MAGFest 14

Events, Featured, Game Music

MAGFest 2016 Breakdown – Panels, Concerts, Super Smash Opera & More

April 4, 2016 | Michael Hoffmann | Comments Off on MAGFest 2016 Breakdown – Panels, Concerts, Super Smash Opera & More Share this

There are a lot of great gaming events, festivals, and conventions to attend every year. Many consider spring to be the start of the convention season, but for me the year always begins with attending MAGFest, usually held in either January or February. Like many of the previous years, the fourteenth iteration of the Music and Gaming Festival was held at the Gaylord at National Harbor, Maryland and hosted several concerts, panels, and plenty of other fun gaming events.

As Brenna mentioned in her post earlier this year, it’s nearly impossible to cover everything that the festival has to offer. In fact, having now read up Brenna’s MAGFest adventures, I realize that we had vastly different schedules and experiences at this past year’s event. While the two of us combined certainly couldn’t cover everything at the festival, I hope these breakdowns illustrate the variety and quantity of things available for attendees to experience. (more…)
Events

MAGFest’s Channel lets you experience or re-live it’s biggest performances!

March 17, 2016 | Ryan Paquet | Comments Off on MAGFest’s Channel lets you experience or re-live it’s biggest performances! Share this

If you attended MAGFest 2016, or if you missed it (like I did) you can re-live or watch some of the best performances of the event on MAGFest’s YouTube Channel. You can read Brenna’s MAGFest 2016 Breakdown where she noted that its impossible to see everything at the massive event. I have already taken the opportunity to watch several of the videos the organizers have uploaded.

I found out about MAGFest’s channel reading Video Game Music Online’s report on MAGFest 2016 by one of their journalists, Emily McMillan which you can find here.

As I am writing this article there are a total of 44 videos available from the event including 27 Concerts, 9 Panels, 5 Highlight Reels, and 1 Jam Clinic. I have included the playlist for the panels above and concerts below for your viewing pleasure.

So far I’ve watched the excellent Q&A with Film, TV, and Video Game Composer Bear McCreary, rocked out to “Danger Zone” during Psychostick’s concert, and enjoyed watching Austin Wintory conduct his score to Journey: Live.

Did you attend MAGFest this year? Was there a performance that you wanted to see but missed?
Events, Game Music

Know Your MAG 2016: Psychostick

February 16, 2016 | Ryan Paquet | Comments Off on Know Your MAG 2016: Psychostick Share this Know Your MAG 2016: Psychostick

I have never seen Psychostick live, but I am swearing a personal oath to myself as I write this article that I will make it happen one day. They describe themselves as a comedic metal (self-proclaimed “humorcore“) band with a reputation for having hilarious lyrics, heavy riffs, notorious stage antics, and a high energy performance. The music successfully crosses a level of heaviness and aggression found in bands such as Chimaira, Machine Head, and Hatebreed with the wit and humor of The Bloodhound Gang, Tenacious D, and Weird Al Yankovic.

Their latest album IV: Revenge of the Vengeance had me roaring with laughter and head bangin’. Just listen to this amazing cover of Kenny Loggin’s “Danger Zone” from the Top Gun soundtrack. You can hear their love for the original, and if you loved Top Gun growing up you’ll appreciate the added nod in the song to Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away”
<a href="http://psychostick.bandcamp.com/album/iv-revenge-of-the-vengeance">IV: Revenge of the Vengeance by Psychostick</a>

It doesn’t get any better than this…or does it? The album is just so much fun I also encourage you to listen to track 10 “NSFW” which is a two lyric expletive masterpiece.
<a href="http://psychostick.bandcamp.com/album/iv-revenge-of-the-vengeance">IV: Revenge of the Vengeance by Psychostick</a>

“Obey The Beard” is the second track on IV: Revenge of the Vengeance and you can watch the official video below and treat it as a taste of their upcoming MAGFest performance.

