Nerd News in Brief

Vacations are like cocaine. They cost too much, they’re never as much fun as your friends tell you they’re gonna be, and, when it’s all over, you feel even shittier than you did to start with. Sadly, we just keep taking them. 

We are addicted to vacationing.

I think it’s sort of a cultural thing. All my European friends take these nice, loose, lengthy holidays in exotic locals and actually manage to, y’know, relax. Whereas we Americans try and squeeze a year’s worth of fucking around into one week, exhausting ourselves in the process.

It’s a bad scene, I tells ya. A bad scene.

• Revenge of the Nerd Girl: MC Router recently popped up on G4.com’s The Feed displaying her various and sundry geeky tattoos. There were some comments. They were pretty silly. It is, after all, G4 viewers we’re talking about.
• You Can’t Deny the Force: Thanks to Candi for pointing me toward this trailer for the 2 Skinnee J’s documentary Get in the Van. The film contains footage from the guys’ 2008 summer reunion tour, assorted nerdtastic bullshittery, and, for some reason, Andy Dick. More info can be found at the Fat Rock Productions site.
• Without Irony: On the subject of documentaries, MC Frontalot and Nerdcore Rising director Negin Farsad were featured earlier this month at MSNBC.com, where they talked about the film and nerdcore in general. There’s even a nice little video presentation offered as accompaniment that features Front, Negin, some fans, and hobbits. Always with the hobbits.
• Music + Television, Wizard + Rock: Church wants to let everyone know that MTV has finally got around to shining a proper light on the Wizard Rockumentary. Okay, so admittedly MTV’s piece is little more than a blurb, but it’s a nice blurb about a great project, so check it out.
  
• Dork the Vote: Recently mc chris popped up, if you can believe it, on the official Obama campaign blog! Watch this Warped Tour voter registration vid to see for yourself. He’s near the end.
  
• Dynamic Duos: mc has also announced the openers for his fall tour. Among them are my pal Beefy and Canadian hip-hop titan Jesse Dangerously. Keep an eye on mcchris.com as dates solidify.
  
• Flip Your Wig: My boy Anthony and the Game Music 4 All guys have announced an extra special event called West Coast Wig Out. This all-day concert will features California’s finest nerdy musicians, as well as a number of special guests from faraway locales. Clear your calendar come mid-November, ‘cause this is not a show to be missed.
  
• From the Horse’s Mouth: A few weeks back I had the pleasure of checking out MC Lars at my local dive bar. Lars put on a great show and was a joy to talk to, especially when he started dropping some knowledge re: his various projects. Lars let slip that his new release would boast samples from Therapy? and Fugazi, as well as a number of special guests. He also confirmed that he and D.G. YTCracker are hard at work on a unique musical endeavor of their own.
  
• A Primal Force: Also on the new project front is nerdcore all-star trio Heightened Titans featuring T.Y.T., Whore Moans, and The Ranger. Ranger has promised me an album within the coming month – an offer I plan on holding him to – but, in the meantime, hit up the Titans’ MySpace for a taste. 
  
• Meanwhile, in Robot City: Mega Ran has had a lot to celebrate in recent months, and that trend continues. He’s been heavily nominated as the “Artist to Watch” at this year’s Online Hip-Hop Awards – and you’re encouraged to nominate him too. He’s also recently launched his own fan board, which certainly warrants your attention. Yep, everything’s coming up Random.
  
• UltraK on USB: If you’re looking to get your Karl Oslon on, have I got a deal for you! You can score the entire Ultraklystron back catalog for a mere $25. Yes, Nearly 3 gigs of nerdy goodness on a super functional flash drive. Who could ask for anything more?
  
• Crunchy Newness: On the new music tip, there’s a trio of releases that demand your attention. The first is the dark and techy Anomalous Materials Laboratory by my pal Antisocial. The second is the sinister, seasonal Triple-Six Mixtape from Mad DPS and the Rhyme Torrents crew. And lastly is id obelus’s The Inevitable Crushing EP. The first two are free, while the third will set you back a mere 5 bucks.
• He is the Final Boss: And just because MC Frontalot’s album Final Boss won’t be released for another month doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy it now. How, you ask? By pre-ordering from Front’s site you will be granted immediate access to a high-quality digital version of the album to tide you over until your physical CD arrives. How delightful!
  
• A Primer: The lovely Lizz (of Wizrocklopedia fame) has just made available a Wizard Rock Starter Pack over at Archive.org. It’s an amazing collection of live and studio tracks from Harry and the Potters, Peeved, The Whomping Willows, The Parselmouths, The Remus Lupins, and many, many more. Also, it is free!
  
• The Opposite of Horrible: And taking us out today is a YouTube find from Matt. It’s Lauren and Nina of The Moaning Myrtles covering a certain song from a certain Sing-Along Blog. Enjoy.

Wii60 and the Ways of the World

It’s been a while since I just, y’know, riffed around here, so this seems like as good a time as any. Truthfully, I’ve got a number of wholly unrelated things to talk about, so administering to these items a properly measured injection of snark sounds like the best way to tie them all together.

