Status Quo Sunday's Feeling Kinda Fuzzy

NEW CON CONFIRMED FOR BRAWL!

Otakufest! 

OtakuFest is a two-day festival that celebrates anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, comics, and more. You can dress up as your favorite character or come as you are, we aim to be a very inclusive convention. OtakuFest is new to South Florida’s convention scene, but its creator/show-runner Winji Mesadieu has been a part of Supercon as well as the South Florida convention community for over a decade. OtakuFest expects to bring in 4,000 people over 2 days for its first show in 2019. OtakuFest will feature activities and celebrities from the realm of comics, anime, animation, cosplay, manga, comics, gaming, and more!

It's also the day before Labor Day, so you can guarantee I'm getting all Socialist-y at this show. And you can get shitfaced and not have to worry about work the next day.

I did get word back on one OTHER new con, but I'm waiting for an announcement on them first...

SPEAKING OF NEW CONS...

MINI IWAI!

Mini Iwai was a blast as always, and the show was fun to put on.

However, my two favorite events of the day were the ones where I didn't play.

First up was "Cosplay Relay". which is a good concept that needed refining, and will be one to watch when Iwai: Rush comes around in a couple months. Basically, two teams of three work together to make a cosplay for a "model" (which I was) using a bunch of supplies provided for them. The catch is, every member is only given 10 minutes and can not communicate with each other. It's got potential, but it seemed like everyone only had a 80% grasp of the concept, so it needs ironing out.

Then came the 3000 Brigade Preview Show, which was just great.

As opposed to a preview show where our TOTALLY REAL BOY BAND B12 performed, it was Match Game where everyone was different charachters. We've done this before at other shows, and this time I was Tenya Iida from My Hero Academia because I spent $50 on a UA Gym Uniform AND GODDAMN IT I WAS GOING TO USE IT AGAIN.

Also turned out to be really popular. Huh.

MEGAPLEX AND AFO!

Same weekend, that started with Car Troubles: namely my car overheating a couple times and a hole in my tire. So I had to drive 50 miles on my spare, then wake up at 8 AM to get a new one the next morning. Then Sunday on my way home, my battery died.

ANYWAY, HOW WAS THE FURRY CONVENTION YOU ASK?

I had a good time! The night I got there, I caught Foxes and Pepper's Concert, which is the musical project of Fox Amoore and Pepper Coyote, two big musicans in the furry scene. If you're a fan of very folksy alt-rock, along the lines of say, Counting Crows.

The next morning, Fuzzy Logic had an escape room set up, which more cons should have. Escape rooms can do a great job of reinforcing the theme, get attendees to meet new people and are different than the usual fare. Obviously my team won, because Zero Escape vet here, duh. 



I was lucky enough to secure a slot in the Artist Alley via their Lottery system (ALSO A THING MORE CONS SHOULD DO), and I did WAY better than anticipated. I think I sold more CDs there before a show than any other convention.

As for the show itself, tech issues made us start late, but I wanted an eager crowd, and I GOT ONE!

Definitely a great experience and I think there might be a higher cross over between furries and punk than with anime/gamers and punk.

SO ARE YOU A FURRY THEN?

...Let's say Thrash Panda was something of a "soft launch"



Then I went to AFO, and of course Tiny Waves killed it at the rave.

Though people asked me about Megaplex with the same tone you'd use to find out someone was in the hospital...

NEW SONG: "FUCK TERFS (BUT DON'T HAVE SEX WITH THEM)"






For Gay Wrath month! Got a lot of requests for it at Megaplex, so I figured, WHY NOT?

JAM OF THE WEEK: "We Are All On Drugs" by Weezer



The tech issues mentioned earlier were that my laptop died, so I had to use whatever backing tracks I had on Google Drive, and I didn't have the Backing Track of "Hunting Bigger Game" with "Magic" by Mystery Skull tacked on the end, so I requested house music, and this is what they came up with.

So basically this makes Jam Of The Week because a week ago I ran around shirtless throwing Magic The Gathering cards to this song.

Status Quo Sunday Snuck Up On Me

OK, lots of stuff happened, so let's run through it!

FIRST THINGS FIRST, I PLAYED "PREACHER OF LONELY STREET" FOR ERIC POWELL OF THE GOON HOLY SHIT!!


Shout outs to Jo of the 3000 Brigade for recording, and Tate's Comics of Lauderhill!

Speaking of Tate's Comics and the 3000 Brigade...

TATE'S COMICS NOT AT COMIC CON! 

This is a little sale/party for those of us who are not going to be at Comic-Con in San Diego. There's mini panels, sales and games. Also the 3000 Brigade will be there, since half the cast works there!

It's this Saturday from noon to 4, and I'll probably bring my guitar and be in cosplay as well.

UPCOMING SHOWS ARE NOW ON FACEBOOK!


Mini Iwai!

Megaplex!

RPG PALS CLUB EPISODE 13- DOG CAPITALISM!

The City of Waterdeep has seen people fade into the night, but how will it deal with people who want to stay up all night?

In which Oi is told the concept of fall, and hey turns out you can put onions in martinis!

