Nerdapalooza

Welcome back for another Nerdapalooza Blog! This week, the biggest project is that we’re starting a new wave of contacting sponsors. Several key Nerdapalooza staffers are unleashing a deluge of emails and phone calls, making as many connections as we can. The goal is to build such a media presence to make this the most talked about nerd event ever.

Where we need you is help with sponsorship and press contacts. If you have a fresh idea for a good sponsor, let us know! Of course we’ll be contacting the usual suspects (Apple, Blizzard, Capcom and the likes), but if you know of more obscure companies that might want to get exposure at Nerdapalooza, let us know! If you have contacts for any company, now is the time to hit us up. If you know of anyone in a press outlet, the same goes there, we’d love to contact them! You can throw any emails to hex AT nerdapalooza DOT org.

Next is this week’s amazing nerd music video, a new segment designed to psyche people up about the Nerdapalooza Music Video Awards. Not all of the videos spotlighted have been submitted, but this is kind of a way to encourage submission. This week, we’re taking a look at Grammar Club’s Bank Holiday, a clever and catchy tune on its own accord. The video is pretty phenomenal, playing on a fantasy story archetype many are familiar with. The video hosts a thought-provoking industrial fantasy world which utilizes an interesting technique for starring the two cross-continental front men of the group, Shael Riley and Beefy, who had not yet met each other in real life as of the filming of the video. Enjoy and watch for a guest cameo near the end:

I threw another book review up over at Nerdy Show. Michael Crichton’s Next was too good not to review. Read it here! Next week, I promise that I’ll return with an album review.

On Nerdy Show this week, the Nerdy Crew and I reunited after a month hiatus from recording. We were also able to have Brian on with us via Skype. It’s a pretty solid episode of cobweb dusting. Next week, we get back to serious business, where we reveal the winners of the Tetris Rap Attack competition. It was a pretty close one! We’ll also have Astronautalis, the “grand prize” of the competition, on the show with us for an interview!

For those that, like me, are fans of EMPulse Records as well as their amazing RPRadio, well do I have news for you! RPRadio has returned! You can check it out here for streaming and the like. They’re also accepting applications for DJs and shows. As the former Station Manager, it brought a tear to my eye talking to the boss man, HT, over there about all the improvements they’re making to the station. Talks are that I may have my own radio show over there in the future… so keep your ears to the stream.

This week’s Twitter #FollowFriday is a #NerdyShowEdition: @NerdyShow @bclevinger @capblackard @michaelpandel and (since I’m a vain bastard) @hexWarrior. We all have our own bit of infotainment to give to y’all, so follow away!

Anywho, that’s all I got this week! Thanks for reading as always! Much nerdy love

[hex]

Here we are, at the end of another week and only 22 more Fridays until Nerdapalooza 2010! Saying it that way makes me all tingly with anticipation. We’re still keeping our collective noses to the proverbial grindstone, so expect great things from this year’s Nerdapalooza. To wet your whistle and remind you of how awesome last year’s Nerdapalooza was, here’s a phenomenal vid from Corey Clark (@dudevideo on Twitter):

We would also like to announce that our buddies over at Enemy Ink have helped us get the Nerdapalooza 2009 poster back in stock! For anyone interested, you can go over to the Nerdapalooza Store and buy one. With every purchase of a 2009 poster, we’ll throw in a 2008 poster to help decorate your walls!! Previously $20 for the 2009 poster alone, we’ve decided to mark the two of them together for half the price. Only $10 for both Nerdapalooza Festival posters. This is a limited time offer while supplies last!

As Nerdy Show, the official Nerdapalooza podcast, gears back up for Season 3 next week, I have posted my first ever (not-for-school) book review. I recently finished Marc J. Seifer’s opus to everyone’s favorite (and historical) mad scientist in his book Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla: Biography of a Genius. You can read the review for yourself over there. The question now arises: when am I gonna review another album on this blog. The simple answer is, probably never. I’ve always had mixed feelings about doing album reviews on the Nerdapalooza blog, feeling I would be giving an opinion on behalf of the music festival instead of just myself. Don’t get me wrong, though, for I am still insistent on doing reviews (especially for the many amazing artists that have recently sent me albums to review). Fortunately, Nerdy Show thrives on the forceful opinions of the four of us hosts, making it the perfect home for new reviews. You can look forward to album reviews there, possible rehashes of old reviews, and other types of reviews besides albums and books, and not just from me, but the other three knuckleheads as well.