First, I recently acquired an Xbox 360 to keep my poor, lonely Wii company in the den. Yes, the pride of tech-heads circa 2005 – and a machine so delightfully flawed as to have an almost certain chance of revealing its catastrophic defect – is now mine. Huzzah! As such, I have also created one of those newfangled GamerTags that the kids are so crazy for. It is hipsterplease. Because I am not very creative.

Over the weekend I also had a chance to listen to one of those exclusive PAX pre-release editions of MC Frontalot’s new album Final Boss, a CD that not only possesses wicked cool back cover art by my pal Dennis but that was also declared the fucking wickedest Frontalot album to date by one Mr. J. Dangerously. (I know you’re wondering how I got my hands on a PAX release of this album when I did not, in fact attend PAX. The answer: I have covert agents in a variety of international stages of operation!) As per Jesse’s description, the album really is phenomenal. In fact, you should totally score a copy when it becomes available to the general public in the near future.

And speaking of Jesse D., after an almost laughable number of technical difficulties – centering around a primary email account that, as Church and Matt can attest, genuinely loathes humans – my interview with this lyrical titan from the Great White North is almost complete. We talk nerdcore, politics, and Alpha Flight. There also may be a bit in there about kidnapping Weird Al. I’m not at liberty to say. You’ll be able to enjoy the interview in its entirety when it hits the blog in early October.

Why October? Because your Uncle Zed needs a break.

Yes folks, Z. is going on a bit of a (well-earned) vacation next week. Unfortunately, this means there will be no second part to September’s Drunken Podcasting Month festivities. Between my real work, my writing for Wired.com, and all the stuff I do around here, I’m afraid I’m spread a little thin. And rather than rush through a bunch of stuff for the simple sake of getting it done, I’ve elected to cut back production for the next couple of weeks while I prepare for and enjoy my family holiday.

But fear not, for when I return all refreshed and whatnot it will be time for my annual October shenanigans! Yes, two spookerrific Halloween-themed podcasts plus an interview with Jesse plus Christ-only-knows-what-else! I am excited! Do you not see the indicative punctuation?!

Nerd News in Brief

So it looks like the Large Hadron Collider didn’t destroy the Earth.

(Or, at least it hadn’t when last I checked.)

So we got that going for us. Which is nice.

Despite the trappings of my simple southern raising, I don’t fear science. Nor do I, as a rule, embrace superstition and hokum. Don’t get me wrong, I adore superstition and hokum – I find them ceaselessly amusing – I just don’t exactly, y’know, believe any of it.

I guess I’m the worst brand of skeptic: the kind who wants desperately to believe in the fantastic, but just can’t seem to find sufficient evidence.

In the end, science is the foot that kicks magic square in the nuts.

• Earth-shattering in its Own Right: This week I interviewed Toren Atkinson of The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets for GeekDad. I’m a big Thickets fan and he’s been on my to-interview list for years. Thusly, it was a pretty fuckin’ awesome experience for me a as fan. Lemme know what you think.
• Beef up Your Musical Gamer Score: Attack Slug has just favored the nerdcore world with another release, and it features the additional talents of KABUTO, T.Y.T., and The Ranger. It is titled Achievement Unlocked, and you can pick it up the album and relevant a cappellas at his site.
• AKA Grover Kent: My pal Glenn Case has hipped me to a new project over at The 61. It’s a tribute of sorts to 61 scenester Supergrover, as well as to his favorite-band-that-no-one’s-heard-of For Squirrels. Thirteen years ago this week that promising group lost several of its members in an auto accident, and earlier this year ‘Grover was diagnosed with cancer. This one is for them and for anyone else who’s had a run of bad luck. Namely all of us. 
• To Beef or Not to Beef: Also helping out his fellow man is mc chris. mc has started a cystic fibrosis fund to gather money for research into the disease and its treatment. In celebration of chris’s birthday, YTCracker donated $33 to the cause. mc chris responded by saying that it was "the quickest possible way to squash beef with [him]. STC is the greatest. "
• Brooklyn Zoo: mc also shared a bit about his recent 60 Minutes interview. It has come to light that MC Frontalot was also involved in the piece, although Front has yet to say anything about the experience.
• Get Inoculated: What Front has provided is a little video preview of the track "Diseases of Yore" from his new album Final Boss. It features Jonathan Coulton. And is awesome.
• Formally Known Food Processor Magazine: You can see Frontalot, Random, and a rogues gallery of other featured artists from this year’s Nerdapalooza SE in this month’s edition of Blender. It has the Pussycat Dolls on the cover. That is counterintuitive.
• Game On: And on the subject of my friend Random, Church points out that Ran topped the charts in this recent Examiner list of the top 10 videogame sampling hip-hop tracks. Suffice it to say he finds himself in good company.
• BAHston: This week Uncle Monsterface returns to its old stomping ground. Sort of. On Thursday, September 11th several "Best of Monsterface Tee Vee" shorts will be featured as part of EXPERIMENTALLY ILL 2 : An Indie Showcase of Alternative Film at the Coolidge Corner Theater. And on Friday, September 12th you can catch UMF’s Marty playing a solo gig at Jamaica Plain's Midway Café. And don’t forget to pahk the cahr at Hahvahd yahd.
• Potter Ink: And thanks to Matt for providing ample information regarding this wicked cool Harry Potter Dewey Decimal tat belonging to librarian and WRock aficionado Becca. It turns out, unsurprisingly, that Becca is one of the Wizrockateers. What can I say? Matt has a marked interest in the naked flesh of Potter fangirls. You heard it here first!
• They Are the World: And lastly, HiTekElvis has just favored me with an amazing vid from this year’s PAX. Apparently, during the artist's panel Blak Lotus, suggested they all sing "We Are the World." And they did. So behold The Minibosses, Mustin from the OneUps, JoCo, Front, Blak Lotus, G Minor 7, The Categorical Imperative, Freezepop, The Darkness of the Hillside Thickets, and Anamanaguchi singing for the children. They are the ones who make a brighter day!
  