Also Kiir gives C'th'ulu the address to our party's house,

JAM OF THE WEEK: "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden


Fuck YEAH Iron Maiden.

This is the Jam Of The Week because while there is something else I've been kicking WAY more, it's a spoiler for future shenanigans.

Also I've really enjoyed learning this in Rocksmith recently, so there you go.

Status Quo Is Getting Ready For Summer

UPCOMING CONVENTION NEEEEEWWWWS!!!

First thing's first! My first CONFIRMED set of the season is Megaplex in Orlando, FL!

It's shaping up to be a big stage, Main Events, Saturday Night!

And, by the time you read this, it'll be made public that I'm playing Mini Iwai, in Ft. Lauderdale!

I will be having a concert at 1 PM, AND will be part of the 3KB Preview Show! What will it be this year? Fiiiiinnnnd oooout!

RPG PALS CLUB: EPISODE 11- "SCARECROW-TASTROPHE!"

"The City of Waterdeep has seen crimes punished and committed by the party, but how will they deal with horrors?"


As esoteric as my naming schemes are, the descriptions mask the amount of insanity deep within these hallowed MP3s.

THE NEXT EPISODE IS NAMED "Skulking In The Streets!" and that's about as normal as it gets for quite... a... while...


JAM OF THE WEEK: "Tiger Mask" by Rocket From The Crypt


All right, so one time, I was looking for the theme song to the Tiger Mask W Anime on Spotify, because Tiger Mask W is a fucking banger. Naturally, a lot of the titles were in Japanese, and I couldn't tell one from the other. So, I clicked on the only one in English, and this came on.

Fun fact: This song appears in two forms: the first on Dope, Guns, 'n' Fucking in the Streets, Vol. 11, a compilation album from Amphetamine Reptile Records in 1997, which is considered the "final" version, and All Systems Go 3!!! a compilation of the bands B-Sides and oddities, which features an instrumental version.

I am obsessed with this song. It starts of dirty, like an assassin wearing a Tiger Luchador Mask wearing an all white suit speeding down a Miami Highway, covered in blood, head out the window.

Then the saxaphones come in.

YOU BELOOOOOONG... TO TIGER MAAAAAASK!

Status Quo A Lot Of Shit Hasn't Been Confirmed Yet So Here's What I've Been Into Recently

Now, here's the thing about my silence: It's not that I HAVEN'T been working, it's that what I've been working on either:

• can't be talked about (legally)
• can't be talked about because it isn't done
• can't be talked about because it isn't confirmed.

So, here's some stuff I CAN tell you:

RETROMANIA

Hey everyone, here is something I just through together to show some alpha footage of the game. Again, this is pretty early and we have a LOT of work to do. But just wanted to show what we are working on. (There is a track of music if you want to listen to it. ) pic.twitter.com/Tbnd5eQLtf

— Retrosoft Studios (@RetrosoftStudio) May 27, 2019

Not much to say YET, but if you're a fan of old wrestling games, you might want to check this out.

I got to do a song for it! That is the most I can comfortably say I'm involved with it, AND THAT'S GONNA BE A RUNNING THEME.

CONS

I was at Mizucon in May, and it had a REALLY good comeback! The hotel they used is beautiful, there were a lot of people there, and my panel, Mizu-Mania II (Under New Management)! had a full house!

Also, I invested in a new type of goodie: BADGE RIBBONS!



HOW CAN I GET ONE?  YOU ASK:

1. Buy at least $5 in merch at my table


2. Return 25 MTG Cards that I threw out into the audience


My next cons are Mini Iwai (with the 3000 Brigade) and Megaplex. WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE?


JAM OF THE WEEK: "Godzilla" by Bear McCreary feat. Serj Tankaran


The intro makes it sound like they're either announcing the coming of a God or at least erecting a big-ass statue of them lest they have their thatched roof cottages burninated. Serj Tankaran has a unique, operatic voice and it suits the song well, since it takes a more "HERE COMES THE FUCKING APOCALYPSE" take on the still great Blue Oyster Cult originial.

Some of the production in the way certain notes hit makes me feel this was produced to make it seem more "trailer friendly". For another example of this, see Gary Clarke Jr.'s version of "Come Together" for the movie Justice League, and how some of those guitars sound like the Inception BWAAAAA.

Still great workout fodder. Moreso than the original.

SINCE IT'S E3: THE BEST E3 PRESENTATION EVER



If you want to see a bit evolve over the course of 25+ minutes, watch this.

All I want to say is: Fuck The J-Haters.

WHAT I'VE BEEN OBSESSED WITH: SONIC 2006 REAL TIME FANDUB


First, nice Marching Band cover of Ke$ha's "Die Young". Second, nice Zebrahead cover.

This is an example of just throwing shit out there, and seeing what people latch on to. It's over an hour, but surprisingly consistent in all the bullshit it makes up.

Mini Iwai 2018 Justifies A Full Status Quo Sunday

MINI IWAI RECAP
WHEW, that was a wild one!

