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.

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.
  

Nerd News in Brief

We're currently staring down the barrel of PAX weekend.

I'm not going, but I'm not jealous of those of you who are. Fuckers!

Okay, maybe I'm a little envious.

Still, since everyone else is in full-on PAX mode already, I'm gonna shy away from the subject a bit. I mean, y'all know the deal. But I just want to say if anyone comes around selling cookies while you're in line for an event, buy one. It's for a good cause.

• How Did We Get Here?: In his continuing mission to educate and enlighten, Church has found the following: A Short Illustrated History of the Nerd. Take a gander, and relive the history of our tribe.
  
• Risking His Life: A new video for Wordburglar's track "The Route" from his Burglaritis album has made its way onto YouTube. Check it out to get the skinny on the life of a Halifax paperboy. It ain't all sunshine and Arby’s coupons.
  
• More Mainstream Nerd Fascination: mc chris recently announced that he will be filmed at his September 7th show for a 60 Minutes piece on "nerd culture and nerdcore." Given mc’s anti-nerdcore stance of late, it seems an odd pairing, but I don’t reckon we can expect a man to turn down an appearance on 60 Minutes!
  
• HOLY FUCKING SHIT!: In what can only be described as great news, my pal Random‘s track "Granny Smith" (from his new release The 8th Day) was chosen as the underground track of the week at Hip-Hop Linguistics. In what can only be described as the new biggest news ever, Ran has also just announced that he will be opening for Common on September 13th at the Marquee Theater in Tempe, AZ. Yes, Common! And to sweeten the deal, Ran is pressing a limited edition Mega Ran 3.0 including new artwork and remixes that will be sold at the gig for $5.
  
• "Would you like french fries with that?": Another artist revisiting his old material is Captain Spalding. Cap has parodied his own Team Fortress 2 anthem "I'm Your Medic" as "I'm Your Sandvich." Even with the added carbs, it's still a good time.
  
• Number 1 with a Bullet: I have already spent some quality time with nYgel's newly released mixtape Free To Good Home. It is imminently enjoyable. So much so that I'll be reviewing it in the near future. In the meantime, check out the accompanying vid for his remix "Sugar, We're Slowin' Down." The delicate combination of deer people and mall-punk has never been more entertaining.
• The Joys of Secrecy: The concept of the clanDestine project is simple: release a new track under an alias. It’s an interesting undertaking for those looking to experiment, or simply gauge to audience reaction to a song itself rather than the name attached to it. So what’s your pleasure? Grignak? Deemeetree? Inspector Madshit? Why not check ‘em all out?
  
• Don’t Turn Your Back on the City: The Protomen have just released a demo for the recently leaked "Breaking Out." The song is described, in typical Protomen fashion, as "the opening track for side II of Act II (our upcoming sophomoric release). It debuts the second of the two themes of the album; the counterpoint to the whole of side 1. If side one is a Spaghetti Western gone Robocop, then side two is Streets of Fire gone Logan’s Run. A dirty 1980s future where Spandex is tough and an alleyway knife fight is the only justice a man needs." Uh... yeah.
  
• Fucked Up… In a Good Way: Shael Riley and The Grammar Club recently got a little love from Destructoid (along with a number of other ReMixers). The entire post is actually really entertaining, and it spotlights a number of great tracks you may’ve missed. (djpretzel’s "Hillbilly Rodeo" anyone?) So take a look. Hopefully followed by a listen.
• Wizards vs. Vampires: Last week Matt hipped me to this post at the ‘Pedia referencing an MTV.com piece on the feud between the WRock and Twi-rock scenes. (Personally, it seemed a little half-baked to me, as the first Twi-rock band I ever heard was actually fronted by a WRocker, but I digress.) Church then countered with two more references to the fan rivalry that proved a bit more character-driven. All this cranking over the best nerd fic series on which to center one’s musical creativity brings up a number of interesting questions, but, unfortunately, Lords of the Rhymes were unavailable for comment. ;)
• Trock You Like a Hurricane: In a quasi-related story, the answer to the question how could I love Wizard Rockers RiddleTM any more than I already do has been answered with the response if they started a Time Lord Rock band, you stupid bastard. Behold The Geek Chic Band (otherwise known as Victoria and Georgia) with "The Doctor." It makes my hearts skip a beat.
  