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 52: Just Drunk Enough

It's simple podcast math: The more individuals involved in a podcast, the longer it is. Further, the more you drink, the more you talk. These truths are invariable.

Thusly, this podcast is long as shit.

I'm serious.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 52: Just Drunk Enough [hosting provided by Antisocial] Size: 55.2 MB Running Time: 1:20:31

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
I hear Beefy was totally sloshed when he recorded these vocals. Maybe.

Track 1: Space Ghost Coast to Coast dialog / Mary Prankster – "The Bottle's Talking Now"
Matt picked out this most fitting intro track.

1st drunken interlude: "A fake holiday season of my own imaging."
In honor of Drunken Podcasting Month, Matt joined me via Skype and Church contributed via chat. They simply couldn't stand the thought of me drinking alone!

Track 2: Southside – "Vibrate"
Church mentioned that this song should be played before the feature presentation at movie theaters. I concur.

Track 3: Optimus Rhymes – "Obey the Moderator (Remix)"
You can check out the OR video footage I mentioned here.

Track 4: Strange Brew dialog / The Sprites – "Modern Gameplay"
Complaining about new school controller design isn't exactly unusual, but The Sprites sound good doing it.

Track 5: Strange Brew dialog (cont.) / Hayseed Dixie – "I Believe in a Thing Called Love"
I picked this one out. Surprising, no?

Track 6: The Mudbloods – "I Wish You'd Be My Witch"
It's hard not to love The Mudbloods. This song is the reason why.

2nd drunken interlude: "Will you drink to that?"
Of course they will. These boys will drink to anything!

Track 7: Jonathan Coulton – "I Feel Fantastic"
Didn't Matt do a great job introducing this song? Seriously. If I paid him he'd totally get a raise for that.

Track 8: Beefy – "Minimum Wage Slave"
Beefy no longer works two shitty minimum wage jobs, but he's still down for the common man.

Track 9: Doug Stanhope – "He's Just Drunk" / Computerization – "Collars"
Wait, are we implying that it's oaky to get drunk at work?

Track 10: Fountains of Wayne – "Bright Future in Sales"
Yes, I believe we are.

Track 11: Dual Core – "Unplug"
Nobody sings the programmers blues quite like int eighty.

3rd drunken interlude: "There were a lot of work songs in that set, wasn't there?"
Can you tell we're getting sloppy here?

Track 12: Eddie Murphy – "Drinking Fathers" / PC Speaker – "Scheduled Rhymes"
According to PC, nerds have the best drugs.

Track 13: Severely Snaped – "Petrified"
It's like a Black Sabbath cover band fronted by Severus Snape. Don't gimme that look; you're just pissed 'cause you didn't think of it first.

Track 14: No Kill I – "Tranya"
A repeat from episode 20.

Track 15: Eddie Murphy – "Drinking Fathers (cont.)" / myf – "Homebrew"
I am amazed at the number of people who don't know how to pronounce myf's name. It rhymes with "stiff."

Track 16: Catchlove – "Legacy of the Fallen Wizard"
Let it be known: there is no "the."

Final drunken interlude: "Y'all are now my official unofficial co-hosts."
They are. For realsies.

Track 17: nYgel – "1to3for" / Space Ghost Coast to Coast dialog
Feist + YTCracker? You wouldn't think it would work, but it does!

And there you have it, folks: my first official Drunken Podcasting Month podcast. I'd like to make this a yearly celebration, but only time will tell whether or not the concept strikes a chord with the general populace.

I'm hoping to get in another drunkcast before month's end, although my vacation plans may complicate matters. Still, if you want to hear more of my friends and me swearing, making gross generalizations, and otherwise babbling incoherently, just let me know.

We'll be glad to oblige.

Either way, thanks to Church and Matt for pitching in. Gentlemen, it was a pleasure!

Nerd News in Brief

Earlier this week I was quoted by Wil Wheaton.

No shit; a veritable Geek God referenced me! How cool is that?

Now when I say "Geek God," I want you to know that I’m not speaking lightly. Wil is on a higher plain than us mere nerdlings.

