too strong an argument for the SNES to not give it the title. Games and gameplay, I'd lean more towards the Genesis - I was a huge fan of Revenge of Shinobi and the Phantasy Star series.

Are you still a gamer?

Yes, but not a very good one! Due to time constraints, these days I more often play racing games, fighting games, FPS, etc. as opposed to RPGs or action/adventure. F-Zero GX , UT2004 , and Street Fighter Alpha 3 would be the titles I'm most likely to pick up in my limited free time.

What is your take on the highly anticipated next-gen system wars?

Are the wars themselves anticipated, or just the systems? ;)

Touché! ;)

Honestly, I've never been too terribly interested in systems - I'm more interested in games. Microsoft's doing interesting things with XBOX Live that I think are changing the console scene, and I really do think the Wii's controller has the potential to bring a lot of people into the gaming fold and make gaming a more social experience. Sony , well... we'll see. The notion of system wars feeds fanboyism , forum spats, magazine sales, and probably increases the number of early adopters willing to shell out inane amounts of cash. I'm not entirely sure any of those things are necessary to the overall success of the industry. For this round, at least, I'm taking a wait-and-see attitude until all the players have layed down their chips, so to speak. I'll be happily playing my Dreamcast .

Ah, the noble Dreamcast!

As this site is dedicated to “nerd music and culture” I am compelled to ask you: Do you consider yourself a nerd?

Maybe one fifth nerd. If people can claim that they're 1/18th Cherokee and what not, I should be able to claim that I'm 1/5th nerd. I can majorly geek out with the best of them on any number of nerd/geek topics like object-oriented programming, Star Trek / Wars , LOTR , etc., but I can also turn it off in a flash and have fairly "normal" conversations with "normal" people. What's normal, anyways? A wider demographic is becoming familiarized with computers than ever before, so technical proficiency with them is no longer a guarantor of nerddom. I'm an English major, and I'd usually much rather talk about fiction, or film, and of course music. OverClocked ReMix is an intersection of many interests, and while the phrase "video game remix" might make one think that it's dedicated solely to "nerd music and culture" as you say, I think the scope is often a bit wider. Nevertheless, that's still definitely a part of it, but I feel like we bridge nerd music and culture with other demographics, or at least try to.

I completely agree. I know many people who'd scoff at the idea of downloading a nerdcore hip-hop album, but who'd feel perfectly comfortable rocking out to a Super Mario Bros ReMix . How do you account for that? I understand that nostalgia is a factor, but is there something more? How would you account for the resonant emotional impact of the so-called “bleeps and bloops” of classic gaming?

Well, to its credit, nerdcore is completely original, and that's part of why ReMixes might have a wider audience - there's a familiarity, associated with nostalgia, to the music. Plus, nerdcore is a single genre, and ReMixes are really less of a genre and more of a framework: there's nothing precluding, for example, a nerdcore ReMix . So some people might simply not be into hip-hop at all, vastly preferring jazz, and thus be down with some Zelda jazz from a group like Neskvartetten . Listening to a nerdcore or geeksta track, you'll know pretty soon who the main audience is, but you can play ReMixes for people in their seventies who've never touched a game system in their life, and while they won't recognize what they're hearing, they'll like it. It's not as intrinsically tied to a specific demographic or genre, and this gives it some breathing room. The emotional impact and nostalgia factor honestly don't HAVE to be there for people to appreciate ReMixes, from what I've seen. It can certainly help, but part of the point we're making about game music is that it's been unfairly pigeonholed, and that it usually resonates with gamers and non-gamers alike.

That's an excellent point. In that regard, people who have no connection to the game or the original composition really can appreciate the music simply for the art of it. But I digress.

Are there any classic ReMixes or freshly accepted submissions that you'd like to specifically recommend to those new to the world of OCR?

Recently, JigginJonT's F-Zero ReMixes have been excellent. I also collaborated with Geoffrey Taucer on a Chrono Trigger ReMix that's done in the style of folk singer/songwriters like Jim Croce , taking ReMixing in a VERY different direction. It was surprising to see how many listeners were positive, since this was a genre previously unavailable on the site, and one that I wouldn't think most gamers would be into; goes to show that assumptions and stereotypes can often be dead wrong.

More generally, ' The Ken Song ', ' Pillar of Salt ', and ' Kizukaseru ' are all required listening. That last one is from Last Blade 2 , one of the best and most-underplayed 2D SNK fighters ever made. There's dozens of tracks I could recommend, and these just scratch the surface; it's different for each listener, but almost everyone finds something they fall in love with in the overall collection.

In the past, you've estimated that only between 10 and 15% of OCR submissions are accepted. Are such approximations still fairly accurate?

Yes, that's still about right; probably closer to ten, though.

OCR was originally touted as a secondary work to your OverClocked web comic, but eventually overtook that project. Is the OverClocked comic still merely “slumbering”?

It's less of a slumber and more of a coma - it might come out of it, it might not. At the very least, I might clean the site up at some point, remove outdated/broken links, etc. Essentially, the emulation scene itself has waned somewhat in momentum over the last few years, I feel, due to a confluence of factors, and I don't think there's as much to make fun of anymore. Plus I'm pretty rusty on my 3D Studio MAX skills :)

Are you still as heavily interested in emulation as you were when OCR launched back in 1999?

No, I've really switched gears to game music to some extent, but since the two are related in my opinion, I definitely still make time to check the news sites, etc. The scene has slowed down somewhat over the years, to the point where there's a primary, mature emulator for most of the major consoles/computers I'd be interested in, and updates/releases/new emulators are much scarcer. It's still amazing to me the talent that these programmers possess - it far eclipses anything I do - and I still fire up ZSNES or MAME from time to time, but not with the same frequency as when OverClocked began.

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I've long been an admirer of OCR. I stop by periodically to check for ReMixes of some of my favorite classic console titles. Interestingly enough, djpretzel has been at the top of my “People I Really Need to Interview” list for a while now, but I simply didn't know how to approach him. Thankfully, ReMixer and nerdcore rapper/producer mythril nazgul (AKA myf) – whom I met through an unrelated project – was kind enough to put in a good word for me. That's the funny thing about music: It builds bridges. OverClocked ReMix is a prime example of this.