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

This week’s NNIB is a bit later than usual. Because of the dreaded technical difficulties!

*DUM DUM DUUUUUUUUUUUUM*

It’s hard sometimes for me to grasp how wholly shackled I am to my PC, and, indeed, to all technological trappings. Of course, the universe elects to totally fuck my shit up from time to time so as to remind me.

Oh universe, you’re such a cad!

• Spell Chek: Obviously tired of hooking me up with new nerd ink to feature, Church instead sent me this list of fabulously misspelled tattoos. Remember, its only funny because it’s not you.
• Your Greatest Battle: MC Frontalot has announced the official release date for his next full-length, Final Boss, as November 1st. He’s also dropped news concerning a national tour with MC Lars to coincide with the release. Exciting, no?
• Too Much Nerdy: You can expect new albums from Beefy and uber producer nYgel slightly sooner. As in, within the next few weeks. Yes, Beefy’s Rolling Doubles and nYg’s Free To Good Home mixtape are both nearing release. I’ll have interviews with the artists and reviews of the albums as soon as I can get my metaphorical shit straight.
• Join the Alliance: In other event news, Anthony has just turned me on to the Chiptune Alliance Tour, a series of shows throughout the UK featuring the talents of Anamanaguchi, Random, Sabrepulse, Firebrand Boy, Syphus, Henry Homesweet, We Are The Future, Spheres of Chaos and Unicorn Kid. A couple of the scheduled event dates for late August are as yet unattached to venues, so hit up Sabrepulse if you can help in that regard.
• They Really Are: And don’t forget the 4th annual I Am 8-Bit music and art show currently going on in Hollywood. The event runs until September 7th, and is sponsored, in part, by our friends at Capcom.
• Do it for Ran: And speaking of, one of Random’s contacts from Capcom, a cat named Shawn, just created a Capcom Music site. His Royal Randomness cordially requests your joinage of said project. So do your man a solid and check it out.
• There Can Be Only… Two?: If you like your nerdy rhymes with a side of old school battle rap, you should make your way to Rhyme Torrents for the forthcoming 2-on-2 Rap Battle competition. Teams include everyone from international duo The Ranger & T.Y.T. to the pride of the UK Category & MisterB. Think of it as the Olympics. With more rap and less pesky nationalism.
• This week on COPS: A recent gig at B Natural in Ofallon, MO featuring our own Whore Moans boasted an amazing closer: the local police force. Yes, and if you look closely, you can see Johnny Law creeping into frame in this video of Moans’ “Mecha Mechanics.” Good times.
• The Last Boy Scout: On a personal note, I’ve recently found out that I qualify for a merit badge. Well, two, I guess.
• DJ Spock: And taking us home is another great find from Church. It’s a cleverly edited Star Trek vid provided by CBS itself. Live long and prosper.
  

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.

Our Satanic Majesty’s Request

There are few people in geeky music that I admire more than Schaffer the Darklord. When nerdcore zigs, Schaff always zags. Not just to be fickle, mind you, but because, as an artist, STD is coming from a place that is inherently different from that of his fellows.

It could be because of his roots as a metal percussionist. It could be due to his strong thematic ties to the always irreverent (and regularly blasphemous) comedy of luminaries like Hicks and Carlin. Or it could simply be that Schaffer takes the quality of his craft seriously without ever taking himself too seriously.

The whys, however, are fairly unimportant. The essential information of this missive concerns two new tracks from STD.

