Nerd News In Brief

I stand corrected; there are no Bigfoots in Georgia.

Anyone familiar with my love of pseudoscience and all flavors of hokum surely must realize how excited I was over the prospect of a real live dead Bigfoot in my own general locality. But now it looks like just another scam.

Still, I think anyone who's ever hit up a show at the 40 Watt can agree that there's some kind of mythical creature loose in GA.

Though it could just be a particularly hirsute townie.

• In Case You Missed It: Glenn Case is a machine, a one-man musical mechanism that spits out wicked tracks. Case in point: in recent weeks Glenn has produced 2 separate album-a-days. No foolin'! Download So, Be Yourself and Waterfall of Consciousness today, and enjoy the musical madness.
• Genitals: Though I've already mentioned this in the latest RFH, I thought I'd toss a little love in the direction of Nina and Sangriaa re: their new Vagina Deep in Podcast project. It's funny, geeky, sexy slice-of-life 'cast that demands your attention. No vagina required.
• And Now Cleavage: We also have a new helping of nerd ink, compliments of the former MC Router. It appears as though she's added health and mana potions to her chest piece. Check it out.
• I Got the Music in Me: At long last, the instrumentals from Random's Mega Ran album are available for download. Pick them up at Capcom music and community site Capcom Unity, and then make me some fresh mash-ups. Please.
• Song Fighters: Congrats to Emergency Pizza Party and my boy funky49 on their recent win at Tampa's Song Fight! Live. You can check out their winning track "Calico Alley" and the tale of its creation over at funk's site.
• iTunage: And speaking of funky49, you can now purchase his latest release Starblazer on iTunes. And you probably should.
• Wait… Pitchfork?!: Let me join Ant and Doc Pop in urging you to check out the chiptune documentary Reformat the Planet for free over at Pitchfork. Yep, you can watch the whole thing for free. But only for one week, so get to crackin'!
• It's Magical: Another doc that's currently making the geeky rounds is We Are Wizards, and its theatrical release has finally been announced. The film opens in NYC at the Cinema Village on November 14, 2008, with other cities sure to follow. Hit the 'Pedia for further info.
• Get elevated: Also new on the documentary front is the release of the official Nerdcore Rising soundtrack. All 15 tracks of nerdy goodness ship for under $13. I also hear it cures warts. I'm just sayin'.
• You Know the Rules: And wrapping thing up, Church Barack Rolled me. And all I can do is share my pain.

Nerd News In Brief

It’s been one of those weeks at work where I feel totally unmotivated.

Actually, I reckon that describes all my weeks at work. What can I say? I am nothing if not consistent.

Thankfully, Matt has found a new position for me at a forward-thinking firm that values my unique strengths.

Graphs and shit are forthcoming.

• An open letter to Sanrio: You guys really need to put a stop to this shit. True, it provides Church with a never-ending supply of nerd ink links to hit me with, but I’m afraid it’s strayed into the realm of the ridiculous.
• Not nerdy, just news: Earlier this week I received a message from mash-up masterminds Phoenix Jukebox. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one, but that doesn’t make me love them any less. Hit their MySpace for samples, and sleep content in the knowledge that they’ll pop up on Radio Free Hipster soon.
• Cross-Wired: Last Saturday Wired’s Listening Post dropped an interesting interview with Dan Lamoureux about his Nerdcore For Life documentary. Be sure to check the comments for an additional measure of vitriol from both sides of the stylistic fence. Oh, and I’m expecting a diss track from writer Angela Watercutter for scooping her 4 days prior re: the PAX screening. It’s on like this.
• Clash of the Titans: Myf and SDX recently kicked off a 5 round rap battle at the new Rhyme Torrents. Dragon seemed to be the winner of the first round (by a slim margin), with the second coming… uh… soon? I sure as hell hope so.
• Heartbroken: Matt regretfully informed me that WRock outfit Ginny and the Heartbreakers have just announced their break-up. As the girls were among the first WRockers to agree to be on the Old Nerdy Bastard comp, I hold a special affection for the group. WRock just won’t be the same without ‘em.
• 8 days a week: With the release of Random’s The 8th Day a mere week away, Ran has announced a limited edition of the album. This rare DVD-case release is limited to 88 units, and boasts additional artwork, liner notes, and a poem. Plus, if you play your cards right, you can get it a bit earlier then the standard release. This is only open to members of Ran’s Yahoo! group, so join up and get in while the gettin’ is good.
• In a related story: If you’re looking for a taste of what this new album offers, check out Chicago hip-hop blog Fake Shore Drive for a leak of the track “Exhale” featuring Naledge of Kidz in the Hall and scratching by DJ Akshun. You have nothing to lose but your summertime blues.
• The gorilla, the gaucho, the cap’n, and the rest: For those of us outside their native Dallas-Forth Worth area, the dapper gents of the Rivercrest Yacht Club were nice enough to post videos of their latest gig to YouTube. Apparently the former MC Router was also performing at Lola’s on the evening in question. It’s a small world after all.
• He wants your whole set: And while you’re ‘Tubin,’ check out the latest submission from Doctor Popular. Doc has taken up the WuChess Video Challenge, and it demands your immediate attention. Be sure to give him ample love. The Ken Burns effect reference alone is worth some acknowledgement.
• Bead sprites, chiptunes, and other local delicacies: And now onto news of another doctor, Doctor Octoroc. Most of you know Doc Oc for his excellent chiptune contributions to various GM4A compilations (not to mention his phenomenal cover art for their Here Comes A New Challenger release), but did you know he’s also a crafter? Check out his newly revamped site for info on his beautiful, handmade bead sprites. Then head over to Etsy and buy stuff!
• Genghis Con: And if you find yourself at either of the major Baltimore geek conventions in the immediate future – Otakon (Aug. 8th–10th) or 32 Bit Genocide (Aug. 16th) – look for Octoroc plying his wares. He’ll be I attendance, what about the rest of you?
• Do you find yourself not knowing the words to songs?: This week’s closing video comes courtesy of Church. He found the following ad for RealWizardWrock.com over at blip.tv, and shared it with me. And now I shall share it with you. May the circle be unbroken.