In a world of gamers vs. non-gamers, nerds vs. normals, Alliance vs. Horde , it's refreshing to find a group of individuals who genuinely want to spread the good word to music fans across the board. Modern music needs individuals like David and his cohorts from OCR; performers, producers, and songwriters with a fire and a passion to share their music with others, not to idly perpetuate a closed, exclusive community. And, in turn, OCR needs you. Whether you're a potential ReMixer, community member, or listener, the OverClocked ReMix project represents an opportunity to expand your horizons and explore new musical avenues.

Now, if you don't mind, I'm off to play some Trojan on my old NES. There's a melody in there I simply can't wait to get stuck in my head.

On merch

We nerds are a creative bunch, and I’m not just speaking in terms of music here either. A lot of folks -- specifically in the nerdcore scene -- are not only gifted musicians, but exemplary visual artists and designers in their own rights. And that brings me, interestingly enough, to the matter of merch.

Let’s face it, conspicuous consumptions is a muthafucker. Still, if you support a style, a cause, an artist, or a brand, I can’t see anything wrong with giving ‘em a little bit of free pub. The purchasing of merch is, in its own way, a very genuine expression of your goodwill. It’s a way to both show nerd love and stimulate the economy! And it just so happens that I know a handful of noble merchants who could use the ducketts.

My pal Beefy, for example, has a really swank t-shirt designed to hype his preferred genre of music: nerdcore hip-hop. I even hear-tell he’ll send you some free Beefyness.com logo stickers if you ask him nicely.

Baddd Spellah also has an excellent nerdcore design that you can have emblazoned across your chest, head, crotch, or pet! Never before has a human skull looked so dapper, elegant, and intelligent.

Seminal nerdcore hip-hopper MC Fronatlot has a dizzying array merch to choose from. From t-shirts to stickers, CDs to glasses; Front has yo’ monkey-ass covered efficiently, affordably, stylishly.

But sometimes, dear readers, artist merch isn’t about the dough. Sometimes it’s more about fostering some name recognition. Sometimes it’s simply about the ego boost you get when you see your name on a t-shirt. By that token, Benjamin Bear has put together a nerdcore superstore of sorts for many of the Rhyme Torrents contributors. The Nerdcore Store boasts a fine selection of wares from some of your favorite musicians. In order to keep prices down, the parties involved have elected to charge the bare minimum for the items in question. This means that neither Ben nor the other artists make a profit from the sale of this stuff. Any “credit” generated simply serves to afford expansions to the store itself, allowing for more items. Think of it as a way to not only display your love for acts like 1337 GEEK BEAT, but to support this growing community.

Mr. Bear was even nice enough to whip up a Hipster, please! t-shirt. The clever gamers among you may realize that this particular item parodies a shirt worn by a certain Capcom protagonists. I can’t imagine anyone actually purchasing one o’ these, but it’s nice to know that a meager blogger like me is actually considered a viable member of the scene. How’s that for nerd love?

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 3 – The Evolution of Nerdcore (As Told By Z.)

I love nerd music. That’s why I started this blog. That’s why I continue to try new things (like podcastsing), to approach different artists to share their views, and to seek out new avenues through which to I may do my small part to promote my nerdly compatriots. Still, as much as I say this isn’t just a nerdcore music site, that (sub)genre does hold prime real-estate in my heart. I love the beats. I love the rhymes. I love the sci-fi references. I love the rampant profanity. But mostly, I adore the eclectic group of artists who make with the funky shit.
I’ve been side-stepping the subject of my own personal views in nerdcore for a while. What can I say? I’m no fan of conflict, and I don’t wanna spark any further division. Still, I reckon since everyone else has had their say, I too should make with the dropping of my own unique brand of knowledge.
Now don’t get me wrong; words are my friends. I love ‘em, and they’ve served me well for three decades. Still, there are some things that are best communicated via example. Therefore, I have summarily combined these two elements to form my third podcast. There’s some talking – some drawling, as it were – and some songs to serve as illustrations. It’s like a book. A book made purely of sound… and nerd love.
For me, nerdcore is not merely an art form, but a living, breathing, ever-changing entity that grows and evolves; strengthened by each new artist’s own distinctive style and personality. The catch is, unlike evolution in a strictly scientific sense; the evolution of nerdcore – this growing and changing – is not in response to any environmental difficulty or fundamental flaw. Early nerdcore artist are no less important (or stylistically developed) than their n00b counterparts. They are all important. And, to paraphrase one of the oft-repeated YTCracker jewels, we are all family.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 3 – The Evolution of Nerdcore (As Told By Z.) Size: a whopping 72.2 MB Running Time: an interminable 78.55

RFH Ep. 3 – The Evolution of Nerdcore (As Told By Z.) Show Notes

Intro: Beastie Boys – “Shake Your Rump”
Nerdcore cavemen? Maybe. I just remember, as a kid, this being the first rap group my friends could all agree on. I was always more of a Run-DMC type of cat, but you just can’t fuck with the Beasties.
Z’s 1^st interlude: “Protonerd”
There were actually some artists from this section that got cut out too. Hopefully, I’ll keep doing this podcast long enough to get around to everyone!
Track 1: MC 900 Ft. Jesus -- “Buried at Sea”
This isn’t Jesus’s most hip-hoppy track, and it’s by design. This is a good example of the kind of stuff I relate guys like myf, Doc Pop, and Shael Riley too; cats unafraid to add nontraditional ingredients to the recipe.
Track 2: Kool Keith – “Lost in Space”
Kool Keith is the original Black Elvis. He was also nice enough to participate in the Rhyme Torrents compilation.
MAJOR EDIT: Kool Keith was Dr. Dooom not MF Doom!!! I was thinking one thing but said something different. Sorry for making a total cock-hole of myself there, folks. I really do know what the hell I’m talking about… most of the time... honest. Christ, I really gotta start writing scripts for these things.
Track 3: Handsome Boy Modeling School – “Rock n' Roll (Could Never Hip Hop Like This)”
I feel like I didn’t say enough about Prince Paul during the podcast. Lucky for you there’s Wikipedia! Rap can be a tad humorless sometimes, so I think producers like Paul and Dan did us all a favor by lightening shit up a little.
Track 4: MC Paul Barman – “Make No Mistake”
I cut Paul some slack. If he doesn’t wanna be part of the club, I’m cool with that. Still, I consider him to be an important stop on this journey through nerdcore.
Z’s second interlude: “Founding Fathers”
This is where things get confusing. This is also where things get really interesting. Coincidence? I think not! The line between first and second generation (or first and second wave for my rudeboys) nerdcore is thin at best. Who came fist and who influenced whom? We may never know.
Track 5: MC Frontalot (feat. Baddd Spellah, Jesse D., MC Hawking) – “Nerdcore Rising”
When I said buy the album, I meant it. Don’t forget to buy Spellah, Jesse, and Hawkman merch too! This may be my favorite nerdcore track of all time.
Track 6: mc chris – “DQ Blizzard”
I’m not gonna bitch about mc. As I said, whether you like him or you don’t, he influenced a lot of people to try out there skills behind the mic. I love this track and I always will.
Track 7: Optimus Rhyme – “Just Forget It”
Depending on which day of the week you ask, I will either tell you that Optimus or MC Hawking was the first nerdcore act I ever heard. I’m old and prone to forget such simple things. Either way, I think you understand why I became so enthralled with it.
Track 8: YTCracker & Router – “Nerd Love”