Next up we have a bit from the merchandising marvels, I Fight Dragons. On my way home from work on Thursday, I received a panicked text from my significant other informing me that IFD were going to sell out of DVDs. Unaware that they even had DVDs in the first place, I later learned from the IFD crew (via Twitter) that they had almost sold 200 DVD’s in their first hour of sale! Still reeling from the lightning sale of their recent major bit of merch (a lifetime fan uberpass that earned lifetime access to shows and their music, priced at $100 a pop with only 100 units available) my girl quickly swiped up a copy of the DVD commenting: “I won’t miss out on IFD merch again!” I highly recommend following the nerd music phenomena both on Twitter (@IFightDragons) and on Facebook to ensure that you won’t miss out, either.

Well, I leave you now with some I Fight Dragons. If you don’t really know who they are, I have a feeling you may in the not too distant future…

Here we are in the year 2010, the dawn of a new decade. Another MAGFest has come and gone, ringing in the New Year in the most appropriate of nerdy fashions. Once again, I was sadly unable to attend, but according to all reports, it was a monumental success! It would be folly for me (or any of you if you didn’t attend) to miss it again. 2009 showed a larger yield of nerdy events, with fledginlings like Nerd POW, W00tstock, and Nerd Invasion standing alongside classics like PAX, Blipfest, and, of course, MAGFest. While some may say Nerdapalooza 2010 will still be an adolescent compared to the other more established events, this is the year where it will prove it not only belongs with the big boys of nerd conventions and concerts, but that it will be an event to remember in the annals of nerd music.

Well, with that pomposity out of the way, we can reveal what Team Nerdapalooza has been doing:

First off, I am proud to announce that less than three years since the conception of Nerdapalooza (coincidentally on Pi Day – March 14th, 2007), we are an official company! With our new official status as a corporation, we are still interested in contacting individuals, groups, and companies that would like to sponsor Nerdapalooza 2010. The return for sponsoring us would be an increased exposure to a nerdy (and captive) demographic. We’re already in talks with more than a few companies and are looking forward to working with more. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Nerdapalooza 2010, please contact me via email at hex AT nerdapalooza DOT org.

Now, a few of you may be aware of the podcast I’m involved with called Nerdy Show. I am proud to announce that Nerdy Show is now the official podcast of Nerdapalooza. Some of you may also be aware that in our final episode of last year, 2009 Final Boss, we declared what we thought to be the Top 20 Nerdy Events of 2009, and Nerdapalooza ranked number six on the list. While this looks like a bit more than a coincidence, the official status has been in talks for a while now. However, if Nerdapalooza were to crawl up the ranks for 2010 Final Boss, I can only hope it’ll be from merit.

Nerdapalooza 2010 is also still gearing up for the first annual Nerdapalooza Music Video Awards. All the facts are located on this page, however if you still have any questions, feel free to email me at hex AT nerdapalooza DOT org. We’re looking forward to many submissions, such as (already submitted) funky49’s video below:

While on the topic of submissions, many are still showing interest in applying to perform at Nerdapalooza 2010. The roster is being put together, but it is not yet finalized, so we’re still interested in hearing from you. Just send an Artist Application, as detailed here, to Josh, our Talent Director. His email is talent AT nerdapalooza DOT org. We look forward to hearing from you.

The biggest bit of nerd music related news that caught my eye since our break was that our pals over at Game Music 4 All (GM4A) not only have a spanking new website and forums, but are now a brand new net label, recently dropping their second release. We wish them luck and inform y’all that you should be keeping a trained eye on GM4A in the future, as great things always stem from there.

One last bit of news, this time more timely, Orlando favorite Marc with a C had a birthday yesterday, and in the halfling way, gave a present to all of you! Two to be precise! Over here on his website, you’ll be able to download two albums, one by the legendary “Glowy Stickers,” an amazing project between Marc and his amazing wife, Nicole. The second is an interesting return to his cover album, Share the Covers, Bitch!. Volume 2 comes with a prize for those that can pinpoint all the original artists. Marc even gave the hint that one of the tracks is an alternate version of one of his own songs!