The first, “Battlefont,” is a fresh demo that is currently being rerecorded for inclusion of Schaff’s forthcoming album. (Tentative release date: the future!) It’s a whimsical piece in which “the most well-known fonts duke it out Thunderdome-style for the title of ‘the greatest font of our time.’” You can check it out at STD’s official MySpace.

Also available on MySpace, as well as on Schaffer’s YouTube channel, is the 3rd installment of the recently resurrected Killing Time with STD web series. This includes a demo for a second new track, this one called “The Bender.” In video form, no less. I’ve embedded it below. Because the Black Box commanded that I do so.

The Sky’s the Limit

Thanks to Random and director Johnie Tidwell (of Cartoon Mogul) for letting me know that the long-awaited video for Ran’s track “Fly” has made its YouTube debut.

Don’t let the “Part 1” in the title scare you; this is the video in its entirety. Johnie tells me that a second version (with additional special effects and graphics) should be made available in the foreseeable future, so I think we can safely assume that this designation exists to differentiate it from the future incarnation.

Take a gander below, and then make you way to YouTube to rate and comment.

EDIT: Also, that special edition of Random's The 8th Day that I mentioned yesterday is now available for purchase via more traditional means. Now you know.

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.

Captain’s Log: Supplemental

The Google Alert is an amazing thing; you mention a feature at a particular Web site, one of the staffers from that site gets a message stating that you blogged about it, and they contact you with further information.

I have seen the future, and it is facilitated by an army of ceaseless Googlebots.

That being said, here is an embed of that Frontalot/Negin Farsad piece from OurStage.com that I mentioned yesterday. Watch it in good health.

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.

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

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.

Nerdapalooza Wrap-up 3: A Journey into Sound

I’ve spent an entire week trying to figure out the best way to approach the subject of the performances at Nerdapalooza. Talking about each and every participant is out because it is both time-consuming and a little insincere; I did, admittedly, miss a number of sets and a far greater number of half-sets. Likewise, talking about the headliners seems a bit of a disservice to the other 28 artists on the roster that put their blood, sweat, and tears into making this event the often overwhelming spectacle that it truly was.

As you can see, my options have already worn thin.

What I am left with is less a description of concrete events, catalogs of lengthy set lists, and stage mechanics, and more an account of intangibles. Of feelings. Of energy. Brief snippets of pure geeky genius.

I truly felt that energy during my first full set of day 1: Random. Ran took the stage early, and managed to deliver with both nerdcore and non-nerdcore content. A personal highlight was Ran’s rendition of “City Boy,” a favorite track of mine that is surely no nerdier than any other hip-hop meditation on one’s youth and old neighborhood. The lead-in for the track was particularly interesting, as Ran led an entire room of geeks (and obviously perplexed Taste staffers) in a rousing rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” It was a wonder to behold.

Shortly after Ran left the stage, Wizard Rocker The House of Black favored us with a wholly different flavor of musical content, her style mixing sharp electronica with classic acoustic folk. All of which was, of course, Potter-related and wholly beautiful. That gave way to acts as disparate as lo-fi rocker (with no “w”) marc with a c, who punctuated his set with a rap number of his own; MC Gigahertz, who showed us the true meaning of Absurdcore; and an oddly patriotic pre-recorded set from chiptune maestro in absentia Pixelh8.

An underlying theme of the event, which could assuredly be felt in the offerings of the aforementioned, was a genuine sense of fun. Whether the crowd was packed-in or sparse – which I can’t imagine affected Pixelh8 either way – these artists gave it the proverbial 110%. Their music, their energy, was transmuted into pure enjoyment.

Audience reception was particularly strong for ZeaLouS1, who seemed at home on the stage even during an early onset of the dreaded technical difficulties; Sudden Death, who proved that funny musicians are nothing if not serious performer; and funky49, whose blistering set featured Colon:P, Redvoid, Sir-Up and MC Wreckshin, party poppers, 3D g