The YTCracker you hear on the tracks is the real YTCracker. But he’s a nerd, you say, how can he be so down? No one knows, but that’s what makes him so unique. YT lives the nerd life. I’d love to tell you where I got this track, but that info is another thing that age has robbed me of. Try his MySpace.

Z’s 3^rd interlude: “Proudly Nerdcore”

The following artists wear the badge of “nerd” proudly. I respect that. It’s as simple as that.

Track 9: Ultraklystron – “Five to Nine”

I don’t generally watch anime. I mean, I love giant robots and shit, but your average otaku on the street doesn’t generally wanna hear me wax poetic about the incredibly unsafe toys of my youth. 70s nostalgia aside, Karl Olson is a musician/writer/anime freak that I have immense respect for. He’s an incredible talent, and an incredibly nice guy.

Track 10: Beefy – “Internet Celebrity”
Where my podcast should rightly be finishing up, this one is just getting its second wind. :) I mention Beefy a lot around here. He’s a pal and a big supporter of the blog. Hell, he even offered to host my podcast over at Nerdcast! I really dig this song because I think it’s something a lot of us can relate to. Who doesn’t wanna be Gabe and Tycho?
Track 11: Futuristic Sex Robotz – “Back in the Day”
The entire Hotel Coral Essex album is free from the FSR site. You’ve already downloaded it, right? When I heard about George Takai coming out of the closet I thought: good for him – it’s never too late to unapologetically let the world know who you are and what you’re about! Then I saw the guy and felt stupid for not realizing it sooner. I mean, shit, he looks better at 68 than I do at 30. You just don’t see a lotta straight guys who take that good care of themselves! ;)
Track 12: Former Fat Boys – “Party in My Basement”

Am I the only one who thinks it’s clever to have a FUTURISTIC Sex Robotz track about the PAST paired with a FORMER Fat Boys Track about the PRESENT? I reckon if it was a clever as I’d originally thought I wouldn’t be explaining it now…

Z’s 4^th interlude: “The Sound of Nerd to Come”

When I right it out like that, it really seems kinda dirty. Still, I think you feel me on this one. The following acts are perfect examples of new-er nerdcore that brings in interesting elements. All three tracks are from the Rhyme Torrents compilation project.

Track 13: Myf (feat. Masta Cwik)– “Top Secret!”

As I mentioned, myf is a very cool, very talented cat. I know for a fact that he’s working up some new phatness for the next RT disk, and that’s a fact that allows me to sleep soundly at night. He also has some quality stuff at OverCLocked ReMix that you should definitely check out.

Track 14: Nursehella – “Nursehellamentary”

If ‘Hella never releases another track, I can say with some certainty that she’s left her mark on nerdcore. She’s sparked fierce debate, been the target of damning allegations, and evoked quite a bit of ire within the scene; all unintentionally, I might add. All I can speak is my own mind, and as far as I’m concerned Nursehella is perfectly welcome within my nerdcore worldview. Last I heard; she and Baddd Spellah were diligently working on the rest of debut album. This is another release that I look very forward to.
Track 15: Rai – “Sunny Sunny Sunday”
J-Nerdcore. I don’t even know if that’s a genre, but it should be. I have heard exactly two tracks from Rai, and they were two of my favorite RT submissions. She’s got an album in the works as well, and she’s agreed to talk to me about it prior to its release. Judging by the tone of her messages on the ol’ BBS, I think talking to her will be a blast!

Z’s final interlude: “…”

The dirty truth is as follows: Y’all got a 79 minute podcast because the original 130-someodd minute ‘cast was just too goddamn long and I lacked the strength to do the whole thing again for a third time. This one’s still too long, and I apologize. Will anyone actually listen to the whole thing? I’m kinda doubtful.

Track 16: MC Wreckshin – “I Want Candy”

With an hour of nerdcore already busting the seams of this ep., I needed something special to take this one home. Wreckshin provided this in spades. There really is a lot of excellent nerdcore coming out of Florida. And, in case you can’t tell, those FLA nerds know how to have a good time. I think I picked this track up from Wreckshin’s MySpace.

And so concludes my thoughts on nerdcore. Consider this my two cents. Two very, very long cents. Let the debate commence... um... I mean... continue.

Post-PAX goodness

You may have already heard about "Nerdcore Night" as Beefy mentioned it on this week's edition of JALP, but I found this handy-dandy post over at the Rhyme Torrents BBS:

"Announcing the world’s first ALL-NERDCORE HIP-HOP Show!!

Come celebrate the end of the Penny Arcade Expo at “NERDCORE NIGHT;” The first all-Nerdcore Hip-Hop show in the history of the known universe!

No cover charge! Only 6 miles from the Meydenbauer center.
Show begins 30 minutes after PAX shuts it doors on Sunday.

THE SHARK CLUB
52 Lakeshore Plaza, Kirkland WA.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 27th. 7:00PM.
http://www.thesharkclub.com

Never before have so many Monsters of Nerdcore assembled on one stage. Featuring the biggest names in the Pacific Northwest’s Nerdcore scene:

Beefy
Rai
Ultraklystron
The Futuristic Sex Robotz

And featuring very special guests, direct from Colorado, Ohio and Florida it’s;

THE SPAMTEC CREW: YTCRACKER, PHLOW and EGOD!!

The legendary digital Gangster himself YTCRACKER and the STC will storm the stage at the Shark Club for their very first west coast performance.

