Video Games Live

I attended the Saskatoon concert tonight, and this is my first time seeing a VGL concert. I used to be a huge fan of video game music, and I even went so far as to tackle ripping the music from one of the largest games in VG history, music-wise - Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It's a shame Nintendo never released a soundtrack, though I can understand why, as to include all that music would mean filling up at least 7-8 CDs. To this day I look back on my gamerip and every time I say to myself, "holy crap, I actually did that?" And it's Nintendo's best musical effort in recent years, too.

However, about a year or two ago I started becoming disattached from VGM and turning instead to music from movies and TV. Not necessarily newer movie music from this generation of movie composers, but I'm talking stuff from the 1980s and older, all the way back to the 50s or even earlier. There's (sadly deceased) composers out there whose music I'm only now discovering (like Jerry Goldsmith, Basil Poledouris, Georges Delerue, Les Baxter, Henry Mancini, Morton Stevens, Alex North, Shirley Walker, etcetera etcetera) and I find it's a lot better thematically than a lot of film music written today. I know, film music is meant to serve the films, but it just seems to me like movie music written from the late 90s and onward has no real memorable value aside from just being there to accompany the movie it was for.

But anyways - I'm certainly motivated to venture back to listening to VGM after seeing Video Games Live. I have not heard much of what either you, Mr. Tallarico, or Mr. Wall have written, though I hope I get to do so someday. I'm actually not much of a video gamer nowadays either - I'm mainly into the retro games up to the Gamecube era; gaming today just doesn't interest me and I'm definitely more of a fan of the music. Actually, I think the last VGM soundtrack I purchased was as order from La-La Land Records - Richard Jacques' Headhunter / Headhunter: Redemption, for $6 (what a deal!).

I do have the VGL Volume 1 soundtrack CD as well, though unfortunately I didn't buy it officially - I received it used from a friend in Ottawa in a CD trade. I have not listened to it, but I certainly want to now.


What did I enjoy about VGL? Pretty much all of it really. I can't think of any games that should be represented in future concert showings, nor suggestions to make the show better. I never knew you nor Jack Wall would actually be there, which was a real nice surprise. Martin Leung deserved all that applause he received, too.

Once again, it was a pleasure to meet, in person, all three of you, and hopefully you remember me, Mr. Tallarico (I was the kid in glasses in a bright orange shirt with the binoculars and a recent haircut). My sister says she took a few pictures of us talking, though I haven't gotten them from her yet.

I'm hoping you guys continue to perform in Saskatoon in the future, and I wish you, Jack Wall, Martin Leung and the crew the best of luck for your other concerts. It was fantastic. Thank you.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Tommy,

Just curious to know if VGL is planning to return to Saskatoon, SK, in Canada for the 2010 Tour? It was an excellent show and I'd love to see it again.

There's nowhere I can't reach.