Matt and Church asked if that made them a measly 2 degrees away from our dear Gordie Lachance, but I refused to hear it. We are all 1 degree from WFW. He is our benevolent deity of all things geek.

Thy Wil be done. Thy Wheaton come.

Wow. That sounded a bit grosser than intended.

• First Things First: I've made no secret of my sorrow over the break-up of Optimus Rhyme. I've also made no secret of the length's I'll go to in order to procure audio/video footage from their final gig. Thankfully, fellow fan CR_Gus was nice enough to post the entire set (sans encores) to Archive.org so that we all may enjoy it. And I didn't even have to do anything distasteful to see it!
• Return of the King: It is with great pleasure that I announce that my comrade in arms from the house of Nerdcore News has returned! It's so nice to see him again. Okay, not see, per se, as this edition of the vlog is audio-only, but you get the idea. Welcome back, Gabriel!
• Up and About: Also returning to the fold is MC Tanuki. After an automobile accident that put him out of commission for quite a while, Nook is back in the saddle again. Glad to hear you’re back among the lining, brother!
• Trekkies Wanted: Church asked me to put the word out on behalf of the Trek constituents that Floridian photographer Jon Fletcher is looking for Jacksonville area fans. I’m assuming he wants to take your picture. Although I suppose he may just want to use your skin to make a coat.
• When Nerds Collide: As announced at PAX, the soon-to-be released Rock Band downloadale content from MC Frontalot ("Livin’ At the Corner of Dude and Catastrophe") will be joined in a nerdy all-star song pack by tracks from Jonathan Coulton and The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets. Even better, the proceeds from the sales of the songs from launch to Holiday 2008 will be donated to the Child's Play charity. In a related story, I totally fuckin’ called it.
• Post-Punk Basic Cable Rap: At long last, MC Lars’s commercial from G4’s new "It’s a Nerd’s World" campaign has hit the airwaves. Very nice! All we’re missing now is Del’s spot.
• Murder in the 2nd: And while you’re kicking around at the G4 site, check out this little jewel. Church noticed that they have a piece about how Dr. Dooom has killed Dr. Octagon. Again. Y’know, ‘cause the first one didn’t take.
• In the Name of Gordon: My pal Antisocial has just completed work on his new album Anomalous Materials Laboratory. It will boast all of Soc’s Half Life-themed tracks, as well as a number of sci-fi-flavored instrumentals. It’s release date? "Sometime in October. Probably very early October."
• No Super-Ego, Just id: id obelus has a new project in the works. It's currently goes by the delightful title The Inevitable Crushing EP, and the touted release date is "soon." This one will feature id's trademark smart and occasionally snarky rhymes, as well as contributions from the likes of Nomar Slevik, Oblio, nYgel, Benjamin Bear, DJ Bizkid, Audio88, Noah23, and LogicOne. And I, for one, can't wait.
• Proper Pronunciation a Must: Also bringing some new hotness to the table is killsaly. Once again ks is putting his mark on an mc chris track, this time "Reese" from the mc chris is dead album. You are urged to take a listen.
• Still Your Medic: And Captain Spalding has added yet another track to his MySpace, “All Hands on Deck.” At long last, nerdcore gets nautical. Not really.
• Where’s Starbuck?: Thanks go out to Matt for turning me on to this delightful nugget of political precision. John McCain is a Cylon. Seriously.
• Meet Your Replacement: Word on the street is MC Loki will be filling the vacancy left in the wake of Shelshocker's departure from the Sinister Six. Now it's only a question of when. Yes, when will the long-awaited Sinister Six project come to completion? Until that time we wait. With baited breath.
• From the Heartland: Also from the mind of Mad Hatter and his Scrub Club compatriots comes the Midwest Nerd Fest. Slated for March 20-22 in Wichita, Kansas, this festival will feature music, games, trivia, and pretty much everything else you can think of. I had sort of been putting off talking about this project until the details had fully solidified, but, as Hatter just keeps adding more and more amazing shit to the mix, I figured it was well past time I mentioned it.
• The Cube, the Cake: Taking us home today is a fine selection from the PAX ’08 stage. It’s Jonathan Coulton and the lovely Penny… er, Felicia Day with "Still Alive." Enjoy.
  

Happy Drunken Podcasting Month

Yes, friends and neighbors, it's September, and thus it is also Drunken Podcasting Month.

It's a fake holiday season of my own design that exists, for the most part, to give me something to do during the interminably long month before the more legitimate Halloween season. Still, as observances go, you couldn't ask for a lower impact approach. All you need to do to participate is:

A) get drunk
B) record it
C) post it as a podcast

Yep, that's it. It is genuinely that simple.

(Okay, admittedly you need to be of legal drinking age in your nation of residence, but that's not too much to ask, right? Didn't think so.)

I actually recorded my first Drunken Podcast this weekend with my pals Matt and Church. The process was fun. The aftermath? A little head-achy, but well worth it. And there are even plans to record a second edition.

Not that you have to, mind you. One Drunken Podcast is all that's required to cement your membership in our loyal fraternity of the embarrassed and slightly hungover.