Don’t miss this one of a kind event! Come out and get your geek on! Sorry kids, 21 and over only! Nerdcore Night is sponsored by the producers of the upcoming documentary “Nerdcore for Life!” For directions from the Expo center to the Shark Club or for more information about the film, click here: http://crapbots.com/show.html

Did we mention it’s FREE!?"

Got this link from my gal Buttnik (I loves ya, Nik!), and I thought I'd pass it on. Test thyself:

Your Geek Profile:

Academic Geekiness: High Movie Geekiness: High Music Geekiness: High SciFi Geekiness: High Gamer Geekiness: Moderate Fashion Geekiness: Low Geekiness in Love: Low Internet Geekiness: Low General Geekiness: None

How Geeky Are You?

Nerd love to the haters

Not a lot in the way of posts this week. Once again, it’s not because shit hasn’t been going on. I’ve simply been otherwise indisposed. I’m already piecing together ep. 3 of my podcast, Radio Free Hipster. (It’s an all nerdcore edition that’s looking to be a doozy. That’s right, kids, a doozy.) I’ve also been working on a new mash-up using an a cappella that YTCracker was nice enough to provide for me. Needless to say, that process is slow going. I’m not exactly what you’d call a “DJ” or a “producer.” Nor am I blessed with what you’d call “talent” or “skill,” so don’t expect much, okay?

I’m also finalizing my feature for the month. The real work has been done for weeks, but I always like to let a piece sit for a while if possible. That way all parties involved are able to take a good, long, sober look at what we’ve compiled and weed out anything that may incriminate us later.

On a totally unrelated note, my homie (sp?) High-C over at Rhyme Torrents posted a link to this little gem. I know Joel isn’t exactly everyone’s favorite software pundit, but I think he hits the nail on the head in this regard. For some reason, making fun of nerds is still in vogue. Considering the facts that A) with the prevalence of technology in the modern household, pop culture is rapidly aping nerd culture and B) because of this proximity to tech most people (especially the young, the educated, and those with a fair amount of disposable income) who aren’t professed nerds at least have nerdly tendencies, this is fairly asinine. But hey, what can you do? Rail against it in your blog, I reckon. It works for Joel. And for me.

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 2: Rural Hadouken

I took the title of this episode from a phrase Paige used in last week’s edition of Just Another Lazy Podcast. The entire crew was expressing disbelief at my southern accent, and it was just too funny not to snake. What can I say? I am a country gentleman, born and raised. That’s not exactly the type of cat you’d expect to blog about nerd music, but life’s funny like that.

On the WWW it’s easy to just assume that everyone you encounter is pretty much just like you. I, for example, often imagine that all half-dozen of you are tiny, dark-haired dudes dressed in skinny ties and cheap Steve Madden knock-offs, even though I realize this to be patently untrue. The digital world is fairly subjective, so I imagine it’s a good thing to throw a little harsh reality in now and again.

Speaking of which, here comes another dose.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 2: Rural Hadouken Size: 34.2 MB Running Time: 37.22

RFH Ep. 2: Rural Hadouken

Intro: John Denver -- Thank God I’m a Country Boy (Party Ben’s City Boy Mix) Z’s AM Radio edit

I hate this goddamn song. Seriously, it’s just not a very good song. Not to piss on John Denver or nothing. I mean he was down with Jimmy Carter. Party Ben made a pretty serviceable dance track out of it, so big up to Ben. You’d be hard-pressed to call this song “geek,” but it is dorky as hell. That’s gotta count for something.

Z’s 1^st Interlude: “Sorry to startle you”

I realized upon listening to this interlude that I seemed to have subconsciously played up my accent here at the beginning. I doubt y’all’ll notice. I’d imagine that, to most of you, I already sound like Jeff goddamn Foxworthy.

Track 1: 50 Pence -- In da Pub

This is a track that folks either love or hate. Personally, I can’t get enough of it. 50 Pence is, in actuality, a UK producer named Liam Don. You can get more tracks here.

Track 2: Silence Xperiment (AKA Q-Unit) - We will Rock You in da Club

The Jay-Zeezer track went over really well last ep, so I figured I’d try again. If you haven’t downloaded the entire Q-Unit: Greatest Hits album yet, you really need to. It’s free.

Track 3 MC Router, funky49, & Redvoid -- 8BITch

It appears as though I wrongfully attributed this track to 1GB in the actual podcast (even though the lyrics plainly state that it’s MC Router and funky49). :( What can I say? A couple of glasses of wine with lunch and I’m pretty much useless. Apologies to Router and to funk and ‘Void for the mistake. No disrespect intended. This track was on the playlist for the first ep, but I pulled it fearing that Beefy would feature it in his podcast that week. I was wrong. Ain’t I a ‘tard? Oh, and Router’s “power button?” It’s on her thumb. Trust me.

Track 4: The Emotron – 80s Nightmare

I’m not sure if this is total dork rock or weird-assed performance art, but it followed the last track nicely. Emotron was on the Frontalot bill when Front came to SC back in May. My friend Neil, a singer-songwriter and real tour-horse in his own right, warned me that the thing that he remembered about seeing Emotron live was that the cat ended his set by catching his wang on fire. He wasn’t joking. This and other Emotron tracks can be found on MySpace.

Z’s 2^nd Interlude: “Nerdcore vs. geeksta”

No one really seems to know what exactly constitutes “geeksta rap,” but I guess I attach this label to geeked out rhymes that seem to specifically mock or explicitly parallel the gangsta rap style. This is the segment where I misrepresent 8BITch and look like a douche. Once again: apologies to Router and funky49/Redvoid. The High-C track that follows was the first song I found in my collection with the word “penis” in it. It’s also one of my fave tracks from Rhyme Torrents Vol. IV.

Track 5: High-C – Flame Extension

High-C is better known as “that guy who put the Rhyme Torrents thing together.” It was an ambitious project, but he managed to pull it off with support from the bulk of the community. He’s got a really non-traditional flow, even for a nerdcore MC, and I dig it. Does he sound like a young Jack Nicholson to anyone else but me?

Track 6: Devo - Girl U Want (DJ Tonyy Devologic Remix)

The second part of the aforementioned High-C track uses a sample from Soundgarden’s cover of the Devo tune Girl U Want, and I really wanted to follow it up with the original cut. Suffice it to say, I couldn’t find it. Instead I tracked down this spiffy remix. I don’t know anything about DJ Tonyy aside from the fact that he’s Brazilian and he’s a DJ.

