When you go on a retro kick (and I know you do) and you start hanging out in the garage and blowing on cartridges and drinking lots of sody pop, your mind tends to wander towards the finer things in life and the mysteries of the universe. You may wonder aloud, "Hey, I wonder what some of Weezer's songs would sound like if they were a soundtrack for my favorite NES games?" because, hey, I know I have. Well finally, we have an answer.
Enter 8-Bit Weezer, a compilation of Weezer songs from Pterodactyl Squadall made in the style of retro game soundtracks. All of the tracks are very well done, clear standouts being Tugboat's cover of El Scorcho, nordloef's blistering rendition of Buddy Holly, and my personal favorite (and my favorite Weezer song of all time) Bit Shifter's excellent version of The World Has Turned And Left Me Here. Honorable mention goes to videogame orchestra for getting Castlevania in my Weezer with their brilliant Island In The Sun (Belmont's Revisal). Gosh darnit, people are just so frickin' creative!
If you like Weezer or if you like retro gaming, you owe it to yourself to check this out. Thanks to Winston LaGrange and Offworld for the heads up!
If you're in the Columbia, SC area from now until July 25th, make a point to stop by Trustus Theatre and catch me playing the asshole Brad Majors in Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show. It's a really fun production of the inexhaustible cult classic. If you love the movie, you'll love the original stage show as well (the play did come first, after all). The cast and crew are all very talented and I promise they won't disappoint. I've heard I'm not bad, either...
Where: Trustus Theatre, 520 Lady Street in the Vista, Columbia, SC When: Now through July 25th. 7:30 PM Wednesday and Thursday, 8 PM Friday and Saturday. Cost: $25
Buy your tickets in advance by calling the theatre at 803-254-9732. They are going fast. For more info, visit trustus.org.
The Super Bowl of theatre came and went last night and except for a hell of a lot of technical difficulties, it went pretty well, mostly due to the job well done by the phenomenal Neil Patrick Harris.
Why next to normal didn't win every award it was nominated for is beyond me, but congratulations to Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey for their much deserved Best Original Score win and also to the incredible Alice Ripley for her Best Actress in a Musical victory.
The best thing I did in my three week New York experience was go see next to normal at the Booth Theatre on Broadway. It's an excellent new musical and if you're in the Big Apple, you owe it to yourself not to miss this one. It'll probably be tough to get tickets now that it's been nominated for 11 Tonys (should have been 12, condolences to the terrific Aaron Tveit, though I'm sure this is only the beginning for someone as talented as he is). Michael Greif's production of Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey's original musical is truly phenomenal.
I've heard great things about Billy Elliot as well but I have to climb on my soapbox for next to normal. The Tony Awards are an American theatre award. Billy Elliot already had a successful run in London and won 4 Olivier Awards (the British equivalent to the Tony for those that don't speak thespian). I honestly believe that imports should not be eligible for or at least should be unable to win Tonys or Oliviers. I hate to sound like a nationalist here, but the Tonys should be reserved for new American plays and musicals. It goes both ways; I wouldn't have wanted August: Osage County to win the Olivier for best new play. That honor belongs to a production native to the UK (and this year, Black Watch by GregoryBurke from the Royal Theatre of Scotland won). Unfortunately, Jersey Boys won the Olivier for Best New Musical (guess the Brits aren't cooking up any songs right now) and my guess is that Billy Elliot will rob next to normal of the Best New Musical award (among many others) it so rightfully deserves. It is bold and brilliant and quintessentially American and human. It deserves any and all accolades it receives. One thing is for sure: If Alice Ripley (pictured above, with Tveit and J. Robert Spencer) doesn't win the Tony for her beyond-brave portrayal of Diana, someone up there is perpetrating a fraud.
Some photographers managed to capture this striking image of the majestic anteater defending its natural habitat, and the message its posturing evokes is at once crystal clear.
When you go on a retro kick (and I know you do) and you start hanging out in the garage and blowing on cartridges and drinking lots of sody pop, your mind tends to wander towards the finer things in life and the mysteries of the universe. You may wonder aloud, "Hey, I wonder what some of Weezer's songs would sound like if they were a soundtrack for my favorite NES games?" because, hey, I know I have. Well finally, we have an answer.