All about NC4L

While this year’s Penny Arcade Expo might not include a performance by mc chris, I’ve just been informed that it will feature a screening of the Nerdcore For Life documentary. Congrats to Dan Lamoureux and all the artists involved – many of whom will be in attendance – for pulling off such a coup! The showing will be at 10:00 PM on Saturday, August 30th at the Walrus Theater. PAX attendees are encouraged to attend and rock the fuck out.

The documentary also made a triumphant second appearance in fake news/real culture periodical The Onion. Dan et al. appear on the cover of the coveted San Francisco edition. Check the Crapbot Productions site for scans.

And while you're there, be sure to read the crew’s full impressions of the SF Frozen Film Festival screening. Featured artists Doctor Popular, Nomad, and MC Lars were in attendance, as was GeekentertainmentTV’s Irina Slutsky, thus assuring that the event was resplendent with geeky glee.

In what was perhaps the most important aspect of its sojourn to the Bay Area, the film won the festival’s “Best Music Documentary” award! Peep the embedded video for the official event recap, the bulk of which directly concerns our friends from the doc.

Nerd News in Brief

With the success of the Old Nerdy Bastard compilation, I know many of you are wondering if I simply plan to rest on my laurels for the foreseeable future.

Yeah. Pretty much.

But I reckon I could do an edition of Nerd news in Brief. I mean, that’s pretty low impact.