Thanks, as always, for reading. As we get closer and closer to the event, you can bet the news will just get juicier and juicier. Until we have more to report, enjoy the following video, my favorite gem of 2009:

Sorry, everyone, for the unannounced week off, but my birthday was last week, and just commandeered the weekend to relax and have some festivities. Now I’m back and ready as ever!! Masurao of Krondor Krew, the Event Director of Nerdapalooza 2010, and I have been working extra hard on some logistics and are planning on giving you an extra-amazing show! We’re going to be pulling out all the stops and giving you the best Nerdapalooza yet!

However, as it’s all still in the works, I don’t want to leak anything yet! Let’s start off with going over what we DO know:

• The date WILL be June 26th and 27th. You can check out all of those details at the Facebook Event Page
• We’re going to have a few other events coinciding with Nerdapalooza 2010, including our Nerdapalooza Music Video Awards! If you are an artist or fan that have made a nerdy music video… EVER this will be for you!
• If you haven’t yet, get your hands on the new Nerdapalooza Live CD! Especially the free tracks!
• If you are an artist interested in performing at Nerdapalooza you need to send a press kit to artist AT nerdapalooza DOT org. Include a photo of yourself/group, a small bio that would go on our website if selected, and a sample of your music (preferably live) be it in mp3 or video format.
• If you are interested in being a sponsor or vendor at Nerdapalooza, contact me at hex AT nerdapalooza DOT org. If you have any questions about ANYTHING, that same email will work.

Also, if you haven’t yet, I recommend becoming a fan of Nerdapalooza over on Facebook. Or, if you want to be a fan of ALL Nerdy Music, head on over here. I’m going to try to showcase some free nerdy music at least once a week there… so don’t miss out!

Finally, if you haven’t yet, check out the phenomenal Nerdy Show!! It’s a show that Nerdapalooza supports… and which I co-host! I have the show with Triforce Mike of A Comic Shop, Cap of Consequence of Sound, and Brian Clevinger of Nuklear Power. And sometimes, we get together and play our own rendition of Dungeons and Dragons, which gets a little crazy. So listen in to find out what craziness we do next!

Thanks for reading, folks! I feel a big announcement may be on the horizon, so keep the RSS feed warm.

Much nerdy love,

[hex]

Ah, Dual Core. I have been a fan of these guys since the drop of their first album, Zero One. It’s been very interesting watching their growth both in the community as performers to where they are now with their new album, Next Level. Dual Core, for those out of the loop, is comprised of the producer and beatsmith galore, C64, and int eighty, the rapper and wordsmith. Next Level will always have a special place in my heart, since the boys of Dual Core did some extra hussling to release it in time for Nerdapalooza 2009.

Anywho, on the topic of the album itself, it definitely shows Dual Core outdoing themselves. It is an amazing album, but frankly it NEEDED to be if it was going to be able to compete with Lost Reality, which was a phenomenal album. I still think Fantastic Four was the best track released in 2008. While I don’t think there’s a single track on Next Level that tops it, the album itself truly shows that Dual Core is a group that is constantly improving, maturing, and developing within the community itself.

Next Level is not just a clever name, Dual Core has truly leveled up, keeping tracks fun with Natural 20s, a soulful collab with YTCracker on I Remember, as well as five other rappers on the monstrous Magnificent 7, and his subtle trademark shoutout to the fans in For You. Where Next Level really grabbed my attention was how it continues the tradition of having mature and socially conscious songs.

As with most tracks by Dual Core, my favorite track on this album took me by surprise. Once, while listening to my iPod on the bus, the track Painting Pictures came on, and I was almost brought to tears by this triumphant story about how the Internet was a positive influence on one person born deaf. The positive elements of the Internet are a topic rarely sung about, so I applaud Dual Core for painting the picture of this little girl who was able to experience and appreciate life and even discovered a way to overcome her handicap. It shows the power of eighty’s powerful lyrics and storytelling skills working with the brilliant and gorgeous beats provided by C64.

This is a phenomenal album that needs to be in your collection. You can get it here and I recommend you throw down the ten bones it takes to get it to you. Can’t wait to see what these guys do next!

[hex]

Ladies and Gentlemen!!

I would like to announce the Nerdapalooza Black Friday Sale!!

T-Shirts are only $7!!

