Video Games Live = Aural Pleasure
Thanks to a heads-up from slay_x (thanks, man!), a couple of friends (yuncyn, folklorist and Sal) and I managed to wangle tickets to catch the 'Video Games Live' orchestral concert event over at the KLCC Plenary Hall today. Being the thrifty students we are, we got the tickets being sold at student price (RM71), which placed us in the balcony overlooking the stage. The student discount also only applied to the afternoon matinee tickets, so we popped in for the 2.30 pm show.
So, were the tickets worth it? A definite, resounding YES!
I personally have a weakness for orchestral/instrumental music, especially the epic, multi-layered scores they usually use in RPG games; naturally, I enjoyed myself very, very much. The National Symphony Orchestra delivered beautifully and the auditorium amplified the music - recipe for aural delight right there. The Plenary Hall isn't super-huge, which meant that we still got a pretty decent view of the stage from where we were sitting, with the video screen conveniently at almost-eye-level. The synchronized lights were okay, though I'm not entirely keen on how they can flash in one's face at points (probably more to do with our seating than anything else though).
But really, nothing really stirs one like being immersed in glorious, glorious music, both familiar and unfamiliar, rendered by instruments in the same hall and area as you. From the medley of old classics (Contra, I see you!) to even more well known, much evolved evergreens (Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Mario Bros., Megaman) to the mainstream favorites (Kingdom Hearts, Warcraft, Final Fantasy 7), the music just steals over your senses and wraps around your heart and squeezes at all the right dips and refrains. Hats off to the musicians and Jack Wall, who was conducting them - you guys did a fantastic job!
The game-compilation videos shown during the performances helped heighten the experience - while our ears feasted on the music, our eyes followed the various iconic in-game events and scenes of that particular game title as they played out on the screen. Another job well done on that front.
The way the concert itself was organized really distinguishes it from other such events though. Don't get me wrong - I'm no concert connoisseur, but from the relatively few I've attended, one generally keeps quiet and clap at all the right times as respect for the music and musicians. Clearly, respect and admiration is conveyed much differently when it involves video-game music and an audience of gamers - from the very start of the show, the emcee/host urged us to cheer and woot and whistle whenever we liked during particularly trademark musical climaxes within the performances. He also encouraged clapping in time with the rhythm during certain songs and even asked the crowd to sing along with 'One Winged Angel'. Heck, we were all chanting the 'yeah yeah yeah' refrain during the 'Castlevania' performance.
There were mini competition segments in between performances as well - a human Space-Invaders game (that rather worked like a Nintendo Wii game) and a Guitar contest round. Cooler still, we were treated to a live Skype conversation with Ralph Baer, the original inventor of the video game. (Yep, dude's still alive and kickin' at 80-plus! Not bad, eh?) Certain game music were also introduced by their original composer via video (Koji Kondo - Zelda, Mario, Gerard Marino - God of War), which really helped build the hype for the music to come, IMHO. The sudden appearance of random characters during the performances was a hoot - a good portion of the audience chortled when the infamous sleath-box and accompanying enemy (complete with exclamation mark above his head!) came out during the MGS medley.
The emcee himself really livened up the concert though! Tommy Tallarico was simultaneously entertaining, cheeky and and brisk throughout the concert, moving the program along efficiently while keeping us all laughing and anticipating the next song set with his antics. He's also a crazy-good guitar player (with some pretty funky-looking guitars) who headbangs really well with the cellist and, if the current 'Advent Rising' OST that I'm listening to has anything to say about it, a brilliant score composer as well. His energy and enthusiasm is infectious and you can't help but get caught up in it.
It was the guest performers that really had me going though! Laura Intravia, one of the guest performers, came out dressed as Link as she played one of the 'Legend of Zelda' themes (not too familiar with the game; the Ocarina of Time one perhaps?); gorgeous technical precision and the way she mimed being 'annoyed' by the 'fairy' playing the other flute part was really cute.
But then Tommy announced Metal Gear Solid 3's opening song, 'Snake Eater' was going to be played by Norihiko Hibino.
Norihiko Hibino, the very same guy who composed 'Snake Eater' and other MGS intrumentals.
Norihiko Hibino, on the saxophone.
Yeah, I can die a happy fangirl now. ♥♥♥♥♥♥
Oh, and the Chrono Trigger/Chrono Cross medley during the encore with all the performers (Jack on an acoustic guitar, Tommy on electric, Laura on flute and and Norihiko (♥) on saxaphone)?
Yep, definitely can die happy. ♥♥♥♥♥♥
The only complaint I have about the event is that the videos shown during the Squeenix game titles are rather strange. While the Disney clips during 'Hikari' were nice, seeing Sora and co. would have been much, much nicer. And the cosplay slideshow during 'One Winged Angel' was just odd, almost a jarring note in itself when compared to the music being played. I suspect that this is out of VGL's control though and that Squeenix probably doesn't allow their game videos to be aired or something along those lines.
Tl;dr?
VGL WAS AWESOME KTHX NORIHIKO HIBINO FTW! ♥♥♥
In case you weren't convinced of how awesome it was, I actually spent more money on the merchandising than on the actual ticket itself. (CD + souvenir program = RM85. Eeep.) That was how sold I was during the event.
Alex and I also waited in line for the meet and greet and managed to obtain all four of the main performers' autographs. Wish I was less of an Easter Island statue though - would have liked to tell them how awesome they were.