So, this has been my first con show ALL YEAR. And I wanted to do something special for it, as well as add a little hype to my intro, so I'm not going "OK, we're here, let's do this!". I'm not spoiling it here, since I want it to be a surprise when you come out to shows, but I felt like it went over well. Some tech issues prevented me from doing some new tracks, but what can you do? Got a lot of new fans!

The 3000 Brigade show also went over big, as we did it as Completely Real Boy Band B12. It still astounds me how well that gimmick goes over, and yes, they WILL be back in November as part of the full show. I'd give you spoilers, but then the stage ninjas would get me. In the rock world we call the people who wear all black and give us stuff "roadies".

Get your tickets now!

Holy shit, they have a wedding package? I will offer my services to play one traditional song and one cheesy wedding song of your choosing

PATREON SONG NOW OUT

Yes! "Deep Space Tragedy" is a song I've played live for a while, and I get goosebumps singing it out loud. I do plan on putting it on my 10th Anniversary Album, which is why I've actually recorded a "good" version of it. Before it's only existed as a slap-dash demo for the comic's artist.

Deep Space Tragedy is a comic about a teenage rock n' roll band in outer space, and are unwillingly part of something greater.

What I liked about writing this is cribbing a lot of the internal lingo from the book, because it's so dense, but you're able to pick it apart in context. Also, it's very consistent tonally. All the buildings are comprised of sharp and twisting geometry, and originally the artwork is all these shades of a very dark gray. It makes everything just feel shitty, but the people have been dealing with the shittiness for quite a while. But then Deep Space Tragedy comes along and it sucks less!

Also robots. Did I mention robots?

FRIDAY NIGHT MYSTERIES: INDIGO PROPHECY #3

In the words of Strong Bad, IT'S OVER!!!

Not as good as I remember, obviously. Some good moments in there, but it's clear that Heavy Rain was a MAJOR step up for them.

I don't know if I'm doing this series again, or streaming, then premiering the episodes on Fridays, but I at least owe you all Danganronpa 2.

JAM OF THE WEEK: "Super Rad" by The Aquabats!

How has this NEVER been a Jam Of The Week?

ANYWAYS, The Aquabats have a Kickstarter out now, to produce more albums and more episodes of "The Aquabats! Super Show!".

"Super Rad!" is the first song people know from them, with this music video directed by, of all people, Bobcat Goldthwait. This was back from when they were a third wave ska band, and had like 8 or 9 members. Travis Barker was drumming for the band, before he made it big as part of Blink 182. His Aquabat name was Baron Von Tito.

Super Rad! is a goofy, energetic song that you can not sit down during. It's a mission statement, that, even though the band has changed genres 2 or 3 times, have always stuck to for the past 20 years. 

My first album from them was "Charge!!" from 2005, and was part of their new wave/synth rock sound after trimming down their crew significantly down to 5. There's a lot of good songs there, my favorite being "Look At Me! I'm A Winner!" which is straight up power pop. The single "Fashion Zombies!" is OK, but "Look At Me!" is more upbeat and has that sick solo.

But for me, the sweet spot for The Aquabats! is their 1999 album, "The Aquabats vs. The Floating Eye Of Death!". That album was their last one with a horn section and represented a shift that would finalize in Charge!. Vs. The Floating Eye! is the closest they've come to straight up punk. It starts off with "Sequence Erase!", which the web series Mega 64! uses for it's theme song. Then it goes into "Giant Robot Birdhead" and "Anti Matter!" which is up there for the best three song run on an album.

I'll talk more about them in another JOTW, but man I love The Aquabats!

Also I share a birthday with MC Bat Commander.

Giving You A Shot Of Status Quo Sunday

MINI IWAI RECAP
I played Punk Rock and was in a Boy Band, and had a fun time!














I also had a merch booth!



















While my concert went well, the 3000 Brigade show was 1000% OVER. We've worked so hard the past couple months to put it together, and not only did it go well, but the crowd was SUPER into the boy band. 

JAM OF THE WEEK: "Girl, You Need A Shot Of B-12" by B-12

This exists in some weird intersection of like 5 different things: 90's Boy Bands, 00's Let's Try Boy Bands Again Revival, K-Pop, etc. I liked the nods to some of the Backstreet Boys's videos like "Backstreets Back" (the horror movie elements), and "Larger Than Life" (all that future shit)

The American Dad episode this is from didn't impress me much, but goddamn is that song catchy. My favorite low key gags are Toshi with blonde Bieber hair and without his glasses, and the music video changing background every measure.

FIRST FRIDAY
This is going to be cool, because on top of being a concert with two awesome DJs, it's also a Hearthstone Tournament!

7:00 pm - Tournament Sign-Up
8:00 pm - Tournament Starts
9:00 pm - Third Impact Productions (30 min set)*
10:00 pm - Rhythm Bastard (30 min set)*
11:00 pm - DJ TONX (30 min set)*
12:00 am - Spider-Man tickets given away*
1:00 am - Tournament Ends*
(*) - Subject to change.


ORLANDO NERD FEST ON PATREON
Florida's greatest nerd music institution, Orlando Nerd Fest, is on Patreon and is looking to start up a yearly festival for 2018. There's also a SECRET MYSTERY EVENT in November, so hopefully this leads to a revival!