• Nerd Ink, the Continuing Saga: It’s no longer surprising when Church finds more Nerd Ink. It is, however, a little disconcerting when I am unwittingly included. Wait, is that guy with the fake Wii Play tattoo mocking me?
• free_at_last: I seem to have forgotten to mention that my buddy Matt’s site Headphone Sacrament has recently been transformed into free_geek. Same great taste, nerdy new name. Check it out.
• I totally bought you a card: And thanks to Matt for reminding me that this Sunday, May 25th, is both Towel Day and Spain’s Nerd Pride Day. Sass that hoopy Matt Sweeney. There's a frood who really knows where his towel is.
• Almost Ready to Launch: While I’m thanking people, let me give a serious shout-out to Ant of GM4A for favoring me with a pre-release copy of that site’s next compilation Heavy Troopa is Ready to Launch! Though the official release date is the 25th - which is shaping up to be a really big day - I got a sneak preview of a project that can only be described in two words: epic proportions.
• WRock and roll all night: Also going down this weekend is WRockstock 2008. While it’s kicking off today (and most interested parties are probably already en route), I have to mention the event due simply to its importance in the WRock world. Boasting a musical lineup that includes all your favorites and a supporting a worthy cause, I’m gonna go ahead and say that it’s the best thing to happen to St. Louis since the Arch.
• So Long and Thanks for All the Fish: On the last episode of the GeekDad’s HipTrax podcast I played Drown Radio’s “Weapons Grade Porpoise.” Doc Pop recently posted the story behind that at his blog. And yes, it’s just as odd a tale as you’d hope.
• Unfinished business: Earlier this month I posted about Random’s request for a translation of a German language review of his new release Patches & Glue, and reader Luca did just that. Check it out in the comments of this old NNIB. Thanks, Luca!
• Alas, a grownup!: Congratulations to longtime friend of Hipster, please! Jason of the Geek Studies blog on his recent graduation. Though he’ll be the first to tell you that there’s till plenty of work to do, I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention this landmark. We’re proud of you, bro!
• Cool + New: On the new releases front, this week has seen three cool new albums make an appearance. The first is from Radio Free Hipster staple Steve BC, and is entitled, cleverly enough, Forthcoming LP. The second is a nerdcore mixtape from our friends at EMPulse Records. And last but not least is new hotness from Attack Slug in the form of Endsville is Burning. While Steve and Slug's new releases are free, EMPulse Mixtape Vol. 1 costs a slim five bucks for direct download. My suggestion? Pick up all three and rest assured that you’ve significantly increased your nerd music library for well less than 2 bones per album.
• The new nerd homeland: And speaking of the EMPulse/RPG family, it was recently asked why I have yet to mention that collective’s new affiliate, a multi-genre nerd music project known as Crossplatform Music. Honestly? My only defense is senility. But forgetfulness and slackitude aside, be sure to check out this burgeoning new community for all that is musical and geeky. Add you strength to the growing masses!
• Wherein I am press: Also from the warm and wet climes of FLA comes the latest Nerdapalooza press release. Rather than relate the info contained therein, I’ll simply link to the source .doc. For those of you unwilling to barter your souls for a Microsoft product, let me explicitly state that the Orlando event has now been officially linked to the Child’s Play charity. So make your way down south this July 4th weekend, listen to music, get really drunk, and rest assured that you’ve done all three for a worthy cause.
• Mana and She: Taking us home this week is a clip form last year’s Nerdapalooza SE. It’s Betty Rebel’s “Mana and Me,” and I like it a whole bunch.
  

Nerd News in Brief

This weekend was one of those super busy times in which I somehow managed to accomplish absolutely nothing.

Okay, well maybe not absolutely nothing: I tended to some ailing kids, scored some free books on Free Comic Book Day, and started an account over at Twitter, but that’s about it. I think we can agree that none of those represent earth shattering developments.

Will this week be any more fruitful? I kind of hope not.