Nerd news in Brief

2010 can not get here fast enough.

Yes, an east coast PAX has been confirmed! Of course, I am proper excited.

The question is: will I be able to make it? Short answer: hopefully.

I reckon we can assume that "east coast" means NYC, and, while that's still pretty damn far away, it is a lot closer than Sea-town. Plus, it'll probably be an opportunity to see folks like Front, Myf, and Schaffer again, as well as connect with guys like Matt, Church, and Shael face-to-face.

It sounds too good to pass up.

• mc chris hearts PAX: In other PAX news, mc chris recently apologized to fans via the Penny Arcade PAX forum for dropping out of this year's concert. He even went so far as to offer free "mc chris hearts PAX" t-shirts for attendees to wear to the event on his behalf.
• Stuck on You: Also up for gabs are these handsome Nerdcore For Life "laptop stickers." While they aren't free, the price is quite reasonable: just Paypal $2 to Nerdcoreforlife@gmail.com to get four stickers. Act now and you can get in on the "stick a sticker on something cool and maybe get a free Nerdcore for Life T-shirt" contest by photographing whatever smooth, flat surface you affix your NC4L sticker to and emailing said image to the same address by September 1st.
• For Sale by Owner: Ant has finally announced that the Welcome to World 2 comp is now available for online purchase. Discriminating buyers can even check out the free b-sides album Music EXP before taking the plunge.
• Get Your Fix: Nerdy piano pop mastermind Sugar Fix has recently unleashed a new track. It's called "Days Like This," and it's a delightful slice of traditional pop with the slightest hint of geeky hopelessness. Listen and learn.
• Have Dulcimer, Will Travel: Wizard Rocker (and enthusiastic Hipster, please! supporter) Snidget is currently on tour throughout the northeast. Is she coming to your area? If so, show up and give her some love. And cheer extra loud for me!
• They Are Family: Raleigh NC's News & Observer posted a pretty interesting piece on WRock last month (which Church sent to me weeks ago, but I just recently found floating around the bottom of my inbox.) It's an interesting write-up that focuses on the scene's strength of community, and also makes references to Filk and Trek rock.
• Nerdcore in Middle English: Matt found this hip-hop take on the Canterbury Tales' General Prologue. He shared it with me because I love shit like this. I share it with you fully knowing you probably don't. Your lit teacher, however, will find it fascinating.
• Nerdcore goes functional: Nate sent me a link to this rap piece that properly explains the science behind the Large Hadron Collider. It features the vocal stylings of Kate McAlpine, whom, I believe, Church has claimed as his latest girlfriend-who-doesn't-know-it-yet.
• Sounds of the Past: Speaking of Nate Trier, he let me know that he's currently looking for geektastic "audio plays" – that is, mp3 conversions of old records, tapes, or CDs concerning superheroes and other such nerdy stuff – for a new musical project. So if you've got any audio relics from your childhood that you wouldn't mind sharing, hit him up over at MySpace. Contributors will get shout-outs in the liner notes, so you've got nothing to lose.
• Meanwhile, in the Future: The Protomen will be bringing their unique Mega Man rock opera to a number of notable events throughout the coming months. Catch them August 16th in Baltimore at 32-Bit Genocide, August 29th-31st at DragonCon in Atlanta, and September 10th-14th at Next Big Nashville.
• BeakTube: And wrapping things up is another find by my buddy Matt. It's got Muppets. Lots of Muppets.

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.

Nerd News in Brief

Do you see this plate?

It is full.

I have a full plate.

I am currently working on 4 interview features and 5 album reviews, and damned if I haven’t just taken on one more of each. Sweet merciful shit!

I obviously don’t know when to quit.

But on the positive side, I did ship out all my sticker requests yesterday. So if you sent me your address, stickers should be forthcoming. I also tried to send everyone a nice little note. Whether they ended up in the correct envelopes remains to be seen.

I am, admittedly, spread a bit thin.

