Aw hey Tommy, It makes me sad to see you'll be skipping over Montreal this year.

Man, I wish I could've seen this when I was in Toronto a few years back. The first volume is just amazing, and I can hardly wait for the second.

I'm so psyched that Video Games Live is coming back to Buffalo again at Art park. I saw it at Kleinhan's and I can't wait to see how it sounds outside. I'm crossing my fingers to hear Diablo or Castlevania, I missed those last year.

Just got back from VGL Singapore. Show started 30 minutes after schedule (since much of the audience arrived fashionably late). However the crowd was really enthusiastic from the get go, which was admittedly a bit unexpected considering this place =]

I've seen some segments on Youtube, but naturally it doesn't compare to seeing the show live. Program wise, it's a pity that we didn't get hear some segments such as Myst, but I guess that's because with Norihiko Hibino making an appearance there was slightly more focus on MGS. Speaking of which, the saxophone was definitely one of the highlights of the show, along with every single time Martin Leung touched the piano and of course, crowd favourites like the Blizzard segment. I don't even need to go into the reaction to OWA. Being seated near the front section has it drawbacks though, I had a slight headache with all those spotlights shining straight into my face.

I went up to say hi to the various composers after the show, and Tommy, I gotta say, what you told me really means a lot personally; thank you so much for the encouragement. So, congratulations to Tommy, Jack, Norihiko Hibino and crew for a very successful show. I'll be looking forward to more.

I decided to go after reading up on the feedback in this thread, and in my journal. It was certainly an interesting experience, so thanks guys <3. No regrets whatsoever for the SGD66 paid out.

I was seated at the back, so I didn't get the same kind of headache Blah got. I was bummed that although I brought along a big-ass camera, it wasn't good enough to get crystal clear shots of the stage. (That didn't stop me from taking dozens of pictures though!) I'll see about posting more detailed thoughts and some of the more tolerable pics on my journal later.

I was mildly surprised at the 30-minute delay in the show's start - this is supposed to be the very efficient and on-time Singapore :X

Given my username, I was secretly hoping to hear some Starcraft orchestration (particularly the Hyperion Overture arrangement from the Echoes of War arrangement). However, they played music from the other two main Blizzard series (Diablo 3 and World of Warcraft), so I guess that was too much to ask for!

Kudos, Tommy Tallarico, Jack Wall, Norihiko Hibino, Martin Leung, and Cindy Shapiro on a job well done! (I hope you guys weren't too miffed when I was being all harsh at the timing of the NUS orchestra :P)
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Thanks for the awesome concert in Singapore, Tommy! The orchestra, choir and soloists were great. There were many nice touches that helped to up the experience and energy of the concert, from the quirky videos and the lighting effects to how you and Jack would rouse the crowd. Some of the cosplayers were quite amusing and I even saw a guy with with a green cap and a fairy. Way to go, Link!

I was surprised by how much I liked the Castlevania medley (and I'm not even a fan) but the rocking rendition really won me over. Other things that'll certainly stick in my head are the MGS cameos, Hibino's super spy sax, getting goosebumps from hearing strains of Tristram in the Diablo piece, the Chrono Cross tunes and Martin's incredible performance.

Like Blah, I was hoping for some Myst music but nontheless, it meant a lot to me to finally meet Jack in person and getting my Myst III Exile manual signed. I really love his music from the Myst series and suffice to say, this is one happy Myst fanboy. :P

Here's hoping you guys return for another concert!

They did say they'll be back next year. Think the government will put them in Esplanade, or will this mean cost++ for all of us? :(

Hearing the Chrono Cross opening song "Time's Scar" brought chills to my spine, and was THE highlight for me (I don't really care too much for hard rock, so OWA and Castlevania didn't do much for me). Chrono Cross is the perfect place to show off acoustic guitar skills, certainly.

I think it doesn't necessarily mean increased ticket prices if a performance is at the Esplanade. There are so many other cost, sponsorship and logistics considerations to factor in which might or might not work in the Esplanade's favour from a purely cost perspective.