• What is this Nerdery?: Everyone’s favorite lo-fi geek rocker from across the pond – Does anyone say “across the pond” anymore? – Dan Plus Add has just released his new album Matters of Great Importance. Dan++ was nice enough to hit me with a pre-release copy last week, though, sadly, in a crush of work/family related activities, I neglected to plug it. But he wasn’t even mad, and do you know why? ‘Cause he’s English, and they are a polite and longsuffering people. Still, I’d be remiss if I didn’t rattle your collective cage to check it out, particularly my personal favorite tracks “My Landlord Sucks,” “Monosyllabic Expression of Heedlessness (meh),” “What is the Nerdery,” and “Welcome Back to the Internet.” Freebie versions are available at his site, but would it kill you to give the guy a couple of quid? Does anyone say “quid” anymore?
• Plan accordingly: After some cajoling, I was able to convince mCRT to share with me the preliminary schedule for this year’s Nerdapalooza. Already set in stone are the headliners: MC Frontalot on day 1 and the Unlimited Enthusiasm Expo on day 2. But what about the rest of the line-up? Straight from the horse's mouth: “Tentatively speaking, day 1 includes Random, Zealous, Krondor Krew, Schaffer, Former Fat Boys, and Pixelh8. Day 2 has Killer Robots, Zombies! Organize!!!, Select Start, Wordburglar, myf, ytcracker, and Dual Core. There's more on each day--including another big name per day. We're still sorting out times and so forth because of those two additional big names--we'll announce as soon as we are totally locked in.” Now I just have to donate enough blood to be able to afford gas for the ride down there!
• Microphones, tubes, and dump trucks: Church notes that our beloved Frontalot recently appeared on G4’s Freestyle 101, where he… didn’t freestyle… Still, he did bust a best-of medley, of sorts, over a smooth, jazzy beat, interspersed with his own unique brand of self-deprecation. Check it out and be amazed.
• Rolling on: This weekend I received an update from my friend Beefy concerning his new album Rolling Doubles. Beef admitted that he was currently unsure of the final release date but he did leak a few tracks to me, and I gotta say I’m even more excited for the eventual release than before. He also toyed with some titles for the his follow-ups via Twitter, so check that out.
• Lost in translation: Random just found a review of his new release Patches & Glue on a German web site. The problem is, of course, that Ran would like to read it and that online translators are less than accurate. Any German-speakers care to translate it for him?
• Marking his territory: On the Wrock front, Matt pointed me toward a post at the ‘Pedia about Wizard Rock Wonder Twins The Whomping Willows and The Remus Lupins. Matt (aka: Whompy) and Alex (of the Lupins) are set to co-host an event at the Portus symposium on Sunday, July 13th called Moony and Whompy’s Post-Portus Dance Party from 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM. The admittance price is set for $20, and more info can be found at the Wizrocklopedia.
• I wanna be: Antisocial hipped me to this piece at CNN.com about last month's ROFLCon in which the writer describes it as “the biggest gathering of micro-celebrities ever.” Seeing a mention of the con pop up on CNN is both wholly unexpected and, I guess, kind of the point.
• The sound of Sea-town: With Ultraklystron in a state of semi-retirement, I’ve been looking for a third act to complete the holy hip-hop trinity of the Seattle area. This weekend I was introduced to Southside, a group that I think fits the bill well. With a noticeable punk rock ethic that’s tonic to local legends Optimus Rhyme and Goondocks without sounding derivative, I’m highly suggest you check them out. Based upon both their exemplary musical merits and their pervasive sense of lyrical eclecticism, I think you’ll mark them as an act to follow.
• More new hotness: I’d also like to call your attention to another act of which I’ve recently become a huge fan, Trier Music. Nathan Trier is a composer that works in areas as disparate as hip-hop and tabletop RPG soundtracks. He’s also a hell of a nice guy who I’m honored to feature on the upcoming Old Nerdy Bastard compilation. Plus, he used to be in a jam band, which I imagine earns him a pass from Matt on that fact alone.
• That’s fresh: And speaking of talented people featured on the upcoming compilation, the incomparable nYgel has just alerted me to his new project, a musical forum called Nerd Fresh. If you’re looking for a new artistic community in which to network, collaborate, or hang your virtual hat, this one will serve you well.
• Faire to middling: This weekend, thanks to the time-wasting power of Twitter, I was able to broker a little meet-up between my pal Doctor Popular and the GeekDads at Maker Faire. Doc favored the ‘Dads with some yo-yo tricks, a little info about his crafting, and an explanation of the Crate Digger Death-match. And Ken even scored a special Doc Pop yo-yo for free. Lucky stiff!

Nerd News in Brief

Despite a series of posts and retractions that hit the Interwebs yesterday – the whole of which Church most astutely compared to a Python sketch – it looks as though Swiss scientist Albert Hofmann has passed. For true.

Hofmann’s name, of course, is nigh synonymous with his most notorious scientific breakthrough, the synthesizing of LSD.

On one level, his death is important in nerd circles simply because of his clout as a chemist; science is, in and of itself, a nerdly virtue. Yet it’s just as important due to his role in introducing the world to a variety of hallucinogens.

Though the prevailing notion is that nerds are, to put it in a simpler parlance, squares, the brutal truth is that we are in a number of ways another modern progeny of the original counterculture. Drugs are a unique part of our collective cultural heritage, and, while I certainly won’t use this time to endorse them, it would be foolhardy not to acknowledge the drug history of the broader geek arts.

Suffice it to say that somewhere, in the grand cosmic swirl that is the afterlife, there is a suave, but no less geeky, European gentleman on one hell of a bicycle ride.

• Any minute now: Today's big news is the release of GM4A's Here Comes a New Challenger compilation. I had the pleasure of receiving a preview copy last week, and I gotta say it's positively stuffed with musical goodness. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to be available to the public quite yet, but keep your eyes peeled.
  