Track 7: 14 Year Old Girls – Animal Forest

A great band with a horrible name, 14 Year Old Girls plays “Nintendo Punk.” This particular song is about the most addictive game ever devised. (I’m sure that statement won’t spur any death threats from Everquest and WOW fans.) This is another act I really need to try to interview. They seem fun.

Track 8: The Protomen – Unrest in the House of Light

I guess I’d say that The Protomen are best described as a Mega Man-centered prog-rock-opera. Of course, that’s just an approximation. Before you dismiss them as “gimmick” you should really take a listen. I have a strong feeling that their live show is killer. I like the Country/Western feel of this track. Sometimes I gotsta keeps it rural!

Z’s Final Interlude: “EGM article”

That Electronic Gaming Monthly article was a pleasant surprise. That mag has never been one of my favorite gaming publications, but I scored a free subscription from somewhere, so I probably shouldn’t bitch. There are several notable acts I would’ve liked to have seen here, but, as my writing is largely relegated to this blog, the reasoning of legitimate journalists escapes me.

Track 9: Futuristic Sex Robotz -- Snakes on a Plane

This should have been the theme song for what will surely be the goofiest goddamn film of the year, but, alas, Hollywood dropped the ball. If you dig this track (and I know you do) FSR have an entire album worth of material for free download over at their site. Show them love.

And that concludes the show notes for the venerable episode 2. I tried to resist the urge to group the songs into subsets of two, but I slipped a couple of times. Please forgive my rampant cheesiness in that regard.

Comments are welcome and encouraged. You can hit me up here, in public like, via the comment link. You can also post your input to the Rhyme Torrents BBS thread that will most assuredly spring up shortly after this is posted. And you ultra-shy violets can even email me privately. Just be sure to let me know your listening one way or another.

Objets d'art

Beefy was kind enough to immortalize my fulgy mug via his artistic prowess.

The first is a vector render of me in a jaunty olive sweater. This piece -- though drastically resized, cunningly cropped, and with a slight color alteration – will serve as my new profile pic, replacing Jorge the Ceramic Burro. For those of you concerned with the wellbeing of Jorge, let me assure you that he has retired to a posh seaside resort just outside Santiago.

The second image is a sketch in the traditional Beefy style. While Beef refers to them as doodles, I prefer to think of it as being Beefy-ized. Although, now that I see the phrase, it does appear unsettlingly homoerotic.

Much thanks to Beefy for his contributions. May the hair on his toes never fall off!

(What the hell is up with me and all the Hobbit quotes lately?)

"If I say he is a Burglar, a Burglar he is."

Word around the old Rhyme Torrents board has it that the new album by Halifax’s most word-burglingist MC, the Wordburlgar, drops this Tuesday. A sample of the ‘Burg’s stylistic hip-hoppening is available for those skeptical of his wordburglary, and additional info is available in a couple of places.

A busy week for the big guy

How does Beefy follow up his recent AOTS appearance? By doing a guest strip over at Joe Loves Crappy Movies. Behold the Beefy goodness!

I thought I’d seen everything

It appears as though I was sadly mistaken. Apparently Oni Press has a comic adaptation of one of my favorite NBC sitcoms in the works. Sorry, Beefy, it ain’t Scrubs.

More questions than answers

Thanks to all who checked out the first ev-ah edition of Radio Free Hipster. Aside from a couple of less-than-stellar track transitions, some sound level issues, and the fact that I sound like a total hick, I think it actually came together fairly well.

Not surprisingly, I’ve received ample support from the nerdcore community. What can I say? They’s my peoples. Much love to Beefy (as well as Jones and Paige from the JALP crew), Router, Oddioblender, Benjamin Bear, and everyone else from the Rhyme Torrents camp that listened, commented, and talked me up.

So, a few people actually bothered to check this thing out. This, of course, begs the question will there be a second Radio Free Hipster podcast?

Yes. It appears so.

I am, at present, cobbling together a playlist for episode 2. Between the time it takes me to plan a show (and believe it or not, there is planning involved), search out new artists and tracks, allocate proper quality time with the wife and boy, keep this very blog in a quasi-updated state, hold down my day job, and all of the other countless activities and related engagements involved in being a somewhat responsible adult, you can rightly expect one to two podcasts per month. Mayhap that’s less than you expected. Mayhap it’s more; far, far more.

In addition to the podcast, or, perhaps, because of it, I am also in the process of compiling a list of frequently asked questions concerning this blog, its author, the podcast, and how to contribute material for possible inclusion. If you, for whatever strange and twisted reason, would care to add to this growing list of queries, I direct your attention to the comment link below.

I would request that you limit your questions to matters both thought-provoking and pertinent, but, as I can scarcely stay on topic myself, that seems a bit hypocritical.

Attack of the Beef

In case anyone missed it, our good pal Beefy made yet another G4 appearance last week. Beef found himself in one of the Attack of the Show “monitor heads” asking a question concerning the movies of M. Night Shyamalan. Watch below.

+1 gig of Nerdcore goodness

According to Dirty Nerdy (the a-fficial podcast of 1337 G33k B3at), Shael Riley has landed the opening spot for MC Frontalot’s Sunday night gig at Club Midway in NYC. Congrats to Shael and congrats to all you the lucky Gotham fans who get to experience what will assuredly be a fantastic show!

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 1: Pilot

Which, I suppose, would more truthfully entitled Radio Free Hipster Ep. 1: An Auditory Exploration of Z.’s Salivary Glands.

Seriously, kids, for a cat who just recently bitched about audio quality in podcasts, I must have some kinda fuckin’ nerve subjecting you all to the slobbery sound of my hillbilly drawl in this particular edition.

Shitty voiceovers aside, this is my “podcast demo.” This is where all my heartfelt philosophies and idle conjecture concerning what makes a good podcast clash with my own astounding ineptitude as I try to cobble together something vaguely listenable. Did I succeed? I reckon that’s for you to judge. Read on to wrest the meager podcast from its unworldly slumber and further still to find the ubiquitous “show notes” – a concept that I wholly ganked from Tim over at Radio Clash.