• A place called home: To celebrate the release of his new album Starblazer, FLA nerdcore dynamo funky49 has totally revamped his official web presence. It is now 49% funkier.* Take a look for yourself.
• Him against the world: Philly-born lyrical titan Random has a nice new interview up at Clap Cowards that you really need to check out. Therein Ran talks about his background, his musical motivation, Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos, and Gang Starr. (Why don’t more people namedrop Gang Starr?!) My only complaint: not enough talk about his forthcoming release The 8th Day. Reckon I’ll have to press that issue in my next interview with him.
• Open call: My friends from Game Music 4 All are gearing up for another compilation. Yes, another one. Already. This project is a tribute to the Sega Genesis (known to our foreign constituents as the Mega Drive). The deadline for submission is October 1st, and full details can be found in this post.
• All the way live: My pal Antisocial recently played his first live show. And since some of us couldn’t make it down to attend, Soc was kind enough to make the video of his full set available. Peep the full half hour, all 784 MB of its glory, here.
• Blame Soc for this: “Pipetting all those well-plates, baby, sends your thumbs into overdrive. And spending long nights in the lab makes it hard for your love to thrive.” When science tech meets 90’s boy pop, it’s called epMotion.
• T-shirts! Get your t-shirts!: Nerdcore For Life t-shirts are back in stock. Get them while they’re hot, and, more importantly, get them while they’re available. These suckers sell out fast, so grab one now.
• Burning down the South: Mega Man-centric rockers The Protomen have a trio of shows lined up this week in Kentucky and Tennessee: July 24th (tonight!) at Glassworks in Louisville, KY, Friday the 25th at Nashville’s 12th & Porter, and Saturday the 26th at JJ’s Bohemia in Chattanooga, TN. Show up and help ‘em give Wily what for!
• AKA Sweatshirt Assassin: killsaly, one of my favorite DJ/producers, has just put the finishing touches on a remix of a mc chris’s “Hoodie Ninja.” Yes, I know a number of you no longer listen to mc chris, but I still do. Moreover, you should all still listen to killsaly. So check it out.
• Delia all my life: Church recently sent me a link to this BBC post containing Doctor Who theme composer and early electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire’s experimental “dance” track. Delia invented techno. I’m just sayin’.
• Pre-PAX Nerdcore Nirvana: Amid rumors of a break-up – I say “rumors” because until Wheelie Cyberman himself tells me that the band is gone for good I refuse to accept it – Optimus Rhyme has announced a pre-PAX show at the High Dive in Seattle on August 28th. To sweeten the deal, MC Frontalot, The Goondocks, and Beefy are also on the bill. Be there!
• WRock around the clock: Virginia-based WRocker and dulcimer enthusiast (and friend of Hipster, please!) Snidget has announced info concerning her new EP To Dwell on Dreams, her up coming tour, and a button design contest. Check it out, and tell her I said hi.
• Back in the Alley: And thanks to Matt for pointing me toward this recent edition of the Alleycast recorded live at this month’s Portus festival. Will it match the foulmouthed drunken revelry of the Letters vs. Numbers ‘casts recorded at Nerdapalooza? Listen to both and find out for yourself.
• Their Stage: OurStage.com, which has, in recent months, featured nerdcore artists such as Beefy, Benjamin Bear, and Jaylyn, has a new video piece on nerdcore hip-hop. It boasts interviews with MC Frontalot and Nerdcore Rising director Negin Farsad, and it comes highly recommended. Give it a look and share your thoughts.
• “Sweet as a natural 20!”: And rapping things up for this week’s NNIB is another installment of ultra-geeky web show Dice Jockies. This one broaches the age-old question: Power Girl, Princess Leia, or Xeni Jardin?

*Your actual funkiness may vary.

Nerd News in Brief

The public – and by “the public” I mean, like, half a dozen people – has spoken; apparently some of you do want these stickers.

So here’s the deal: if you’ve got a little scratch to kick in to help with the printing and shipping costs, that’s super cool. You can use the Paypal link in the sidebar to make a donation to the cause in whatever denomination you see fit. There should be a notes field in the Paypal interface where you can input your address, but if there’s not just email me your shipping addy and we’ll be straight. The stickers cost me about 35 cents apiece to print and a stamp’s, like, what? 39 cents. But let your conscience be your guide as to how much (if any) you want to part with for these cheesy decorations; I’m not looking to finance a bicycling trip through central Europe with them or nothin’, and anything I make will just go into printing more rudimentary “merch,” picking up new music for the ‘cast, or, failing that, buying amusing t-shirts.

If you find yourself financially destitute - which I know is far easier these days than one would think - and still want a sticker or two, just hit me up via email and I’ll see what I can do. You’re kind of doing me a solid by taking these things off my hands, and I don’t wanna nickel and dime y’all any more than I have to.

Yuck! That seemed an awful lot like business.

Now, on to the news.