• Does whatever a spider can: Church comes through with another round of nerd ink. First up is a totally disturbing Spider-Man tat, and it’s followed by… well… nothing can really compare, so let’s just wrap it up right here.
• Hogwarts Redshirts: Taking a cue from mega- franchises like Star Trek and Star Wars, Warner Bros has recently greenlit Harry Potter: The Exhibition. Kicking off in 2009 for a 5 year run, the event will certainly be coming to a city near everyone but me. We can only hope that this will spell great things for the Wrock community.
• Accio band: Meanwhile, Matt just hipped me to the fact that Potter symposium Portus is currently looking for more Wrock bands. The event is also pushing a Swap Meet that promises to see some interesting wares. Learn more over at The ‘Pedia.
• She likes guys who like Harry Potter: A very excited Lauren of the Moaning Myrtles has finished her solo CD. You can check out clips from a number of the songs as well as her headband – which is apparently awesome for a couple of reasons – at YouTube.
• Rock out with your sock out: Sock puppet rockers Uncle Monsterface have just “returned from the futuristic future” for an all-ages show this Friday, May 2nd at NYC’s The Knitting Factory with FISHBOY and besties. Doors open at 7:00 PM, and it’s $8 to get in. The venue is a bit of a bigger room than Monsterface is accustomed to headlining, so please show up and fill said room with love. Also, it just so happens to be Paradise Dan’s birthday, so be sure to buy him a drink for me.
• More Random: Ran’s been popping up all over the place of late! Yesterday, his new single “Fly” was included on DJ Cro's Main Ingredient Radio Show, which you really need to check out, and recently a mix of his track “Inbox” was featured MP3 of the week at 215hiphop.com. Looks like that link’s still live, so go download that one as well.
• Long live mc: The new release from mc chris, mc chris is dead, is currently available for pre-order. This album ships tomorrow to indiemerchstore in Ohio, and a pre-order will guarantee that a copy will ship to you before next Friday. Act now.
• That’s all that matters: The Laughing Squid has a wonderful interview of MC Frontalot by GETV’s delightful Irina Slutsky. Check it out for some interesting info on Front’s career, the Nerdcore Rising documentary, and his recent foray into Twitter-ing. Also, keep a keen eye for Doc Pop and YTCracker name-drops.
• I know that guy!: Doc’s rumination on an interestingly placed Narnia banner – it makes Prince Caspian look all Cyclops – made it’s way onto Boing Boing. Post now before all the really good snarky comments are taken!
• Hey fella: Another jewel from Church is this link from Cracked. It’s The 11 Most Unintentionally Gay Rap Lyrics Ever. I’m not sure if this is more offensive to hip-hop heads or the gay community, so I’ll leave that up to you.
• Sonic Screwdriver: Recently, we in the States were treated to the season finale of Doctor Who. Meaning last season. Meaning this same finale ran in the UK what, like, nine months ago? Yes, Britain still retains Who-superiority, but I digress. Here’s a little musical tribute to the final demise of The Master. He most certainly was an asshole.

Me Geek Pretty TODAY!

At long last, Doctor Popular has favored the waiting masses with his latest masterpiece Me Geek Pretty One Day.

In Doc’s own words:

Me Geek Pretty One Day is Drown Radio's debut solo album. 18 songs, 6 ringtones, album art and wallpapers, plus four bonus tracks. The album boasts a diverse mix of nerdy rapsongs, circuit bent melodies, funny skits, mouth harps, electropop, chiptune, and even a sexy r&b track. MGPOD is a 42 minute album, not including the 12 minutes of extras such as the 8bit bEtty remix of lolCats and a Twistin' Cherry Stems remix by Anticon's Bomarr.

And while I’ve previously expressed my adoration for the disc, let me elucidate:

Me Geek Pretty One Day isn’t your average nerdcore album. Nor is it your typical bitpop, electroclash, or micromusic release; it is a whole new animal as varied and complex as the man who crafted it. But rather than redefine what you think about Drown Radio, it skillfully chooses to refine it. To a razor point.

A masterful blend of re-imagined versions of older Drown Radio cuts such as “Happy Valium Meal” and “A Brave New Essay” (an updated take on Doc’s seminal “Essay on the Wheels of Steel”); contemporary classics like “Gygax” and “lolCats”; top shelf collaborations with nerdcore giants T-Byte, MC Router, and Baddd Spellah; and Doc’s own indubitable musical machinations – “Mouth Party” and “NerdSong” are just a couple of my favorites – Me Geek Pretty One Day is easy to recommend at any price. The fact that you can scoop it for a mere $8, though, makes it a must-buy of the highest order.

Resplendent with head-bobbing hip-hop, off-kilter R&B, and an almost indescribable marriage of indie pop and 8-bit, it combines all your favorite Drown Radio ingredients into a delicious new recipe. Then it offers up cell phone ringtones and wallpapers as an uber-geeky after dinner drink.