But I think it's still early days, though. We still don't know for sure if a concert in 2010 is definitely happening. :P

Okay I just purchased tickets for Wolf Trap tonight (center front orchestra M 45). I guess I will GFF represent since Mo0 can't go. :(

Anyone else coming that I'm just not aware of?

Additional Spam:
Wow, that was quite the show. Lots of energy and an amazing performance. And I met a whole bunch of OCR people like DJ Pretzel and Larry "Liontamer" Oji thanks to Moguta who was sitting next to me during the concert. We sung One Winged Hut together during OWA. <3<3<3

I tried to name drop GFF to Tommy but the park staff was trying to close up and didn't let anyone really talk with Tommy or anyone else.

I hope that one day Tommy adds Kirby and Mother/Earthbound music to the line-up. That would be awesome.

Yeah! We were disappointed as well. Montreal has always been a ROCKIN audience! It was great when the crowd started chanting for the encore last year!! Very enthusiastic!

We just couldn't fit in all of the Eastern Canada stuff within the timeframe we had so it looks like we'll be pushing it to spring of 2010.


Tommy

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Thanks! Being worked on now! Probably looking at spring or summer of 2010.


Tommy

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Make sure to stay until the end of the show! That's all I'm saying. ;)

See ya in a few weeks! Make sure you come up and say hi at the meet & greet and that we spoke on GamingForce.

T.T.

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Yo!

Thanks so much for the kind words!!! So glad that you enjoyed the show. Yeah, the Sinagpore audience was really great! (and loud!!)

Next time we'll play Myst for sure!


Tommy


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Yo!,

Please post some pics or send them to info@videogameslive.com so they'll get to me.

Not sure what happened with the show time?!!?! It actually started on time, but I think they must have printed the wrong time on the tickets? Very strange!?!?

I'll make sure to include StarCraft in there for ya when we come back in 2010!

Tommy


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Yo!

Thanks for the kind review. We will DEFINITELY put Myst in for next year!

So glad to hear that you had a great time.



Tommy


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Why thank-you! Yeah, me & Jack definitely love playing Chrono together on acoustic and with the orchestra. We're thinking about doing something similar with the Earthworm Jim segment we're working on. Groooovy!

:)

Tommy


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Yes, very good points. There are so many business logistics and considerations to take into account when putting on a show. It gets CRAZY sometimes! Especially when we're doing 60 - 70 shows a year.

WHEW!!


Tommy


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Yo!,

Thanks! Glad you liked it! Yeah, the park people were rushing people like crazy through the meet & greet line. I hate that, but there was nothing we could really do because it's a National Park and out of our control. If I had my way I'd sit there ALL night and talk video games and music all night long!

:)


Tommy


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Yo!,

Thanks for the interest and support!

I don't like to release our exact setlists before the show because it takes away from the surprise and anticipation of how we present the show. That being said, you can count on audience favorites such as Mario, Zelda, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Metal Gear & Halo. (and of course piano soloist Martin Leung). As for some of the newer surprises? You may just hear stuff from the Chrono series, Castlevania and MegaMan...

I've already said too much.

:)

Oh... and count on a second very special Zelda segment which we've never done before.

Okay... now I've DEFINITELY said too much!

:D


Tommy

The best (lol) pictures (which still suck) in my set can be found on my GFF journal entries here and here. I can, of course, e-mail them to you if your account is big enough. I shot in RAW format, so someone with better photo knowhow can possibly improve it a bit.

I guess I should have cranked up the ISO, and damn the noise. Ah well...

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A silly thought occured to me. Tommy, since the videos are all synced to the performance, have you guys tried to flash the lyrics to "One Winged Angel" so the audience can sing along? :D

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Cool! Thanks for posting the pics.

T.T.

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Yo!,

Hope you enjoyed the show! We had an awesome time! The Comic Con crowd is always great!!!


Tommy

Hey Tommy. I noticed that next year the show is coming to Tuscon, AZ. Any chance of a further showing up in Phoenix? (Apparently there was a show two years ago here, but alas, I didn't even know about it). I imagine there are a good number of VGM Enthusiasts here in the desert =)

Hey did anyone go to the show in Buffalo at Artpark? I decided to not go at the last minute so I was curious how it went and what segments got played.