• What do you call a baby Wombat?: Heartfelt congratulations go out to Wombat (of CAGcast fame) on the new addition. Yesterday at 1:00 PM, he and Mrs. Wombat welcomed Sabrina Eden to the world. Welcome, my friend, to the long, hard road of fatherhood.
• You can call him Beef: Beefy specifically asked me to pass on this nugget to all the producers in the audience; for his next album, he’ll be accepting sample-free beats from “anyone interested.” Are you anyone? Are you interested? Then holler at Beef Thompson.
• The Dork Knight: Church has found some more nerd ink. It’s ties in well with the release of The Dark Knight, so it seemed a shame not to call your attention to it. Wait, did the last Indiana Jones movie get any nerdy tattoo love?
• A change of plans: Earlier this week mc chris announced that he would not be able to make his promised return trip to the PAX stage this year. mc apologized, but didn’t exactly state why he would be unable to appear. But now the reason for his withdrawal seems to be that he’s going to be touring with Reggie and The Full Effect at the time. Good news for mc, bad news for fans who wanted to catch him on the Penny Arcade Expo stage.
• A secret that everyone knows: On to something that’s sure to please fans, geek rockers The Four Eyes have released their two disk Secret Center Sessions Volume 3 as a free download from their official site. It includes nerded up cover versions of everything from “Hey Ya” to “Everybody Hurts,” and is not to be missed. If you’re quick enough, you can also catch Secret Center Sessions Volume 2 featuring “The Joker” and the theme from Knight Rider. Is it any wonder I love these guys?
• Funny guys doing good work: While I'm probably as guilty as anyone when it comes to adding arbitrary distinctions within the larger scale of geeky music, I’m also the first to admit that comedy music artists are a huge part of our culture. With that in mind, please take a moment to check out the recent FuMP charity comp. It benefits filker Tom Smith, who’s facing a shit-ton of medical bills following an accident earlier this year. The project features covers of Tom’s work by Sudden Death, Possible Oscar, The Great Luke Ski, and more, and all you have to do is make a donation to check it out.
• Corny, but in a good way: Con on the Cob, Akron’s foremost geek culture festival, will be featuring a number of these same comedy artists, as well as nerdcore hip-hoppers Dual Core. What’s more, the musical portion of the show is being brought to you by our friends at The Awful Show. Should you be in the area between October 2nd and 5th and have the urge to try and weasel your way onto what’s sure to be an amazing bill, holler at Tha Mike.
• Magical, yet also technological: Those of you wishing to relive the geek glory of festivals past should check out Magitek’s full Nerdapalooza set over at YouTube. Personally, I’d recommend you peep “Weapon Select: Quartz Relic” and “Weapon Select: Thugmasta J,” new cuts from the band’s forthcoming EP.
• Scarred for life: Matt was also nice enough to point me toward some great vids from an amazing event that I was, unfortunately, unable to attend, Portus. Scarhead Productions has some amazing cuts from The Mudbloods, Catchlove, The Moaning Myrtles, and other WRock heavyweights. Take a gander at them, and be sure to leave nice comments.
• Covering all the bases: Nerdcore vids - check. WRock vids – check. Oh yeah – VGM! Not to be forgotten are also these videos from GM4A's Level Up! Level 2 event. With The Megas, ZeaLouS1, and Super Barrio Bros,what’s not to love?
• Sort of like MC Lars lite: While you’re getting your YouTube on, also check out this Olympic Trials Rap that Soc found. It’s pretty damn informative. Especially if you’re interested in women’s discus. And ducks.
• Her achy breaky heart: Just to clarify, the hackers taking credit for the new round of (alleged) racy photos of Miley Cyrus cribbed form her cell phone? They make their home at YTCracker’s DigitalGangster.com. I reckon you’ve all figured that out yourselves, but, y’know, it seemed topical.
• This just in: I regret to inform you that I’ve just been informed that Glenn Case’s band The Half Racks have disbanded. In the wake of split, which was amicable and not wholly unexpected, the decision has been made to release their forthcoming debut album Coffee Now not as a CD, but as freely downloadable mp3s. I wish the guys my best in all their post-Racks endeavors.
• Z phones home: In the latest edition of Little Miss Gamer, Z explore what makes a bad game bad. More specifically, she examines what made the Atari 2600’s E.T. (and its modern descendants) so awful. Will she survive her time trapped in a pit? Watch and find out.

Nerd News in Brief

In a world where Jesse Helms has hurried up and died and Jesse Jackson has threatened to emasculate Barack Obama, I must resist the urge to get all political on that collective ass in this edition of NNIB.

By the same token, I must resist the urge to make it all about Nerdapalooza. The first few items are steadfastly rooted in the festival and its participants, but there’s some other stuff too. I’ve got two weeks of news to deal with, so I hope you're sitting comfortably.

• Pictures to prove it: For those of you looking for a visual representation of what you missed in Orlando last weekend, there are many options. My friend Denika took a lot of great shots (which are only now beginning to surface), as did Sudden Death, funky49, Dual Core, and scores of others. What pictures are your favorite?
  
• The sound of things to come: Also from Nerdapalooza comes news of new albums from, y’know, everyone. Wordburglar announced his follow-up album Thirdburglar; MC Frontalot and crew dropped some (secret) knowledge about guests on their new Final Boss; Krondor Krew and Captain Dan & the Scurvy Crew announced their Pirates vs. Ninjas project, and Random, Schaffer the Darklord, and Pixelh8 all spoke of new material. More news as it becomes available.
• Contractually obligated: Sangriaa made me promise to include her in my next Nerd news In Brief. Consider yourself included. :)
• Sponsorship has its privileges: I also need to give a shout-out to Steffo, Stephen, and funky49 for donating to my Nerdapalooza travel fund. I scored just enough from these cats to cover that last emergency fuel stop I had to make crossing back into SC. This is good, because the money I had originally spent on that gas was earmarked to buy the D&D 4th edition Player’s Handbook. Henceforth I roll in their honor.
• Gotta be he: Props to Aussie hip-hopper The Ranger for his new song “Gonna Be.” It’s a smoking track in the hard-living spirit “Rap Bukowski.” Peep it. Bump it. Love it.
• Grammar Club get up get coffee: The Grammar Club has just offered up a superlative cover of Coulton classic “Code Monkey.” Jonathan said so himself. His fans? Not all feeling it. Bump the track and then go weigh in on this great debate.
  
