concerts
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Hear the Glitch soundtrack in concert
How many of you like to talk about Glitch? Wow, that many? That's great, but please quiet down for right now; there's time to talk in the comments. It's not a question you need to answer out loud. Besides, if you're super enthusiastic about the memory of the game, you have an opportunity to experience a slice of it for yourself in concert. To celebrate the release of Glitch's soundtrack, a concert is being held on January 24th, 2015, in Toronto. Tickets are $20, and all proceeds go directly to the musicians taking part in the concert. As of this writing, the planned attendance isn't high, but we're pretty sure that will change as more people get wind of the concert. Can't make it to Canada in the middle of January? The Glitch website still offers free downloads for many of its music tracks.
Tonight, Twitch streams a live performance of the 'Hohokum' soundtrack
There's a lot to love about PlayStation's latest indie darling Hohokum, and its soundtrack is an absolute standout reason for even playing the game. Sony knows this and is partnering with game-broadcasting giant Twitch to stream a concert of the game's score tonight to celebrate. Starting at 9:45 Eastern / 6:45 Pacific, you can catch the artists from Ghostly International being interviewed and playing the game's tunes via both the PlayStation and Ghostly Twitch channels. You can even watch the show right here after the break; it's up to you! Given how chill the indie's music and visuals are, Twitch's second-ever concert could be the perfect way to unwind and head into the weekend.
Music Vault brings 12,000 classic concert clips to YouTube
Even if you weren't born yet on July 7th, 1970, you can now catch The Who's classic Tanglewood concert thanks to Music Vault. It's just unveiled an avalanche of classic concert videos, 12,000 in all, on its YouTube video channel. Those include concerts from The Who, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen (among others); newer shows like Deer Tick in Vermont during Hurricane Irene; and archives from Woodstock, the now-defunct Capitol Theater in New Jersey and the Newport Jazz and Folk festivals. The Music Vault group said it has spent the last two years "restoring, transferring, mixing and mastering thousands of tapes from (its) enormous archive" for the new collection. All told, there are now 13,000 videos totaling nearly 2,000 hours on the site, along with playlists, features and original content. If you've got a couple of hours to spare, check the source -- if not, get a taste with the videos below.
Sony marries glowsticks and wearables for an unnecessary concert accessory
Remember FreFlow? Sony tested the concept of synchronized glow pens a couple of years ago at a few concerts in Japan, turning the audience into the spectacle (see the video below). Judging by a recent entry at the FCC, it looks like it's set to go from prototype to product. Here's how it works: when performers on stage wave the master pen around, concert-goers' pens light up and change color in unison. There's a master transmitter/controller to manage the works. We're not sure how Sony would distribute them if they came to the US, given that concert venues and groups would have to support the devices. Either way, if you're into that sort of thing it's a lot easier than whipping out a smartphone -- and less hazardous than a Zippo.
Yahoo's airing two comedy web shows in 2015 and daily concerts this summer
Yahoo has big plans to serve up original shows, just like Amazon, Hulu and Netflix, which have already invested serious money in original programming. In fact, the company just announced that it has two new comedies in the works, which are only the first ones in its brand new lineup of long-form shows. if you haven't heard yet, this comes hot on the heels of Microsoft's revelation that it's also working on a dozen original titles for the Xbox. Yahoo's series entitled Other Space (a sci-fi comedy) and Sin City Saints (about a Silicon Valley tycoon who bought a pro-basketball team), were created by folks with big TV shows under their belt. They sadly won't be airing till next year, but when they start, viewers can watch eight thirty-minutes episodes per title on Yahoo's Screen apps for desktop, mobile, Apple TV and Roku.
Roku devices can now stream Qello's concert library for $4.99 per month
Have a current-gen Roku device? Want to watch Lady Gaga's Monster Ball Tour performance from Madison Square Garden? Well, you're in luck. The aforementioned streaming gadgets in the US, Canada and the UK are getting a Qello Concerts channel today, bringing access to "the world's largest collection" of full-length performance and music documentaries via a $4.99 monthly All-Access Pass. While the added cost may be a bummer, live music enthusiasts can expect selections from Mumford & Sons, Queen, Wu-Tang Clan, Wolfmother and many more. If you don't already have a Qello subscription, you can try it out free for a week on that Roku box or streaming stick.