Yes, I’m well aware that this podcast may not actually qualify as a podcast at all based solely of the fact that the file itself was not directly delivered to you via the silver platter that is RSS, but, as I’m currently operating this blog with a budget of nil and I have yet to find a stable, remote hosting option that will give me the famed “something for nothing,” I’m making due however I can. Perhaps, if I elect to continue making with the podcasts, I’ll shell out a little scratch (or badger someone into hosting the ‘casts for me) to stream-line the process. In the meantime, I’m afraid, we’ll just have to make due.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 1: Pilot Size: 30.8 MB Running Time: 33:38

RFH Ep 1: Pilot Show Notes

Intro – DJ Snyder “NCHH”

I was fortunate enough to coax a fairly high-profile artist into promising to make me a snazzy intro track when I got my podcast “off the ground,” but, as it’s currently achieved only a minimal altitude, I figured I wouldn’t bother him about it just yet. In the absence of a personalized theme, I settled on this DJ Snyder ditty (pulled from Rhyme Torrents Vol. IV) to fill the void. I love this song because of it has a ruthless intensity but still manages to sound silky smooth. It seemed like a perfect place to start. I just hope Snyder doesn’t mind.

Bumper – MC Router “Goddamnit Nerdcore”

Router had a bunch of little one-liners floating around from her last recording session, and was nice enough to share. I really wanted to use a 1337 G34k B34t track in this ep, because I really love Router’s voice, but since Beefy gives 1GB a good bit of play on his podcast, I figured I’d hold off for a bit. This mini-rant seemed like a nice alternative.

Track 1 – MC Frontalot/Baddd Spellah “Nerdcore Hip-Hop (Ye Old School Remix)”

My original intent for the structure of the show was play an intro track, a song to set the mood, and then say my piece before beginning the podcast in earnest. Considering all the love that the nerdcore community has shown for me and my little site, this song seemed like a perfect fit. Plus, Spellah and Front were both nice enough to let me interview them, so I wanted to give a little something back.

Z’s 1^st Interlude – “What to say? What to say?”

I have a deep-ceded fear of microphones. As near as I can figure, it’s an extension of my paralyzing stage fright. This is where I try to set the stage for what this podcast is in as few words as possible. Do I make an ass of myself? Probably, but at least I got my point across: This is a show about music with a blatantly nerdy slant (stuff about nerdy topics/issues and stuff that celebrates nerd-dom) and music that is more subversively nerdy (like tracks that embrace technology and the nerd DYI ethic, as well as songs and styles that focus on geekly concepts like a juxtaposition of styles and a competing revulsion/fascination with popular culture.)

Track 2 – Jay-Zeezer “Bonnie, Clyde, and El Scorcho”

After my “this is not a Weezer podcast” spiel, I come right in with a Weezer mash-up. What can I say, the Jay-Z rhymes over that Weezer hook is classic, and it has enough nerd elements to keep the show moving in the right direction. Grab the whole Black and Blue Album. It is phenomenal. And free.

Track 3 – Beefy “Movie Girl”

As a rule, I hate skits in a hip-hop record, but this one always tickles me. I swear to god he sounds simultaneously like a snooty debutante and angry chica– it’s scary. He sounds a bit like Stewie Griffin too. Weird… Beefy was another cat nice enough to do an interview. He really does show a lot of support for what I’m doing. Truthfully, most of the regular readers of this blog are Rhyme Torrents contributors. Plus, the RT site links the hell outta me! What can I say? The Nerdcore scene has been really good to me. Grab “Movie Girl” and the rest of the tracks from The Whitesican EP in this handy zip.

Track 4 – Year 200x “MegaMan 2”

A rock solid track I stumbled across a few months back on MySpace (where I picked up this song and several others). I was all prepared to approach them for an interview when I opened up Nintendo Power and found a write-up on ‘em in there. What a cock-block! I should really grow a pair and approach those guys about a feature, but that’s beside the point.

Track 5 – McVaffe “Dancehall Ragga”

I don’t know much about McVaffe, but I do know that he has over forty ReMixes available for free download from OCR and I’ve yet to come across a bad one. This is the kind of amazingly talented individual that makes you realize just how important a resource OverClocked ReMix truly is for lovers of game music. As far as I’m concerned, OCR is required listening.

Z’s 2^nd Interlude – “I am such a goddamn hick!”

I really tried to dial down my accent when I was recording this, but when I say McVaffe and it comes out Mack-Vay-Affe, I suppose it becomes impossible to belie my rural upbringing.

Track 6 – Stemage “The Theme”

I make some fairly broad generalizations from time to time concerning the listening habits of others based solely (and unfairly) off of my own. One such generality is that everyone has heard Metroid Metal. Apparently this isn’t so, and I’d like to do my part to remedy this travesty. The truly amazing thing about Metroid Metal is that it’s one guy – Grant Henry – who does all the instrumentation.

Track 7 – MC Lars “Hurricane Fresh”

Lars is one of a growing number of artists who seem to be considered nerdcore by everyone but themselves. I’m cool with that, and I’m not here to hate. I’ll borrow a leaf from YTCracker’s book and call him “tangentially nerdcore.” That’s fresh.

Track 8 – The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets “Twenty Minutes of Oxygen”

The Thickets really have been making music since ’92. That’s, like, what? 100 in nerd years? I consider the Thickets maybe one rung below classic nerd rockers like Devo and Talking Heads; that’s the same echelon as They Might Be Giants, for those keeping score at home. That track is from the Spaceship Zero RPG soundtrack. If the lyrics are to be believed, it’s a song about a space traveler who may or may not have a ripcord in his destiny.

Track 9 – YTCracker/myf “In My Time”

As I’ve already mentioned, YT, myf, and all the cats from the Rhyme Torrents project have been big supporters of Hipster, please! And, though I plan to do a show purely dedicated to RT artists (if, that is, anyone actually listens to this one), I had to throw this track in. I actually like that mix even better than the original cut, and that is saying something. YTCracker and myf are untouchable independently: Put ‘em together and it’s unbelievable. I’m still a little fuzzy on the lyrics, though. What exactly is a nig nog? Waitaminute! I have a blog… am I a nig nog? My butt does hurt a little. Ah, no matter, I’m sure it’s unrelated.

Z’s Final Interlude – “Berenstain Bears erotic fan fiction”

Did I actually say that? I guess so. This is my show-ender. It ain’t much, but at least I made it through the entire half-hour. Thanks again for listening, and for actually reading this far. ;)

Track 10 – Go Home Productions “Don’t Hold Back (Sweet Jane)”

I know it’s fuckin’ cheesy to end with an inspirational story™, but this track really speaks to me. Mark Vidler doesn’t exactly fit the nerd mold, but, whether he’s “one of us” or not, I think his style has a distinct nerd appeal. GHP has remixed/mashed pretty much everybody, and despite his acceptance into the musical mainstream he still gives away tons of shit through his site. That’s nerd.

