Bands or musicians who play VGM??

[Ality]

Ok, now it's a known fact that whenever each of us reach a certain part in a new (or older) game, that there are some songs that will make us just want to stop and listen to it over and over (or download? :confused: ;)). Then there are those who take this even further than just listening...

They actually learn to play it via Guitar, Piano, Bass, etc. :w00t:


A question that stands out though: Is there a real benefit learning these songs if you'll only be playing it for your family pet? Of course not! You'd want to have a group of people that would be willing to jam out with you so you could perform for actual audiences who appreciate what you've done with your spent time. Look at the NES VGM influenced band "The Minibosses". They are good at what they do and have made a great following.

The real reason for this rambling:
If you play VGM on a instrument, what is it you like to play the most?
Or what song or game OST would you love to hear redone by live orchestra or band?



For Me: I've been learning the old NES Zelda songs and some MegaMan X1 on my 4 string bass. And I'd love a live performance of the Final Fantasy Black Mages fight themes.

[Zeugma 440]

Minibosses, huh ?

I remember something that nearly shocked me when I watched the MagFest 2.0 documentary video. When asked a question about what they played during the festival, the Minibosses all of a sudden looked kinda embarassed. One of them said :

"It's more or less what the crowd wants to hear... less what we wanna play"

You've gotta think about this aspect too... Oh jeez, I sound too pessimistic :roll:

Anyways, I once worked a lot on my electronic keyboard to play VGM or other suff, but I finally realized that I'd rather have fun composing my own tunes than trying to play other people's compositions *shrugs*

Concerning live performances, I hope that what happened at MagFest 2.0 will be done again (and even better) in the next years... Hearing the best remixers of the community playing together on stage is really something heart-warming :blink:

[Kilu]

Well, I didn't enjoy VGMix' Smash Brothers too much. I'm sure they would have been better if they had some practise playing together though. Afterall, it was their first time playing together.
I too am hoping for good documentary from this years magfest as well.

As far as instruments... I wish I would play an instrument, or have any actual musical knowledge. I just noodle with my software and something comes up. Usually it's quite bad. I curse the day when I was 9 years old and was on a crossroad, whether or not to go to the musicclasses. I chose not to. And it's slowly killing me inside. I would have learned to play an instrument in there, theory as well, and probably even kept my singing voice (had 9/10 from the singing test :w00t: ). Now I just mess around.

[Ality]

Wow that's interesting to hear that the Minibosses would be embarassed to talk about playing video game music. I guessed I just figured that they enjoyed playing it themselves and not only for crowd's request since they still make CD's and perform.

When I sit down to make my own material, it really helps just to hum or sing first whatever comes to mind then I just start piecing stuff together and see what happens.

O well, I'll keep playing VGM music cuz i enjoy it and that's all that matters.

[Firefly]

IIRC, members of the Minibosses are fans of a different kind of old school games, and weren't really into Nintendo. That may be what he was referring to, because most of the music they play is NES stuff.

[Zeugma 440]

I don't know the band that much, but I think you've got the right explanation, Firefly.

[Ality]

yeah all i've heard from them is old NES like Metroid and Megaman stuff. They've tried to make some of their own material or songs but I thought it wasn't that great. the NES songs were better in my opinion.

[Zedie9]

:D This topic has come up at an interesting time, because just yesterday my best friend, who I haven't been able to convert to actually liking much vgm, asked me if I had any Minibosses. Bands such as this, doing interesting covers of tracks from the genre in guitar and whatnot might be a good bridge for the gap from believer to nonbeliever. :bouncy:


Does anyone have any Minibosses tracks? :wonder:

[Ality]

I agree completely Zedie I think that people who play games shouldn't try to hide in the corner because they like listening to VGM. I hope it becomes more easily accepted in the future like the acceptance the Japanese give it. Final Fantasy 7 and 8 were both on the hit charts.

I believe the Minibosses main site has links to songs off of the albums they have made, but you have to watch out if you just go hunting... you could end up with tracks by other bands with the Minibosses name on it.
If there's an FTP server who would want the Minibosses album or mixed tracks, I could try to upload but it's whatever.

Get your friend Wizards and Warriors and Castlevania 1 from the Minibosses. Those are 2 of my favorite tracks. Another good song that's not Minibosses is the "Bloody Tears Rock version" from Castlevania 2.


I wonder if there's anyone out there who covers SuperNES games like Secret of Mana or Chrono Trigger? That'd be sweet :)

[Kilu]

A while back a thread about fanmixer not featured in vgmix came up in...vgmix. Some decent bands came up that I had no knowledge about. Here's the link to the thread. You might find something interesting in there.
http://www.vgmix.com/topic_view.php?topic_id=2462

[Elhaym van Houten]

^^ that reminds me of the main theme from "The Legend of Zelda"...
I found a cover version by Nine Inch Nails, and one by System Of A Down some time ago...seems even better known artists have a knack for VGM :D

I also think someone who likes VGM shouldn't be shy about it. Of course it's more difficult for someone who doesn't know the game to get into it's music...not to mention if someone isn't used to the medium of electronically generated music (like chippy sounds from the NES ;) )...
but, the good thing about VGM is that the tunes are often catchy, and that there are a lot of good arranged versions - be it professionally done, or by remixers (who seem to get more professional, btw), or adaptions from bands like the Minibosses or NESkimos - so a lot of different tastes are catered.

> Ality, I don't know any bands that cover Secret of Mana or Chrono Trigger...but if you're interested I can give you a list of my most favourite remixes for those games :)

[Kilu]

System Of A Down

Oh misguided one. It's not actually SoaD, eventhough it does sound like them a bit. The whole thing started with someone tagging it as SoaD and napstering/kazaaing it. It's actually made by The Rabbit Joint (http://www.ocremix.org/detailmix.php?mixid=OCR00022) and has been featured in OCRemix for quite a while, as you can see. But what is this NIN remix you mention, because I might be interested in it :)

[Elhaym van Houten]

:blush: ^^ that's good to know, Kilu - I'll change the tags. Funny though - it really sounds a bit like SOAD, so I never doubted that.
I just hope that NIN version is for real - and not another wrong tag info. I'll up it to Kyari's for you

[Kilu]

:)
Sounds like a plan :) Have you had the NIN piece for long?


edit: I made a thread in the general area of the forums (http://rpgn.lintbox.net/forums/showthread.php?p=3918#post3918) about magfest concerts recordings, check them out.

[Hierlark16]

Um... lets see. I play piano and sometimes print off sheet music and just pick away at it. Other than that, I remember an article in GI about the LA symphony playing a huge squaresoft FF music concert during this past summer. I heard it was pretty cool.

[Black_Dog]

The Minibosses have their new live album on sale now...

EDIT: All proceeds go towards their new studio album

[KyleJCrb]

IIRC, members of the Minibosses are fans of a different kind of old school games, and weren't really into Nintendo. That may be what he was referring to, because most of the music they play is NES stuff.
Actually, they love the stuff. There was one band member who I believe was more into the SEGA Master System than the NES, but he recently departed from the band. The rest of the 'bosses were raised on Nintendo.

Another good VG cover band: http://www.nintendometal.com

[Black_Dog]

I just got the Minibosses live album... it rocks, that's all i gotta say about that.

Fav tracks so far = Ninja Gaiden, Megaman 2 and Castlevania 2...

[Samuraid]

http://www.dalenorth.com/remixespage.html

http://www.hudsonstudios.net


http://tssf.i-web.net/
(http://www.ocremix.com)