I had the pleasure of going to NYCC 2011. It was from October 13th through the 16th.  This event had a soundtrack all its own.  There is the obvious music of the video games being featured– like Just Dance 3 and Dance Central 2, which succeed or fail purely based on if the soundtrack is varied enough for dance fans of all kinds to enjoy. Then there are the less obvious sounds of background music from the many other types of games being shown from the familiar chime of the finding a treasure chest in the new Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword to the more classical sounding period piece music from Assassins Creed: Revelations.  These sounds being mixed with that of movie trailers playing, people chatting, and much more gave the convention a soundtrack all its own. A completely unique to this experience. During the course of NYCC 2011, I had the pleasure of meeting the guys from Kirby Krackle who were super nice and gave me their info so I could interview them.  More to come on that in the near future. Here is their Facebook to check out.

Here is one of my favorite songs by them called “Ring Capacity”

One of the things I got to see at NYCC 2011 was the panel for Arkham City.  The panelists were Game Director Sefton Hill,  Audio Developer Nick Errandale, the voice of Batman himself, Kevin Conroy, and the lead singer of Coheed & Cambria, Claudio Sanchez, who worked on the song Deranged for the soundtrack of the game. It was great to hear these gentlemen talk about one the most anticipated superhero games ever. What struck me as most interesting was listening to Claudio talk about Batman not only as someone who worked on the soundtrack but also as just a fan of the character. I could go on about what they talked about as far as the game goes, but there are other articles who have done that plenty of justice.  I want to talk in detail about Claudio and Nick’s involvement in the project. The song “Deranged” by Coheed and Cambria is the featured song on the soundtrack. Claudio talked about how excited and nervous he was when he first got offered this because he was such a fan of the content. He wanted to write this song from the perspective of The Joker and write a song that best reflected the constant struggle between The Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime and the symbiotic relationship between these two characters. Nick also talked about the symbiotic relationship between Batman and his rogues gallery of enemies; when he was developing the main theme for Batman and the other villains, the player can hear that they are only a few chords off from each other. They sound similar without being the same to play on this symbiosis between the characters.  Nick went on to talk about how some of the most iconic sounds from the universe were some of the most stressful to create, like the sound of Batman’s cape as he opens it to glide (a “wachunk” sound as he specifically called it).  Listening to the main theme now, as I write this article having completed Arkham City, brings back a rush of emotions I felt playing the game and makes want to run over to my Xbox 360 and pop it in again. That is powerful song writing.

Here is “Deranged” check it out:

And this is the Main Theme of the game:

All in all, New York Comic Con 2011 was an amazing experience and I very much look forward to being there again next year.  I’ll leave you with this picture of my friends and I cos playing as some of the cast from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. 

Blink 182′s new album Neighborhoods is out and the new single “Up All Night” is music to my ears. Punt intended.  I love this song.  The heavy drums rev you up and the melody and lyrics keep you hooked.  It’s different from what you would expect from Blink initially but for me personally it’s a welcome change. Their sound has sprinkles of the best parts of the Blink’s style both past and present. They have big shoes to fill with their first studio album in 8 years but this song is definitely a great sign of what’s to come.

Almost There has a brand new music video for their song “I Cried Wolf” from their EP Silver Lake. Almost There is a trio from New Jersey consisting of Eddie Soles on guitar and vocals, Zach Sicherman on bass and vocals, and Phill Serzan on drums. To me, their sound screams to the lost era of 90′s alternative rock with some sprinkles of modern rock. Think of them as Third Eye Blind and Weezer’s secret love child. I love this song, it is nice and fast. There are heavy drums, great riffs, a solid bass line, and an awesome hook. If you’re looking to find out more about this awesome band, check out their Facebook here or their website here. They also have a Twitter!

On that Saturday night, my energy was high. My cells vibrated as my boyfriend and I showed up at the Wonder Bar. We knew two bands were going to stand in the way of the ones we really wanted to see and we were not looking forward to the wait, only to the reward. The doors opened half an hour after they were supposed to, letting us into the dimly lit and surprisingly small venue. A stage was situated in the corner, amps galore and two sets of drums waiting for the musicians. It hardly looked as if there were room for more than three people on that stage. Matt and I crowded the front, steadfast in our resolve to be on the frontlines when the Dollyrots and Bowling For Soup came on.

The stage lights started to work, three guys ran onto stage, and the most fantastic thing happened. They didn’t suck. They were actually kind of amazing. That’s when the dancing started. I couldn’t help myself. I couldn’t remember the last time I could really feel the music this way. It was tangible. Maybe that’s because I was so close to the speakers that I could feel the sound, but it didn’t matter. I was lost in the moment of loving the sound and movement.