You no doubt know Doc Pop as a yo-yo genius without peer. You may likewise know him to be a crafter and visual artist who knows no creative bounds. If you take a listen to Me Geek Pretty One Day – and, again, I can’t recommend that you do so highly enough – you’ll also discover that he is a consummate musician with an undeniable ear for melody, a lyricist with a veritable armada of witticisms at the ready, and a nerdy songwriter with a sound that is varied but never haphazard.

Take that eight bucks your were gonna blow on two gallons of gas and pick up Me Geek Pretty One Day instead. It’s a much better value, and I guarantee that it will take you on a far more satisfying journey.

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

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. 40: I Remixed a Remix…

Obviously, I’m not the only one who’s busy at present.

Sure, I suppose most of the rest of you aren’t expecting babies any day now, but there’s something in the air; we’re all harried and overworked.

Each day, it seems like the new Hipster, please! compilation slips further and further behind schedule. And you know what?

So be it.

I had hoped to surprise y’all with the album this Friday. It’s Leap Day, and that seemed just weird enough to be appropriate. That’s sort of out of the question at this point, but I thought I’d dedicate this edition of the podcast to the project.

Hopefully it will help you get a feel for some of the players and concepts included. Plus, you get a sneak peak of one of the tracks. Maybe that’ll whet your appetite.

In the end, all I can say is that while things haven’t come together quite like I planned, they have begun to come together. And with very interesting results.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 40: I Remixed a Remix… (hosting provided by Antisocial) Size: 48 MB Running Time: 52:31

Intro: Baddd Spellah – “Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)”
Who dares remix the RFH theme?

Track 1: The Evolution Control Committee – “Rocked by Rape”
This track was an integral part of my introduction to bastard pop and the concepts of mash-ups and cut-ups.

Z’s 1st interlude: “I’ll elucidate concerning that topic a bit later.”
And I do. I’m always elucidatin'.

Track 2: Tanner4105 – “he actually has 4 offices”
The titles to all the tracks on the Bad Apollo album are from a chatlog. That explains their seeming randomness.

Track 3: Milivoj Bunjevac – “Doctor Who Theme -80’s Remix”
Let me work in another plug for the Who Mix project because it’s just that good.

Track 4: mc chris – “Geek (optimiss cubed remix)”
I’ve only ever heard optimiss remix mc tracks. I wonder what other kind of stuff she does.

Track 5: Go Home Productions – “Alive and Nellified”
How else was I get The Mooney Suzuki into RFH? ;)

Track 6: nYgel – “Hyphy”
nYgel has a knack for remixes. A knack, says I.

Track 7: Sam Flanagan Mix – “Beastie Boys vs. Everyone (cut up mix)”
The first nYgel tracks I ever heard were Beasties remixes so this Sam Flanagan track seemed like a nice follow-up.

Track 8: MC Frontalot – “Listen Close (Glenn Case Remix)”
Glenn and Front together is always a good thing!

Z”s 2nd interlude: “Alexander Prievert from the OverClocked ReMix project.”
Check out “Castlevania 2 Bloody Tears Inspired OC ReMix.” It sounds much better without some hick talking over it.

Track 9: Dual Core – “Hostage Down (Remix)”
Is it weird that my favorite Dual Core remixes are done by c64?

Track 10: Beefy – “Tub Of Tabasco (Society of Info Remix by Drown Radio)”
I love Doc’s remixes, but I really can’t wait to hear an entire album of his original material.

Track 11: Devo – “Whip It (Philip Steir & Ramin Sakurai mix)”
How I don’t wind up with more Devo on this podcast is a mystery even to me.

Track 12: The Grammar Club – “My Gayest Shirt (Karl Olson Mix)”
Karl’s another cat whose remixes are just as exciting as his originals. He really manages to bring that Ultraklystron sound to everything he does.

Z’s final interlude: “Most notably…”
Immediately after recording this episode Doc Pop told me he wasn’t going to be able to contribute. Damn technical difficulties!

Track 13: Snake Eyes vs. Maja – “Transformer (Sarah Connor’s Wild Ride Remix)”
Trying to decide which track to leak was pretty hard. I have ten in-hand, and three of them compete daily for the position of current favorite. In the end I went with Snake’s because I love the subtle layering of the samples. Plus, the Maja original is a contemporary geek rap classic.

The title of this episode, in case you don't know, is from an old Mitch Hedberg bit. It just seemed to fit.