Psychostick members include Rob “Rawrb” Kersey, Josh “The J” Key, Alex “Shmalex” Dontre, and Matty J “Moose” and they perform at MAGFest Saturday at 6:00pm in the Potomac Ballrooms, just after You Bred Raptors? Don’t miss it!
Events, Game Music

Know Your MAG 2016: The World Is Square

February 13, 2016 | Michael Hoffmann | Comments Off on Know Your MAG 2016: The World Is Square Share this Know Your MAG 2016: The World Is Square

The 14th annual MAGFest is approaching fast. Each year the festival brings in new music acts, but it also sees the return of some acts from MAGFests past. One of these returning acts is the group The World is Square. Before you head out to the event, here’s your chance to get some background on the group in this entry of Know Your Mag.

The World Is Square is a Boston based game music tribute band that focuses on the music of SquareSoft/Enix titles. The band is comprised of members Lauren Christerson, Joe Corbett, Nick Doane, Joshua Edginton, and Dave Reardon. Each member plays several instruments, which helps cover the various needs of their unique arrangements.

Their style can be summed up as a combination of acoustic folk blended with a sampling of modern and electronic instruments. What results is a collection of light acoustic arrangements that have just a hint of modern flavor. They’ve released a number of arrangement albums over the group’s five year career. While some focus on a specific game series, others provide a collection of covers from various game titles.

<a href="http://theworldissquare.bandcamp.com/album/stay-awhile-and-listen">Stay Awhile and Listen by The World is Square</a>

Many of their albums focus on the earlier years of SquareSoft/Enix, including music from the early Final Fantasy games, Chrono Trigger, and Super Mario RPG. While a majority of the material they play comes from the older RPGs that we all know and love, The World Is Square has also tackled more recent games like Bravely Default and other titles that don’t get as much recognition like the Breath of Fire series.

<a href="http://theworldissquare.bandcamp.com/album/squarelove">SquareLove by The World is Square</a>

The World Is Square is set to perform on the MAGFest main stage on Friday afternoon at 4pm. To find out more about this year’s MAGFest head over to their main site to grab tickets, make hotel reservations, and check out the schedule for this year’s festivities.
Events, Game Music

Know Your MAG 2016: Eight Bit Disaster

February 11, 2016 | Michael Hoffmann | Comments Off on Know Your MAG 2016: Eight Bit Disaster Share this Know Your MAG 2016: Eight Bit Disaster

The wild winter party that is MAGFest is only a few weeks away. There are a ton of great music acts lined up for this year, all with a unique approach to giving tribute to the world of videogames. This year has a few funk rock groups performing on the main stage of this year’s event, including the group Eight Bit Disaster. If you’ve never checked them out before, here’s your chance to fix that with today’s Know Your Mag.

Eight Bit Disaster hails from North Carolina and consists of members John Baxter on bass guitar, DeJuan Gailes on guitars, Gabe Mixon and Eric Krouse on drums, Elliot Wernlund on Saxophone, and Mateo John Marshall on keys. Together they create instrumental game covers that span the genres of funk, rock, jazz, and the blues. There first album Eight Bit Disaster was released back in January of 2013 and shows off their blending of these genres.

<a href="http://eightbitdisaster.bandcamp.com/album/eight-bit-disaster">Eight Bit Disaster by Eight Bit Disaster</a>

Part of their aim as a group is to cover and highlight the more obscure pieces of game music that don’t get enough attention from other artists. The Eight Bit Disaster album features music from Bad Dudes, Rygar, and Wizards & Warriors. Even if you’re not that familiar with the source material, the music covers themselves have a wild and energetic sound. The group’s blend of sax with electric guitar, bass guitar, and drums makes for some truly entertaining covers of these hidden game music gems.

<a href="http://eightbitdisaster.bandcamp.com/album/eight-bit-disaster">Eight Bit Disaster by Eight Bit Disaster</a>

Their upcoming album Eight Bit Disaster III: Covered In Ash is planned to release during MAGFest. The band has already released a preview track for the album which covers the main theme from Morrowind.

Eight Bit Disaster is set to perform on the MAGFest main stage Friday afternoon at 1pm. You can find out more about this year’s MAGFest, including the schedule, hotel options, and ticket sales at the main website.