The first band was called Almost There. I’ll be honest; they had a very familiar sound. Familiar isn’t bad, though. Familiar to me spells home, comfort, and safety. It is a sound to which I will always return because it’s solid and will always be there for me. The three piece group consisted of Eddie Soles on guitar and vocals, Philip Serzan on drums, and Zachary Sicherman on bass and vocals. They didn’t believe in set lists but did believe in providing energy. Though the crowd was thin, they behaved as if it were a full stadium. I like a band with personality. Soles’ voice was rich and confident with no screaming or whining to be found and the lyrics were inventive and catchy. I used Serzan’s drums as a guide, a map to follow the song. Sicherman’s bass was what I felt the most. Vibrations rocked through me, making marks on my bones, a way to say they had been there. They take the best from bands like Taking Back Sunday, The Academy is…, and Blink 182. They have a three song EP called Silver Lake which is very well produced, clean, and polished. It just lacks the same enthusiasm as their live performance.

When the lights lost their dreamlike quality and Almost There was finished, the crowd had thickened but not by much. Patent Pending replaced them. This band was on the tour with The Dollyrots and Bowling For Soup. After being pleasantly surprised by the first band, our hopes were high.

After some waiting, several guys started moving around on stage, setting up, bringing a large screen picture to display. The lead singer took the time to introduce himself to everyone close to the front of the stage. Joe Pending created a rapport with his audience that made it really easy for us to enjoy the performance. If Almost There took long strides with their notes, feeling like a sprint through the woods, then Patent Pending was like jumping on a trampoline, always reaching up with an element of joy that was unmistakable. They were a different sound, but carried the same emotion. It was another new band that drove me to dance with abandon. Joe Pending announced a birthday, called audience members on stage for ridiculous stunts, and danced like the Backstreet Boys (which, according to someone who knows better than I, isn’t as much of an accomplishment as I thought). They were big on crowd participation, calling up an adorable and tiny red head just to throw her back into the crowd, forcing her to trust that the wave of hands would carry her home. She looked terrified, but it’s hard to say no to Joe Pending’s level of charisma. He had an ability to make you want things, to make you need them. He also held a jumping jack contest on stage, whoever made it to the end would win swag. It was impressive to see two guys jump it out. While the music was fun, energetic, and definitely dance-worthy, that wasn’t what made me dance. With Almost There, it was about being moved by the melodies. Patent Pending was about being moved by their energies. If you’re interested in getting to know these friendly and happy-go-lucky types, check out their EP I Am Not Alone.

As quickly as they arrived, the stage was dismantled to make way for someone new, The Dollyrots. By then, I was tense with excitement. I adore The Dollyrots and that’s no secret. Kelly has one of the most amazing voices I’ve ever heard. I fell for them through a Kohl’s commercial—I’ll admit it. They played all of their singles, their best songs, new songs, and covers. Kelly’s voice is lilting and charming, capturing her listeners. Luis plays right alongside her, losing himself in his own work. He plays so hard, I wasn’t sure he knew where he was after a while. Meanwhile, Chris is content behind the drums leading the charge. Adoration made my feet move and my body sway. My love for this band drove the music home and made it come to life in my blood. I felt charged, powerful, and able to stand against anyone. I’ve heard them hundreds of times through my headphones, my car stereo, singing in the shower, but it was nothing like being right in front of them. None of that compared to standing right there and watching as they shook the foundations of my head and heart and wormed their way through the cracks. Their latest album is called A Little Messed Up. Here is where the test of recorded versus live comes in. Recorded, they sound polished and clean; it’s easy to hear everything. Live, they are raw, louder, and harder to hear, but bold, bright, and shining. Does the visual element make it somehow more enjoyable? Before this could be answered, they were gone. We were left to wait for the main attraction.

The audience boiled over with anticipation, all of us packed tighter than ever before, pushing towards the stage. Then, some of the funniest men in music came out onto the tiny stage. When Bowling for Soup appeared, it was as if someone had thrown a match onto gasoline, we lit up with excitement, buzzing and vibrating, unable to wait anymore. I had seen them once before, but that didn’t prepare me for this show. They played their classics, 1985, Girl All the Bad Guys Want, Phines and Ferb’s Theme, and so much more, including their hits from their latest album Fishin’ for Woo’s. It felt as in everything in my life was leading up to this moment. I danced my way through every song, through the jubilation of sound that came at me from all directions. Their recordings could never match up to the way they made me feel live and in person. Their music always made me feel happy, no matter what was bothering me, now I see it’s because the musicians themselves are vessels for joy and happiness. They punctuate their set list with funny quips and stories, making fun of each other the way friends should. It’s their reality and their humanity that made them such a joy to watch and listen to. I couldn’t have been any happier than I was at this show. This show outranked all other shows I have ever been to. While humor is their bread and butter, they also manage to wrest honest emotion from us. Turbulence is probably one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. While they weren’t afraid to inject the show with a slow moment, they picked it right back up and ended with a dance party.

When I ask my friends what they think about recorded music and what they think about live music, it’s hard to keep them separated. I’ve heard recorded music is more reliable, recordings of live shows are mixed improperly and fail to get the energy across, live shows are hit or miss, etc. While the recording is more reliable (it will stay the same, only you will change), the live show has potential to be a powerful experience. I suppose it’s the courage that cinches it for me. These musicians are brave and vulnerable; they are the emotions that we need to feel more than anything. This concert experience has made me sit and really think about the way I feel when I listen to music and how those feelings change based on my atmosphere and environment. Now I try and dance, no matter where I am or how I’m listening. Now I open my heart and feel.