I don’t have much in the way of a new release date for the comp, but I’ll let you know as things come together. I’d love to have it ready for consumption before my daughter arrives, but I’m not gonna sweat it. There are a lot of very talented producers and DJs from the spheres of nerdcore, VGM, Wrock, and beyond working overtime to try and make this project a reality (not to mention all the artists who let me use their acappellas), and I’d like to give them plenty of time to work their magic.

I just hope when I finally arrives you dig it as much as I do.

More Nerd News in Brief

It’s a good news/bad news type of thing.

The good is that I’m currently sitting on the bulk of the tracks for the forthcoming Hipster, please! compilation album and that they are excellent.

The bad is that I don’t think there’s any way I’ll be able to make the original release date of February 29th. Longtime readers certainly won’t be surprised by the fact that I was unable to stick to my own schedule, but I suppose that’s cold comfort.

I’m hoping to have everything ready to go by early March or, failing that, sometime before we rush my wife to the hospital to shoot out a baby. I’ll keep you guys in the loop as the new release date becomes solid.

• Sorry, Obama: While MC Frontalot has recently joined artists like MC Lars and mc chris in throwing his nerdy weight behind Barack Obama, I, sadly, have abandoned the candidate in favor of one who appeals more to my spirituality. Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn.
• Nerd Ink, supplemental: Concerning matters that are just as geeky, though in an admittedly different vein, more nerd ink. It’s almost like Church has set some sort of oddly specific Google Alert.
• (Almost) ready to launch: Yesterday my pal Anthony from Game Music 4 All sent me news that his next compilation album, the Super Mario RPG tribute Heavy Troopa is Ready to Launch!, is also nearing completion. He was even nice enough to toss up a teaser track for your collective ass. It is a thing of beauty to which you simply must listen.
• Chiptunes, mouth harps, and geeked-out beats.”: Doc Popular has also entered the final lap with regards to his new album Me Geek Pretty One Day. The album page promises an early March release of a work that “shakes things up by mixing nerdcore hip hop songs with 8-bit instrumentals, electro-pop, and sexy r & b.” In addition to Doc’s work with Tanner (as demonstrated last week), MGPOD will also feature production from the great Baddd Spellah and guest rapper MC Router on her final nerdcore track. After a little good-natured needling last night, Doc also let me know that the album will come with extras (including cellphone wallpapers, remixes by Bomarr and 8bit bEtty, and iPhone ringtones) all for a meager 8 bones. He’ll also be releasing it using the SongNumber distribution system. That Doc Pop is full of surprises!
• ‘Blood brothers: Lizz of WizRockLopedia (who’s sporting a delightful new ‘do of late) has posted some live audio from The Mudbloods over at Archive.org. The set was recorded at one of the recent Whomp the House shows, and you should really check it out.
• A league of our own: In related news, my buddy Matt made a really good point about the lack of taping in the geek music community. With the exception of the Northwest's always on-point AlienBobz, there seems to be a glaring lack of nerdy concert audio. Matt even broached the idea of putting together a Netlabel with which to catalogue dorky shows at Archive. It’s something to think about.
• The ladies, the ladies: And since we can’t talk about Wrock without mentioning lady-geeks, Church pointed me toward this interesting piece about fangrrls. While I can’t say I’m in love with the terminology, the article is pretty damned thought provoking.
• I Want You to Whomp Me: To bookend this week, here’s a vid of Lauren of The Moaning Myrtles (one of my favorite Wrock outfits) singing a special song for The Whomping Willows (another of my other favorite Worck outfits). I’ve long said that the only two things missing from Wizard Rock were Cheap Trick and arboreal innuendo.

Nerd News in Brief

Some products are simply too effective. Example: Hori screen protectors.

I bought a pair of these suckers for my Crimson and Black DS Lite last October and they did the trick. A defective stylus ended up giving the protector some pretty good scrapes, but the touch screen stayed clear and safe.

Over the weekend I decided to swap out the old, damaged protector with a crisp, clean, shiny, new one, but it took a goddamn act of Congress to get it off. I literally had to pry the little fellow away from his prescribed duty.

Damn that traditional Japanese work ethic and general over-exuberance!