Nerdapalooza 2008 and 2009 CDs are only $7!!

The Nerdapalooza 2008 Poster is only $1!!

AND FREE SHIPPING WITH EVERYTHING!! And as always, you get a free Nerdapalooza sticker with each purchase!! Buy Buy Buy!!

Sale ends… some time tomorrow

<3

Sorry for no Dual Core review, there will be one next week!

[hex]

Quick blog, today: primarily just announcing that the Nerdapalooza Live CD 2009 is now available. Not only is the CD available for purchase (and receiving albums in a timely fashion) over at our store, but we also have a certain number of tracks now available for free promotional download! Here’s the track listing of the non-album tracks:

As you may have noticed, the MC Lars track is not available for download. The reason is because this particular track is available if you purchase the Live CD. By making a purchase of the CD online or at a show, the track will be made available to you. Remember that all profits go to Child’s Play, so there’s really no reason NOT to buy this.

Go here to purchase the entire album!

I don’t know what it is with albums coming from the Funny Music Project community, but these albums take FOREVER for me to take out. Right, Devo?

While I STILL feel horrible for making Devo Spice wait so long, here I take forever to get an album review out for the new kid on the funny block, Insane Ian. Apparently, I am but a recidivist in this realm, but better late than never, eh?

It’s hard to break in as a new artist in the comedy/parody/filk game. Stuck under the shadow of the weirdest of all Yankovics, they constantly have their releases compared. So when Insane Ian approached me to review his album back in the Cretaceous Period, I tried my best to not to compare harshly.

However, I was honestly impressed with n3rds0ngs, Ian’s first release. It had several songs that straight up jumped out at me as tracks I thoroughly enjoyed, including the nerdtacular Death Star, the jaw-droppingly impressive Saving the World As We Know It (Mondays at Nine), and Guitar Hero, which actually made it to the #11 song for Dr. Demento’s Funny 25 of 2008. While there are some tracks that are pretty rough the majority of them are good tracks.

n3rds0ngs is a good indicator of Ian’s talent. One of the biggest detractors to some of the songs is the production, which just feels a bit off in his voice. I think a little investment in some recording tech could really clean up Ian’s overall production value, and would allow his wit to really shine. He’s got great concepts and fun songs, and I think there’s a lot to expect in the coming years from Ian.

I recommend purchasing n3rds0ngs. It’s a good snapshot of what to expect of contemporary comedy music, and something tells me this is a guy who’s entire discography you will one day want. You can purchase it on his website.

Tune in for next week’s Monday Album review, where we take a look at the third installment of the Dual Core discography, Next Level.

[hex]

That’s right folks! We’ve received a metric buttload of interest from performers this year, and it’s time for us to open the floodgates for performers to apply to perform at Nerdapalooza. If YOU are an artist interested  in performing at Nerdapalooza in Orlando, FL, on the last weekend of June, 2010, then this is what you do:

1. Piece together a press kit that has a biography of you or your group, a promotional photo of you or your group, and a few samples of your music (either studio or live). The samples can be in pure audio or video form. A live sample is preferred so we can have an idea of how you perform.
2. Email said press kit to our talent director, Josh, at artist AT nerdapalooza DOT org with the subject “[Your Name Here] Application for Nerdapalooza 2010″
3. Have patience, because Nerdapalooza 2010 is still a few months away, and it’ll take us some time to respond to every artist

If you have any questions about the process, feel free to contact Josh at the above email address. If you have performed at Nerdapalooza before, it might be wise to remind us that you’re interested in performing again with a press kit.

Next in big news is the announcement of the official starting of the Nerdapalooza Video Awards entry submission process. You can read all of it over at the NVA page, however the basics are that you have until March 1, 2010, to get us your entry. We can’t wait to see all the entries!!

Next we take you to the Nerdapalooza Store, where a few changes have been made! First, the Nerdapalooza 2008 Poster, where every artist is pictured, has dropped down to its new price of only $2! Next, the Nerdapalooza 2008 Live CDs are back in stock for $10 each! And finally, the Nerdapalooza 2009 Live CD is available for pre-order, also for $10. Remember, the profits from both CDs go to our charity, Child’s Play, so every purchase goes straight to helping sick kids!