Music has always been an expression that I could never really understand. I knew how I felt when I listened to a song or to a whole album, but I could never put my finger on how it was done. I’ve watched people create music in hundreds of locations, their bedrooms, garages, on stage, in an alleyway, on a train, and on busy corners in the middle of the night. I’m much better at dissecting a sentence and telling you why it works than I am at explaining why one chord is better than another; that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it all the same. Music became present when I was thirteen, that’s when music started to matter. It defined who my friends were, who I was, and what we were meant to do. It became a conduit for how I lived life and how I communicated love. Music helped me find love. Since this concert, I’m starting to wonder what else music can help me find. What can music help me lose? The night of this concert, I lost my inhibitions and found self confidence. I can’t think of another situation that would have allowed me to be that open.

Earlier, Matt Storm posed the question “Do you speak music?” In some ways, this is my response. Perhaps I don’t speak music, but I sure as hell am trying to learn.

Ever since I was little, music was my greatest form of expression.  I don’t mean singing or playing an instrument, I’m too tone-deaf for that. I mean I often express myself through what I listen to. I don’t just listen to music, I become part of it. It’s not just another form of entertainment to me. It’s a branch of my sanity and being.  I could not live without music in my life.  Imagine what life would be like with out music.  A comedian I enjoy, named Jonah Ray, made an interesting and nerdy observation. Imagine if Star Wars starts with the rolling credits but there was no music behind it. It would not be nearly as drawing and epic without the beautiful score behind it.  Music for me can enhance what I feel. It’s also cathartic for me.  If I’m upset and I listen to something that really makes me feel, it’ll help me work through whatever pain I may feel in my heart.  I like all kinds of music, but when an artist makes me feel what he’s feeling when I sing along, that’s true communication.  One of these such songs I personally feel is “The End”  by Blue October.  This song crawls inside my head.  You can feel his pain and suffering with every lyric he sings.  I know in my heart this song was written to help stop his suffering and help the healing process begin.

To the opposite extreme there are some songs that always make me smile.  If  I’m feeling like crap and need to snap out of it, I listen to “Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too.” This song always makes me want to sing.  It’s dance/Hip Hop beat and nonsense lyrics always put smile on my face.  It’s clear this song was written for pure fun and release.

I could go on listing songs with their emotional impact but in short I take music very seriously in my life.  It’s always been my constant and survival tool.  This isn’t intended to be seen as how music “should” be viewed or anything like that. I’m just simply telling how I hear it.  I’m bilingual.  My second language is music.

Quick, name the first thing that pops into your head when I say The Grateful Dead. Let me guess, dirty hippies, stoners playing hacky sack, and old burnouts reliving the glory days of rock? Sure, when a band is that steeped in drug culture, all of that’s bound to come to mind. Do you know what you didn’t think of? The freaking music! While not everyone’s cup of tea, The Dead have been a major part of my life’s soundtrack since I was 15. One of my brothers, who was lucky enough to be able to see The Dead live, introduced me to them through his tapes of their live shows. I was hooked. Granted, they have a history immersed in the drug culture (they cut their teeth at Ken Kesey’s acid tests), but you don’t have to be high to enjoy their music (though admittedly, I was quite high for most of my teenage years). With such a variety of musical sounds and influences in all of their songs, you’re bound to find a few that sink their hooks into your soul. I have so many favorites I couldn’t begin to list them all, but here are a few suggestions to get you started. Keep in mind, there is a huge difference between studio and live versions, from track length to overall feel and vibe. These guys would change it up at every show!

Song title (Album title):

Uncle John’s Band (Workingman’s Dead)

Dire wolf (Workingman’s Dead)

Casey Jones(Workingman’s Dead)

Box of Rain (American Beauty)

Friend of the Devil (American Beauty)

Truckin’ (American Beauty)

U.S. Blues (From the Mars Hotel)

Scarlet Begonias (From the Mars Hotel)

Ship of Fools (From the Mars Hotel)

Fire on the Mountain (Shakedown Street)

Althea (Go to Heaven)

St. Stephen (Aoxomoxa)

“Zero Day” is the newest video by MC Frontalot from the album of the same name.  Both the video and song are a lot of fun.  MC Frontalot stands tall on the hills of Nerdcore with this hit. Definitely a great track and is worth a listen.  The idea that one day all the things that we love and rely on will one day rise up and destroy us, is both a hilarious and terrifying thought. So enjoy your technology while it lasts i suppose.

“Jack Sparrow” is the brand new single from the brilliant and funny boys of The Lonely Island (featuring Michael Bolton), off their latest record Turtleneck and Chain. The song and video for “Jack Sparrow are hilarious.  It’s great to see the Michael Bolton has a great sense of humor both in general and about himself.  As ridiculous as the lyrics are to this song, it has a great beat and as Mr. Bolton says in the song a nice, “sexy” hook.  If you like comedy and catchy tunes them I definitely suggest you check these guys out.