Video Games Live dates over 50 new concerts around the world
Video Games Live has announced 50+ new dates for its gaming-focused concert tour, including first-ever stops in McAllen, Texas, Spokane, Washington, Benthlehem, Pennsylvania and more. The show will also travel through Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, China and other regions. The 10-venue pass through Mexico will include guest apperances from Journey composer Austin Wintory, God of War series contributor Gerard Marino, Symphony of the Goddess conductor Eimear Noone and more. The press release also teases appearances from "game composer friends from Japan," leaving us to dwell in anticipation for now. A listing of each show's date, city and venue can be found in the press release below, and you can keep track of ticket sales with Video Games Live's tour schedule. Musical tours like Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy or the Zelda series' Symphony of the Goddess pay tribute to catalogs spanning a single series, but Video Games Live's varied selections might entertain those looking for some variety in their live gaming symphonies. [Image: Video Games Live]
Apple's iTunes Festival is coming to the US, and you can stream it live
After seven years of hosting the iTunes Festival in the UK, Apple is at last bringing the concert series to the US for 2014. The music extravaganza will be held in Austin from March 11th through the 15th, running alongside South by Southwest (SXSW). It's a much shorter run than in the past, but it will include a mix of well-known American and European artists, ranging from Willie Nelson to London Grammar. As you'd imagine, Apple is using the event as a technological showcase; you'll get to stream live and on-demand performances from both iTunes on the desktop as well as any iOS device. This will all sound familiar to Brits, but it's big news for Americans that no longer have to skip work just to watch the live shows -- even if they can't make it out to Texas.
Qello brings concerts, music films to PS3, soon to PS4 and Vita
Joining the streaming entertainment options on the PlayStation 3 is Qello, a relatively new service that is best described as "Netflix, but for live concerts and films about music." Available now, Qello offers a deep catalogue of artists, concerts and documentaries, though it lacks a few notable entries: The Band's The Last Waltz, Martin Scorsese's Rolling Stones documentary Shine A Light, and even Purple Rain is absent. Still, the number of films on the service is massive, and you should be able to find content from any artist (assuming it isn't your best friend's struggling 2 Live Crew bluegrass cover band). Like other major streaming services, Qello comes with a subscription fee. PlayStation users are being granted a free 15-day trial of Qello, but after that the service will set you back $5 each month, or $45 for an annual subscription. If you're unsure about plunking down money for Qello, we recommend visiting Qello TV from your web browser. Though Qello TV doesn't allow viewers to choose what they want to see, the free, streaming concert footage it provides should offer a good idea of what Qello is offering PlayStation 3 users. Qello will soon appear on Sony's Vita handheld as well as the PlayStation 4. There's no word on when these systems might add the concert flick service, though an announcement regarding the Vita iteration of Qello should appear by the end of the year.
Turntable.fm to shut down its social DJ service in favor of live concert efforts
There was a moment when Turntable.fm was seemingly ready to usher in an era of social music, with virtual DJs leading the way. Unfortunately, that moment has passed; in light of a shrinking audience and high operating costs, Turntable.fm has announced that it will shut down its DJ service on December 2nd. The company will instead focus on Turntable Live, its social platform for streaming real-world concerts. It's a sad day for musical tastemakers, although the company is going out of its way to support fans. Users can export their playlists and tracks to services like Spotify, and the company is promising both a commemorative t-shirt as well as a "last day" party on the 2nd. If you have fond memories of spinning tunes for friends across the country, we'd suggest making room in your calendar.
Video Games Live: Level 3 rocks its goal on Kickstarter
The Kickstarter campaign to fund the third studio album for Tommy Tallarico's Video Games Live is a success. The pledge drive has surpassed its goal of $250,000 today, within its final 24 hours of the pledge drive. Video Games Live is a confluence of video game music and live spectacle, usually a touring live concert series where musicians cover select tracks from video game soundtracks while gameplay is projected on a massive screen. There are currently two Video Games Live albums, each available on iTunes. The target release date for this third studio album is February 18, 2014. Some planned compositions already outed include pieces from Street Fighter 2, the Monkey Island series, Skyrim, Journey, Shadow of the Colossus, Beyond Good and Evil, Tetris, Silent Hill 2, World of Warcraft and Diablo 3.
