Kotaku: concerts

PAX 2008 Concerts - The One-Ups, Freezepop and Jonathan Coulton (I hope)

AJ Glasser — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:54:43 MDT

It’s late, I’m tired and the last thing I really want to hear right now is a Theremin solo by Freezepop – but since the other 1800 people in this room can’t seem to get enough, they’ve come back onstage for a two-song encore that’ll push Jonathan Coulton back by another half hour at least. I mean I know they’re in every Harmonix music game ever, but do they really need to destroy my ears with a quasi-Hendrix Star Spangled Banner rendition?

The One-Ups did well, as usual. And if I can keep my eyes open and my nose shut (this place smells like one giant sweaty fart), maybe – just maybe – I’ll get to hear Still Alive before the night’s out.

In the meantime, I’ve got fuzzy concert pictures that depict just how crowded, bright and insane it is here tonight at PAX 2008. I don’t know how the Minibosses are going to follow this act tomorrow night.

Bonus points if you can guess which ones were taken with man friend’s iPhone…

FF 'Distant Worlds' Concert To Hit Chicago in March

Maggie Greene — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 17:00:00 MDT

Kotakuite 'Kiriphii' gave us the heads up that the US premiere of the Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy will be next March in Chicago. Ticket prices will range from $35 to $150 (!), with the high end tickets including some extra stuff like a post-show meet and greet with Nobuo Uematsu. So all of you who are FF devotees and live in Chicago, mark your calendars for 1 March, 2008. Press release (including concert program) after the jump.

Distant Worlds is coming to Chicago
Thursday, 18. October 2007, 14:00

CHICAGO, October 18, 2007 - AWR Music Productions, LLC announces that Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY will make its U.S. premiere on March 1, 2008 at 8 pm at The Rosemont Theatre, performed by the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra and the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra Festival Choir. The 2-hour program produced by composer Nobuo Uematsu and AWR Music Productions will be conducted by Arnie Roth. The exhilarating concert will feature a special guest appearance by Nobuo Uematsu.

Tickets can be purchased online, through the box office, Ticketmaster locations and by credit card at 312-559-1212.

When you purchase a $150.00 ticket, it comes with a after concert meet and greet session with Nobuo Uematsu, a copy of the new Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy CD, and a special tour program book. This can be redeemed at the venue on day of show.

Concert program (not in performance order, subject to change):

FINAL FANTASY series: Main Theme, Swing de Chocobo
FINAL FANTASY I-III: Medley
FINAL FANTASY III DS: Opening
FINAL FANTASY IV: Theme of Love
FINAL FANTASY V: Dear Friends
FINAL FANTASY VI: Opera "Maria and Draco"
FINAL FANTASY VII: One-Winged Angel, Opening - Bombing Mission, Aerith's Theme
FINAL FANTASY VIII: Liberi Fatali, Fisherman's Horizon, Love Grows, Don't be Afraid
FINAL FANTASY IX: Vamo' alla Flamenco
FINAL FANTASY X: To Zanarkand
FINAL FANTASY XI: Memoro de la Stono - Distant Worlds

Video Games Live Kicks Off London Games Festival

Mike Fahey — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:00:50 MDT

The London Games Festival is coming up in October, and what's a major gaming event without a visit from Tommy Tallarico and his traveling band of musical companion elves? Certainly not the LGF, that's for sure. They're kicking off the festival with a visit from the Video Games Live ~~concert~~ interactive celebration of gaming at the Royal Festival Hall on the 22nd. Along with the old standards from Zelda, Halo, Warcraft, Myst, etc., concert goers will enjoy a pre and post show festival featuring demos of Holiday Xbox 360 titles, a cosplay contest, meet-and-greets, and a special arrangement from Halo 3 The Music (not to be confused with Halo 3 The Ride). Hit the jump for full details, ticket purchasing information, and all sorts of musical PR goodness.

XBOX 360™ BRINGS VIDEO GAMES LIVE CONCERT TO THE ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL ON THE 22nd October 2007
A spectacular, interactive evening of music, visuals and games

Video Games Live™, the premier concert celebrating the most memorable music from the biggest video games, is brought to London by Microsoft® Xbox 360, IMG Artists, and Raymond Gubbay in association with the Southbank Centre, as the opening event of the London Games Festival. The biggest scores from the most iconic games will be performed by members of the Philharmonia Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall on 22nd October 2007, at 7.30pm. Tickets can be bought from the Royal Festival Hall box office on 0871 663 2500, or http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/calendar?action=production&production=17937&performance=17938

Video Games Live™ is not just a concert, but a musical, visual and interactive celebration of gaming that will enthral anyone who has ever played a video game. Whether it's the power and passion of forthcoming Xbox 360 blockbuster Halo® 3, or nostalgia for the days of Pong and Space Invaders, Video Games Live™ is sure to be a hit with gamers and non-gamers alike.

Hosted and Conducted by co-creators Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall, the prestigious Philharmonia Orchestra and a Choir will perform live alongside exclusive video footage and music arrangements, synchronized lighting, solo performers, electronic percussion, live action and unique interactive segments to create an explosive one-of-a-kind entertainment experience. Special events surrounding the show commence at 5.30pm, including a pre- and post-show festival, featuring all the Xbox 360 blockbuster Christmas titles. Guests will enjoy game demos, a cosplay contest with exclusive prizes for the best outfit, game competitions and meet-and-greets with Tommy Tallarico, Jack Wall, and other leading industry names.

Video Games Live™ features the biggest and best-loved video games of all time including such beloved and popular franchises as Halo®, Mario™, Zelda®, Final Fantasy®, Warcraft®, Myst®, and Sonic™. There's even a special retro Classic Arcade Medley featuring over 20+ games from Pong® to Donkey Kong® including such classics as Dragon's Lair, Frogger, Space Invaders, Duck Hunt & Tetris!

This event will also feature a special arrangement from the iconic Halo 3, composed by Marty O'Donnell, to be performed live by the Philharmonia Orchestra for the first time.

The London Games Festival, running from 22nd - 26th October, is a celebration of gaming and interactive entertainment featuring diverse events for different audiences across the capital. Visit www.londongamesfestival.co.uk for more details.

Even NPR Picks Up on Video Games Live!

Maggie Greene — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 11:30:34 MDT

A few weeks late (the DC concerts were at the end of June), but NPR has a nice little piece that sums up the slight confusion and fascination non-gaming types have had in reaction to hordes of children, adults in t-shirts and jeans, and cosplayers invading places like the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, where more sedate crowds in business casual (and occasionally formal dress) generally rule the roost. The looks on the faces of well-dressed Washingtonians heading to opening night of the Phantom of the Opera, down the hall at the Opera House, were pretty priceless. Plenty of people watching the concert seemed a little confused (the whooping and hollering was directly at odds with the behavior of any crowd I've ever seen at the Kennedy Center), so it's easy to forgive the mainstream media for being mildly perplexed.

There were more than children and teenage gamers at Video Games Live. Christine, who didn't give her last name, was dragged along to the show by her kids. She was surprised by the diversity of the crowd.
"I've seen a lot of grandmas out there, and I'm like, 'What are they doing here?'" she says.

I definitely could've lived without seeing the guy in the Mega Man costume. There are a couple of clips of the actual concert and (of course) the original audio piece over at NPR.

At the Concert Hall, a Symphony for Space Invaders [NPR, thanks Jennifer!]