While on the topic of the Live CD, I want to remind everyone that the Live CD Release Party will be November 21st at the AMF Casselberry Lanes. All details are located on the Facebook event page. Also, quick reminder to go to A Comic Shop tomorrow at 2 PM for THE GAUNTLET!! It’s going to be crazy awesome! I also hear I Fight Dragons is going to be there partying before their show at 8 PM at AKA Lounge with mc chris! Woooo!! So glad I have tomorrow off from work!

We’re hoping to interview IFD on Nerdy Show while we have a hold of them tomorrow. If you hadn’t checked it out yet, we recommend downloading the latest episode, which is a tribute to chiptunes. We also got to interview the British chiptunes archmage, Pixelh8, regarding his latest release, And the Revolution. While it sounds like his next project is already under heavy construction, he DID give Nerdapalooza an exclusive track to play!

You Were Born to Save The World (Pure Chip Version)

Thanks, Pixelh8.

Now for our belated version of Follow Friday, I want to start off by reminding you to follow Nerdapalooza on Twitter if you aren’t already!

• Pixelh8 :: for obvious reasons
• Nerdy Show :: we just activated this account and need some love!
• Scrub Club Records and Nerd Rockstar :: for putting on a PHENOMENAL Nerd Invasion!
• Curtis Silver of Geek Dad :: for a sexy article on Nerd Invasion
• Z. of Hipster, Please! :: because without this man, I wouldn’t know what to strive to be
• Geno of GM4A :: because without this man, I wouldn’t have the strength to strive

Well, that’s enough of that! If you haven’t yet, peek at my review of Shael Riley & the Double Ice Backfire’s album Songs from the Pit. Monday, I’ll be releasing my review of Insane Ian’s first full length release, n3rds0ngs. He’s been turning heads in the FuMP community, so this may not be an album you want to miss if you like your music with laughs. Until then, thanks for reading this rather lengthy blog!

Much nerdy love

[hex]

I’m a sucker for pop music. It’s my Kryptonite, you could say. Put on a Brittany Spears or Justin Timberlake track around me if you don’t believe. However, give me a GOOD pop track and I’ll be rocking it non-stop. Throw some nerdy allusions in the mix, and it catches my attention. For almost a decade now, Shael Riley has been the one that I’ve had a music crush on, so when a new release of his drops, I readjust my schedule.

Building up to Nerdapalooza, I had heard murmurs of a new music project of his, and since my first run in with him I haven’t heard a project from him that wasn’t something I could totally dig. When I learned that it would involve his pals, Ty Guenly, Ricky Henry, and Zen Albatross, he had the whole of my attention. I remember also staring at the tape deck of the car I was in whilst running errands for the imminent festival. I remember musing how it had recently become a vestigial tail of our digital evolution.

The irony wasn’t lost on me when Shael handed me a purple cassette tape labeled as Shael Riley & the Double Ice Backfire’s Songs From the Pit. It was the after hours soundtrack to that weekend, and has since been a close musical companion. That weekend was the best introduction for that album: tearing the studio tracks on repeat followed by seeing the band perform a handful of them live.

This album is phenomenal! I truly feel Shael and the boys have outdone themselves. Lyrically, it’s some of Shael’s finest work, with clever lines like “It’s not eugenics, it’s just nepotism, man” from Asian Kids Have All the Best Moves, and the heavy allusions to Mortal Kombat in tipmottobfoehttip. Musically, it has some truly innovative utilization of chiptunes with more conventional instruments heard in pop music. I feel that Songs From the Pit is a landmark album for pop music. It has a few tracks that standout more on first listen including the sinister Publishing Rights featuring Schaffer the Darklord, Asian Kids Have All the Best Moves, and the celebrated cover of Chinese Ninja Warrior. Like previous Shael releases, this is an album that grows on you the more you listen to it, with every track becoming a favorite over time.

What made this album cement itself in my catalogue as a true favorite was when fellow web journalist, Z, tweeted how this entire album felt like a metaphor for the current state of our lower middle class clique. Listening to the entire album again with that in mind made me proud to have a limited copy of the cassette.

If you have ever liked Shael’s music, buy this album. If you want to hear an awesome innovation in chiptunes pop, buy this album. If you like nerdy music, buy this album. If you’re reading this, BUY THIS ALBUM! It’s amazing and is fully recommended for all.

You can actually download a few tracks over at their 61 account!