• Until you make it: Brad Sucks also has a new single. It’s called “Fake It,” and he’s looking to pair it with the most cliché music video ever. If you think you can help, give Brad a shout.
  
• He’s a supermodel?: Ultraklystron has a new track as well, and it is lyrically fierce! Take a listen to “On Game,” and then give Karl back his lunch money. He will cut you, man!
• Welcome to his level: Our lovable Mega Ran has broken into the blogging mainstream as a new contributor at That Videogame Blog. Big up to Ran and, by extension, me; Random still has my Nerdapalooza VIP badge, so it’s kinda like I’m doing it too. Right?
• I mentioned this yesterday, but it bears repeating: G Minor 7 has a number of really cool musicals under his belt. Two of note are 29 and Reality: The Musical. One’s about growing up and how it may or may not relate to growing old, while the other’s about the bane of the modern man: reality television. Peep both at MySpace and be sure to friend ‘em. Nerdy music is more than just songs about Transformers!
  
• Dress to impress: This Sunday (July 13th) Dante’s in Seattle is hosting the first annual Summer Semi-Formal featuring the chiptastic Leeni and local rap nerds/hip-hop superheroes Southside. The show starts at 9:00 PM, and since I’m a whole nation away I’m hoping a kind native will go check it out and report back to me. Anyone planning to attend?
• Southern Comfort: Speaking of cool stuff to check out, be sure to listen to the latest episode of the Gamewave podcast. Not only will you get to hear great VGM and chiptunes (as well as some delightful British accents), you’ll also hear nice mentions of GM4A, Rocket Propelled Radio, and even little ol’ me. Oh, what charmers!
• Pure nerd: And while I’m plugging the songs, gigs, and ‘casts of my friends, let me remind everyone that RhymeTorrents.ORG (note the extension) has a really cool exclusive interview with Frontalot that dropped earlier this month. Check it out and leave nice comments.
  
• Nerd Ink, Undead edition: Church hit me up with a link to this piece on the zombie tattoo guy. I’m sure he has a perfectly serviceable name that his mom gave him, but he’s pretty much become the zombie tattoo guy at this point. Dennis, I’d like your comments on this dude's dedication to the ghoulish cause.
• Hippie WRock: My buddy Matt shared his thoughts regarding both the Monsters of WRock tour, which he recently attended, and the forthcoming Portus festival, for which he’ll be leaving shortly. Check it out and bask in how seamlessly he shifts from Wizard Rock to jambands and back. It’s almost frightening. Oh, and if you’re gonna be in Dallas for the event, give Matty some love on my behalf.
  
• Her enthusiasm, it is unlimited: And speaking or WRock show reviews, be sure to check out Snidget’s take on the Unlimited Enthusiasm Expo. And don’t worry, Snidge, I gave Uncle Monsterface an extra helping of love when I saw them last weekend!
  
• Attention hosers: My pal Snake Eyes is looking for nerd musicians – nerdcore, geek rock, WRock, VGM, chiptune, what have you – in the Toronto area for a special project he’s trying to put together. If you’re a southern Ontario nerd who makes with the sweet sounds, give Snake a holler.
• More Uke: Rather than end on a ‘Palooza vid, I thought It'd be fun to let you know what Optimus Rhyme have been getting into. Here’s a video for their newest track. Now if only we could convince them to tour with the Accio Bodyguard gals!

Nerd News in Brief

Do they make a Twitter patch? Maybe some gum or something? I think I’m kind of hooked, and I sometimes wonder if I’ll be able to get off the stuff.

Unlike MySpace and Facebook and similar services, Twitter doesn’t ask much of me as a user. I basically just toss random sentences up at irregular intervals and the train keeps rolling. The people I’m following do the same and, failing the perpetual outages, everyone’s life is enriched by shared minutia.

Is it wrong that I care what @cdharrison had for lunch, what kind of song @triermusic is working on, or what @badddspellah thinks of those feet that keep popping up on BC’s shoreline?

Probably, but it helps pass the time.

• More of me: A new edition of the GeekDad’s HipTrax podcast, co-hosted by little ol’ me, is currently available. This episode features music from my man Random, new friend Mindscape Music, and Wizard Rock chanteuse The Butterbeer Experience, who I believed I referred to as “adorable.” That… um… that probably crosses some sort of line.
• Tag Team, back again: For those of you not keeping proper tabs on your RSS feeds, know that Letters vs. Numbers, your favorite rapper’s podcaster’s favorite rapper podcast, is back! After a lengthy delay, episode 6 went up Monday and, in addition to having an almost alarming amount of references to me, it features an amazing cover of JoCo’s “Still Alive” and that hot new MPFM joint the kids are so crazy about!
• I always forget the “h.”: Also from our Game Music 4 All friends, specifically Jephso, comes an interview with UK chiptune artist Pixelh8. It touches on Pix’s influences, the role of nostalgia in micromusic, and airport security hassles. Which, now that I think about it, has got to be a recurring p