Outtake – “Turds”

I tried to coax my son into saying something adorable for the intro. Instead he said something funny that I first discarded and then elected to use as an end-cap. Life’s funny sometimes.

And those are the show notes. Thanks for listening/reading, and feel free to share your thoughts. As much as the concept of my voice being spirited throughout the WWW for all (read: some) to hear chills me to the very core of my… core, I actually had a pretty good time putting this thing together. If you’d like a second helping – that is, if you’d like for this feature to continue – holler atcha boy.

Another NYC show

NYC nerds get a double-dose of nerdcore as Jesse Dangerously will be bringing the noise to Galapagos Art Space this Wednesday and, as if that weren’t enough, MC Frontalot has just announced a show at Club Midway the following Sunday. Lucky bastards!

Front writes:

MC Frontalot
Last stop on Nerdcore Rising Tour 2006
Club Midway, 25 Ave B (between 2nd and 3rd) New York City
Sunday, July 23rd 9:30PM $7
18 and up

First eighteen-and-older show in the norteast! Last show before PAX! I could use other exclamation points, but you already understand. That! This! Is!Exciting!

Will have exclusive tour shirts for sale, CDs too. Jess Klein (http://jessklein.com ) is opening the show, and she's totally rad. Plus Front will probably do a verse in her reggae number so don't be late.

Saturday the 22nd, Front's at HOPE ( http://www.hopenumbersix.com ) to see if he can learn anything about quantum cryptography. If you're attending, find him and say hi.

UK nerd-girl keeps it real

So apparently, Welsh geek-mom Sarah Lang has expressed interest in using her winnings from a TV gameshow to purchase her own little piece of land… on the moon. The admitted Star Trek fangirl also plans to buy a telescope, presumably to make sure people stay the hell out of the yard at her new digs.

I wholeheartedly support her and her crazy-assed decision. First, she admits to her geekiness, so that earns her some cred. Secondly, is there a nerd among us who hasn’t yearned to own his/her own slice of lunar real estate? And lastly, you just can’t argue with a lady with a million quid at her disposal.

In Canada, paperclips are like money

Another story out of Canada! Eh, whatcha gonna do?

I don’t know if most of you would consider this to fall under the umbrella of “nerd culture,” but I do. I mean, this is the kind of outlandish shit that only a wired world has to offer.

For those of you who haven’t been keeping up, Kyle MacDonald traded a red paperclip for a house. He started a blog about wishing to trade a single red paperclip for bigger and better things on July 12 2005 and 14 trades later, exactly one year after his original offer; he traded a movie role to the Town of Kipling Saskatchewan for a free house.

My only qualm is as follows: Who the fuck trades an afternoon with Alice Cooper for a measly Kiss snow globe? But, hey, this wasn’t my project.

This story has gotten tons of media attention, but you can read Kyle’s story for yourself at his blog.

Ain’t life grand?

More news from the Canadian front

Remember all there prayers you’ve been saying? All those candles lit in quite vigil as you mulled over just what you could do to get Jesse Dangerously out on the road so as to revel in his Canuck nerdocity? Well that shit worked, ‘cause Jesse D. is back on the road.

From his post at the Rhyme Torrents BBS:

Perpetual Motion Road Show!

I'm appearing with "sorry-ass folk singer" Cort Bulloch and "expat femme wordsmith" Hadassah Hill on the following dates in the following cities!

Chicago: Sat. July 15, 7 pm. Quimby's (1854 W. North Ave.) w/ foul-mouthed friend Brandon Wetherbee!

Cincinnati: Sun. July 16, 4 pm. Hobo Books (4040 Hamilton Ave.) w/ rap group Undermind and Bratwurst, a film by Steven Paul Lansky and Leigh Alfred Waltz!

Rochester: Tues. July 18, 8 pm. The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) w/ Gaybot!

New York City: Wed. July 19, 7:30 pm. Galapagos Art Space (70 North 6th Street, Williamsburg)

Montreal: Thurs. July 20, 8 pm. Bibliograph/e Zine Library, Toc Toc Cafe (6091 Avenue du Parc)

Ottawa: Fri. July 21, 8:30 pm. venus envy (320 Lisgar St.) w/ pornographer-librarian Megan Butcher!

Toronto: Sat. July 22, 8 pm. Art Bar (in the Gladstone Hotel) (1214 Queen St. W.) w/ teller of goofy tales Mike Bryant and dance troupe Fat Femme Mafia!

*Nerd-newsflash*

The Slashdot review of the Rhyme Torrents NCHH compilation project is finally up. The clincher? It’s overwhelmingly positive. Take a gander for yourself.

Despite all the drama surrounding it, I really have a strong affection for this project and for all the cool-ass folks I’ve met as a result. It’s good to see Rhyme Torrents get some major net-press that, while not overly complimentary, takes a constructive and realistic look at the fruits of the community’s labor.

To podcast, or not to podcast

As you may or may not know, the concept of a Hipster, please! podcast is rapidly shifting from the realm of "idle notion" to the domain of "definite possibility." Not a big jump, but when you’re as lazy as me you take what you can get. I’ve not discussed this idea openly in the blog before, obviously due to my fickle nature, but I have let it slip out to a few of the faithful via private channels. Those select few have been very supportive of the idea, so I feel I owe it to them to at least consider getting off my flat honky arse and having a go at it

Other than my own exceptional personal level of sloth, there is another obstacle that impedes Hipster, please! joining the podcast revolution™: There are many, many podcasts currently available and the vast majority of them just don’t appeal to me. Between the sound quality, the subject matter, and the lack of preparation/structure, the standard podcast, for me at least, lacks much to be desired. Y’all know that I don’t like to hate, but with so many podcasts out there, it seemed for a long while that I was always coming across the ones with minimal appeal. I sometimes fear that, were I to contribute, I would simply add to this glut.

There are, however, some notable exceptions. Within the past several months I’ve been fortunate enough to come across several that really do it for me. I always find myself anxiously awaiting the next editions of the following podcasts. They display the kind of attitude, attention to detail, and overall personality that, should I actually begin this undertaking, I hope that I could personal bring to a regular podcast. If you believe any of these would interest you, then by all means check them out. And feel free to recommend other jewels that I may have heretofore overlooked.