• Lowercase “c”: I’d like to start today’s NNIB by congratulating my man High-C on his new arrival! Check out NerdcoreHipHop.org for the first images of young Gorlax Frontington Christie, AKA: Lil' High-C. And since we’re talking about High-C that could well be the child’s real name.
• Old news you already know: Let me apologize for the glaring lack of the following during last week’s documentary rundown – The MC Frontalot doc Nerdcore Rising will be premiering at SXSW! Immediately after this March 9th premiere, Front and crew will be performing a set and the great Prince Paul will be spinning some records. Holy fucking shit!
• Just Another Lazy Blogger: In other news that I should’ve mentioned, like, a week ago, Beefy will soon be launching a new weekly podcast. Beef mentioned this at the same time he revealed that he had acquired his first grown-up job. Unfortunately, his blog is dead at present, but trust me; I am not making this shit up. (Probably.)
• "Shmoos haint make believe.": Last week, Dual Core unleashed hip-hop fury on the attendees of hacker conference ShmooCon. This marked the first time a nerdcore group played the con’s after-party, and, in the words of int eighty, “It was a lot of fun, and … we sold a metric ass-load of albums and even had an encore when the set for our show was over.” You can check out some pictures from the show at their MySpace.
• Make music with your mouth: Another recent first is the real life, face-to-face collaboration of nerd music greats and two of my favorite cats in the whole world, Doctor Popular and Tanner4105. For those of you un-swayed by photographic evidence, I will direct your attention to this track. Rai willing, we’ll hear more soon.
• London Calling: Euro nerds looking to get down and/or drunk in the company of likeminded individuals will be pleased with the announcement of Dork Party UK. March 8th through the 10th in Southampton – which is actually pretty far away from London, but I stand by my tagline – there will be “lots of booze” and also, presumably, some gaming. Interested parties should PM Category for details.
• More from across the pond: UK alterna-folk Wizard Rocker Split Seven Ways has just released a new free-to-download EP entitled Slytherin Hearts featuring “8 tracks of Slytherin love and anti-love songs.” Download it and embrace the Dark Arts. Thanks to Matt for hipping me to this.
• Not to be confused with Katie Holmes’s kid: Florida MC and comic book aficionado Sir-Up was recently front-paged at CollegeHumor.com. They identified him as “Suro” for some reason, but that’s definitely our boy Up.
• Commence shilling: Game retailer Play Asia is currently celebrating the Chinese New Year with their annual sale. The Year of the Rat Lucky Sale boasts thousands of bargains at crazy-low prices, and purchases make you eligible to win free consoles, handhelds, and games. Sale prices are only good until the end of the month, so head on over and check stuff out.
• Censored: To wrap things up, here’s a little vid that Doc turned me on to. The accompanying music is the Lemon Demon edit of that old Sesame Street classic “The Song of the Count.” If you laugh, you’re just as immature and easily amused as I am.

Nerd News in Brief

I actually went out sans family this weekend. That’s a rarity. In fact, I’m hard-pressed to recall the last time that I actually went somewhere that wasn’t work without Em and/or Lil’ X. in tow. As guys’ nights out go, it was actually pretty fun.

Two of my oldest friends took me out to see a Led Zeppelin tribute band. Not exactly my first choice for entertainment, mind you, but it was a good time.

I’m sort of amazed by the concept of tribute acts. It’s pretty much musical LARPing, and that’s simultaneously amazing and a little bit sad.

I sometimes wonder what the new generation of tribute bands will bring. I mean, what’s the next logical step? Bartender: The Ultimate T-Pain Experience?!

/shudder

• Calling all cars: Church wanted me to pass along this helpful link regarding the Radio Free Rollover podcast. DJ Gwyn is looking for some nerdcore, remixes, and mash-ups to play on this Tuesday’s show. So if you’re looking to get a little promo, this seems like an excellent opportunity.
• Fair & Balanced: Last week, when self-help author Cooper Lawrence joined Fox News pundits in mischaracterizing Mass Effect as interactive pornography – despite the fact that she’d admittedly not even played the title – gamers reacted in kind. They headed over to Amazon to give her new book, The Cult of Perfection: Making Peace With Your Inner Overachiever, 1-star reviews and tag the book with the keywords “ignorant,” “garbage,” and “hypocrisy.” The outcome? Lawrence eventually admitted that she misspoke. I reckon that just shows to go ya.
• Tag. You’re it.: Doc Pop came across this graffiti on the corner of 18th and Mission in San Fran. It “seems to say INFO in one area, and NERD on another.” This makes Doc (and me) wonder if it’s at all connected with the Internet Nerdcore Family Outing.
• You’re all clear, kid: The fine folks at Toronto’s Hand’Solo Records have just provided underground hip-hop fans a little taste of their forthcoming release