*♥ fangirls ♥*
Gosh, definitely looking to attend more events like this in the future. Time to start saving up, I guess!
PS: Regarding the photos snapped under the cut, I wasn't sure about the photo policy in-hall, so I only snapped pictures during the intermission and prior to the program's start.
So, were the tickets worth it? A definite, resounding YES!
I personally have a weakness for orchestral/instrumental music, especially the epic, multi-layered scores they usually use in RPG games; naturally, I enjoyed myself very, very much. The National Symphony Orchestra delivered beautifully and the auditorium amplified the music - recipe for aural delight right there. The Plenary Hall isn't super-huge, which meant that we still got a pretty decent view of the stage from where we were sitting, with the video screen conveniently at almost-eye-level. The synchronized lights were okay, though I'm not entirely keen on how they can flash in one's face at points (probably more to do with our seating than anything else though).
But really, nothing really stirs one like being immersed in glorious, glorious music, both familiar and unfamiliar, rendered by instruments in the same hall and area as you. From the medley of old classics (Contra, I see you!) to even more well known, much evolved evergreens (Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Mario Bros., Megaman) to the mainstream favorites (Kingdom Hearts, Warcraft, Final Fantasy 7), the music just steals over your senses and wraps around your heart and squeezes at all the right dips and refrains. Hats off to the musicians and Jack Wall, who was conducting them - you guys did a fantastic job!
The game-compilation videos shown during the performances helped heighten the experience - while our ears feasted on the music, our eyes followed the various iconic in-game events and scenes of that particular game title as they played out on the screen. Another job well done on that front.
The way the concert itself was organized really distinguishes it from other such events though. Don't get me wrong - I'm no concert connoisseur, but from the relatively few I've attended, one generally keeps quiet and clap at all the right times as respect for the music and musicians. Clearly, respect and admiration is conveyed much differently when it involves video-game music and an audience of gamers - from the very start of the show, the emcee/host urged us to cheer and woot and whistle whenever we liked during particularly trademark musical climaxes within the performances. He also encouraged clapping in time with the rhythm during certain songs and even asked the crowd to sing along with 'One Winged Angel'. Heck, we were all chanting the 'yeah yeah yeah' refrain during the 'Castlevania' performance.
There were mini competition segments in between performances as well - a human Space-Invaders game (that rather worked like a Nintendo Wii game) and a Guitar contest round. Cooler still, we were treated to a live Skype conversation with Ralph Baer, the original inventor of the video game. (Yep, dude's still alive and kickin' at 80-plus! Not bad, eh?) Certain game music were also introduced by their original composer via video (Koji Kondo - Zelda, Mario, Gerard Marino - God of War), which really helped build the hype for the music to come, IMHO. The sudden appearance of random characters during the performances was a hoot - a good portion of the audience chortled when the infamous sleath-box and accompanying enemy (complete with exclamation mark above his head!) came out during the MGS medley.
The emcee himself really livened up the concert though! Tommy Tallarico was simultaneously entertaining, cheeky and and brisk throughout the concert, moving the program along efficiently while keeping us all laughing and anticipating the next song set with his antics. He's also a crazy-good guitar player (with some pretty funky-looking guitars) who headbangs really well with the cellist and, if the current 'Advent Rising' OST that I'm listening to has anything to say about it, a brilliant score composer as well. His energy and enthusiasm is infectious and you can't help but get caught up in it.
It was the guest performers that really had me going though! Laura Intravia, one of the guest performers, came out dressed as Link as she played one of the 'Legend of Zelda' themes (not too familiar with the game; the Ocarina of Time one perhaps?); gorgeous technical precision and the way she mimed being 'annoyed' by the 'fairy' playing the other flute part was really cute.
But then Tommy announced Metal Gear Solid 3's opening song, 'Snake Eater' was going to be played by Norihiko Hibino.
Norihiko Hibino, the very same guy who composed 'Snake Eater' and other MGS intrumentals.
Norihiko Hibino, on the saxophone.
Yeah, I can die a happy fangirl now. ♥♥♥♥♥♥
Oh, and the Chrono Trigger/Chrono Cross medley during the encore with all the performers (Jack on an acoustic guitar, Tommy on electric, Laura on flute and and Norihiko (♥) on saxaphone)?
Yep, definitely can die happy. ♥♥♥♥♥♥
The only complaint I have about the event is that the videos shown during the Squeenix game titles are rather strange. While the Disney clips during 'Hikari' were nice, seeing Sora and co. would have been much, much nicer. And the cosplay slideshow during 'One Winged Angel' was just odd, almost a jarring note in itself when compared to the music being played. I suspect that this is out of VGL's control though and that Squeenix probably doesn't allow their game videos to be aired or something along those lines.
Tl;dr?
VGL WAS AWESOME KTHX NORIHIKO HIBINO FTW! ♥♥♥
In case you weren't convinced of how awesome it was, I actually spent more money on the merchandising than on the actual ticket itself. (CD + souvenir program = RM85. Eeep.) That was how sold I was during the event.
Alex and I also waited in line for the meet and greet and managed to obtain all four of the main performers' autographs. Wish I was less of an Easter Island statue though - would have liked to tell them how awesome they were.
*♥ fangirls ♥*
Gosh, definitely looking to attend more events like this in the future. Time to start saving up, I guess!
PS: Regarding the photos snapped under the cut, I wasn't sure about the photo policy in-hall, so I only snapped pictures during the intermission and prior to the program's start.