CAGcast – I’m a big supporter of Cheap Ass Gamer. CAG, for those of you not in the know, is a community based entirely around the concept of helping you get the games you want for less and the games you don’t want for nearly nothing at all. Could there be a nobler, more selfless end? I think not. The CAGcast is a regular feature of this popular site during which founder and occasional television personality Cheapy D and his right-hand marsupial Wombat entertain the listeners with gaming news, Cheap Ass deals, and the always compelling CAGbag, a feature during which the hosts answer questions from the CAG message boards.

This was the first podcast that I ever made a concerted effort to stay on top of and not simply because the focus of the show is on gaming. Cheapy and Wombat come off as genuinely likeable guys who actually know what the hell they’re talking about. Cheapy takes care to prepare show notes beforehand so that he and his co-host can have some semblance of flow and structure. Interestingly enough, even on the occasions when Cheapy doesn’t do his homework the show still works: the chemistry between he and Wombat is just that good. CAGcast exists to supplement that CAG community, and, as a fairly longstanding member of that community, I can say with some certainty that it succeeds. Even when the show diverges into the personal lives of the hosts, it manages to stay interesting. Here I could recount a tale scatological horror that Cheapy related from his Tokyo hideaway just weeks ago, but you’d do better to get it from the horse’s mouth.

Radio Clash – Shortly after discovering the CAGcast I found myself bored and listless at work. To stave off sleep, I began searching podcast listings for something, anything to keep me interested during the post-lunchtime doldrums. I began typing in random search terms and, to my surprise, the string clash + mash-ups actually returned a valid result.

Radio Clash is a (usually) weekly podcast by a delightful Englishman named Tim. Tim is a designer by trade, but he’s also a mash-up artist (who sometimes boots under the moniker Instamatic). He has a real passion for music and is quite knowledgeable. Despite his personal protests to the contrary, he is often touted as our generation’s John Peel. Though I can only speak from personal experience, I have to agree that Tim has turned me on to a great many artists and more than a couple of genres, disseminating his love for varying styles and sounds in a very Peel-like fashion.

Though the original focus of Radio Clash was on mash-ups and bootleg culture, Tim doesn’t discriminate. He’s featured everything from country to metal and all points in-between. He even threw in some nerdcore on his alt.alt.alt.rap show at my request. His love of music and his appreciation of his listeners make this a podcast not to be missed. And, lest I forget to mention, the sound quality is excellent.

If CAGcast made me realize that there were podcasts out there that genuinely appealed to me, then Radio Clash showed me that a music-centered ‘cast was not only plausible, but that it could provide a damn fine alternative to the shit that you’re served on a silver platter by corporate radio and MTV.

GoNintendo – I have no qualms about admitting that I am a Nintendo fanboy. The GoNintendo podcast is geared toward my ilk, so it’s no surprise that I enjoy it. It did take a little getting used to, though. This particular podcast has a stable of hosts, with the only constant being site founder RawmeatCowboy. It can be a little confusing listening to a half-dozen people cracking-wise while one lone voice tries to make its way through a news story or press release, but it’s that madness that makes GoNintendo great. While CAGcast makes you feel like part of a community, the GoNintendo podcast makes you feel as though you’re part of a family.

Every GoNintendo listener has his or her favorite team member: the young fellows love that fiery Nintenho, the jokers and smokers love Lube’s half-drunken ramblings, personally, I’m a fan of the good-natured and matronly tones of MomBrain, but we can all agree that it’s ‘Meat’s jovial personality and tireless work that keeps the site and the podcast running. Sure, sometimes the sound may be a little off, and the dialogue may wander, but the GoNintendo crew bust ass to provide more exclusive content and Nintendo love than any other podcast I’ve come across.

Just Another Lazy Podcast – As a card-carrying member of the sacred Seven, I feel it’s my duty to espouse the JALP gospel. Once a week, Beefy, Jones, Paige, and newcomer Amy join their power and energy in a sonic gestalt similar to that of an über-nerdy (and occasionally drunken) Voltron. Just Another Lazy Podcast blends just the right amount of music, humor, and idle chitchat to make it simultaneously amusing and endearing. Beefy and crew not only spread the good word of nerdcore, but manage to make riffs on primetime television and Chinese food sound instantly engaging. What’s more, the podcast regularly features audio-boobs, wine in a box, and surprise sex. Who could ask for more? A Doc Pop theme song? Shit, they've got that too!

Beefy also seems to have a definite agenda with his podcast: make with the funny, play a couple songs, and the get the hell out. A usual edition of JALP lasts only a half-hour, and that’s important to me. I like that the crew keeps things brief and makes a concerted effort not to overdo it. It’s refreshing to have a podcast that I can listen to start-to-finish during my morning commute.

And those are the four podcasts that I truly enjoy. Likewise, each taught me something about the fine art and delicate science of podcasting: CAGcast enlightened me to the importance of preparation and proper planning, Radio Clash showed me that the secret to making a good music-based podcast was to expand horizons without compromising integrity, GoNintendo explained that making the listener feel like an intrinsic part of the process goes a long way in establishing a podcaster-listener bond, and Just Another Lazy Podcast demonstrated that fun, quick, and dirty always makes for excellent listening.

Will I actually launch a Hipster, please! podcast? Who knows. If so, will I apply any of this abstruse knowledge? I sure as hell hope so. The only thing worse than a shitty podcast is a shitty podcast no one listens to.

Addendum

Doc Popular was nice enough to drop some knowledge on us concerning his Master of Champions appearance. It appears as though things didn’t exactly go swimmingly for most of the participants, with lots of last minute changes and such. It also appears as though ABC did some clever editing and other reality show hoodoo to give the illusion of drama. What else could we expect from network television?

Teh haxxord

So, um, apologies to anyone who may’ve been perusing the blog within the last hour or so. In my infinite wisdom I opted to fuck with the menu bar without first making a backup of my original Blogger template. Suffice it to say that there was, in fact, fire and brimstone, rivers and seas boiling, 40 years of darkness, earthquakes, volcanoes, the dead rising from their graves, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... You get the idea.

But at least it’s fixed now. It’s fixed, and I was able to reverse the order the archive links. So, yeah, totally not worth all the trouble.