It's funny, I went to Video Games live a few years back. When it was in Toronto for the first time. I think I was the only American in the house...It was kind of cool to go to Toronto's first Video Game concert though. The atmosphere was great and it was just enjoyable to be there. It was the same weekend I went to see Lord of the Rings the musical. I must say, Video Games Live was much more enjoyable.

As for the Artpark show, I WANTED TO GO SO BAD! I've missed you twice in Buffalo now, and that is where I live :-( Oh well, maybe sometime soon I will get to hear my BPO play Video Game classics.

P.S. I still have your signature Tommy, as well as Jack Wall's. I also have pictures with both of you from the Toronto concert. Heh. I only have my Jack Wall one online though. Sorry Tommy. I still love Earth Worm Jim (My favorite part of the entire show was when Martin Leung played the music out of a request.)

http://b8.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/0...28533588_l.jpg

On another side note, on that same week I also met someone else...

http://b2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/0...28532172_l.jpg

Okay, I just want to add one more thing...If you ever had anything from the ToeJam and Earl series, I think I would die at the concert.

I'm done I promise.

Eventually we'll get back to Phoenix, but in 2010 we're probably just doing Tuscon. So far we have 2 shows scheduled with the Tuscon Symphony. I'll probably take a few days off and go to Tombstone. I love that place! Been a few times in my life, but haven't been there in about 10 years.

Hope to see you in March!

Tommy

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I was there!

:D

Artpark was an awesome venue and the Buffalo Philharmonic were excellent players. I spent my summers growing up right next door in Niagara Falls, NY so it was a bit of a personal homecoming for me. I think I had around 50 relatives in the audience. :)

Here were a few reviews of the event:

Artpark gets bleeps and bloops from BPO : Entertainment : The Buffalo News
My Video Games Live Review - POWET.TV
W's Musings: Video games live

And here are some of the newspaper stories & interviews:
‘Pong’ and Wagner are on tap in the BPO's Video Games Live : Entertainment : The Buffalo News
NFP - News: Experience &lsquo;Video Games Live&rsquo;
Niagara Gazette - ARTPARK: The sound of music — video game music

Hope to see you next time!


Tommy

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Additional Spam:

Yo!,

Thanks for the kind words. Yeah! That first Massey Hall show in Toronto was awesome! That place was loud!! Thanks for the Earthworm Jim props. We're actually working on a fun segment now for EWJ to include in the show.

I see your Mini Me pic...
Tallarico.com Photo Gallery :: Celebrities :: MiniMe

...and raise you a Gary Coleman!
Tallarico.com Photo Gallery :: Celebrities :: coleman


:D


Tommy


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Hey Tommy, any rough guess as to when you'll be hitting montreal again? Your calendar says 2010 but would you be able to narrow it down furthur?

I see they're still calling it "bleeps and bloops"... :tpg:

I blame my home town on this one...Buffalo is full of drunks who are stuck in there ways.

Hey Tom!

Got a question. After the Calgary AB concert we were having a huge arguement about the space invaders game that you had going.

One of my friends claims that you did use motion sensing to track the thing on the back of the shirt and it was just delay for why it was so slow. Now i believe quite differently as it looked like someone with a controller was moving for him.

If you cannot tell me in the thread just PM me and i will pass it along.

Also one of my friends we went with wants to know if you will have god of war next year.

You promised me earthworm jim this year so i better see it next year.

Hey Tommy,

Thanks for posting all those articles! I'll definitely make the next one after reading all of that (especially with the added CT/CC segment!). I'm glad to hear Arm cannon made it out again too, they were great last year. The gaming club I'm in at Canisius College, FUSION, actually got them to do a show last semester and it was fantastic. They played their Mario Medley then.

Also, I recently saw your performance on a few episodes of Mega 64 and I thought it was hilarious.

What's up with VGL in Cologne? It was mentioned as taking place alongside the gamescom trade fair.