The Daily Grind: Do you attend player events?
Confession time! I am a total hypocrite: I love the idea of player events but I rarely attend them in-game. Actually, maybe that just makes me more lazy than hypocritical. I think that a player event can boast more ingenuity and yield more memories than developer efforts, even if players are hamstrung by not always having the tools to do everything they'd like. We've all heard stories of funerals, of PvP wars, of naked Gnome races, of scavenger hunts, of concerts, and of costume contests. But the question today concerns attendance. Do you go to player-created events or just read about them in the paper the next day? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Video Games Live tunes in to Kickstarter to fund third album
Video Games Live is a bit of a beast to describe. It's a concert, stage show and game demonstration all wrapped into one multimedia event where artists mix rock and symphony instruments as they play your favorite game tunes along to synchronized footage and on-stage acting. Think someone dressed up as a soldier from the Metal Gear Solid series searching across the stage while an orchestra plays the alert theme from the games while a video of gameplay from Metal Gear Solid projects behind them, and you have an idea of what to expect. The show has been running for awhile now, and has released two albums (which you can download via iTunes) in that time. Now, event host Tommy Tallarico has taken to Kickstarter in hopes of funding a studio-recorded album as opposed to the previous two live albums. Backer rewards include a personalized message from David Hayter (Solid Snake) and even a tour of Blizzard Entertainment, provided you've got a couple grand to splurge. You can learn more about Video Games Live by checking out their website.
PS3 won't get NFL Sunday Ticket this year, does receive live events app [Update: Xbox too]
The NFL's regular season is just around the corner, but those hoping to fire up their PlayStation 3 consoles to stream games through DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket app will need to find a new method. Sony recently confirmed to IGN that the service will not be available on PS3 this year. The reason for the switch remains unclear, though Microsoft announced a partnership with the NFL during its Xbox One reveal event in May that has yet to be clarified. The partnership involves live broadcasts of NFL games through Xbox One. Additionally, those that pre-order the special edition of Madden NFL 25 through Amazon this year receive a free year of NFL Sunday Ticket's PC and mobile service. PS3 owners won't be totally in the dark, however, as the console received a new Live Events Viewer app this week. The app offers both free and pay-per-view streaming options for sporting events and other live entertainment events like concerts, starting with WWE's SummerSlam this Sunday. Live Events Viewer is free to download from the PlayStation Store. Update: DirecTV has confirmed with Joystiq that NFL Sunday Ticket will not be available on PS3, nor will it be available this year on Xbox 360 or Xbox One. Update #2: DirecTV has also confirmed that NFL Sunday Ticket will not be available through the PS4.
StubHub launches Spotify app for direct access to concert listings and tickets
Just in time for the summer concert season, Spotify's launching a StubHub app to give fans of sweaty, cramped music venues (indoor and out) quick ticket access. Starting today, Spotify users in the US and UK will be able to access the free app using App Finder to search upcoming concert schedules by location and purchase tickets through provided StubHub links. It's pretty basic stuff, but if you're the impulsive type, this mini-app could be the best thing for your social life and the worst for your wallet.
Bonnaroo Festival participants enjoy live video and audio with ChirpVision
The 2013 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Tennessee offered listeners an enhanced viewing experience over the four-day festival. An iPhone and Android app by ChirpVision provided music fans with HD audio and video of any one of the three stages, no matter where they were at the festival. The ChirpVision apps proved especially useful when music fans were greeted with a rainstorm, but could still watch live performances from the "That" tent, which housed the Chirp WiFi Zone. According to ChirpVision co-founder Robert Bianchi, "ChirpVision technology takes the fan experience to a whole new level ... By allowing fans to enjoy interactive features ... while never missing the action around the festival." The press release further states that "ChirpVision can stream video up to 100,000 event patrons." The technology works over standard WiFi systems and three live video channels at 24 frames per second, optimized for mobile devices. ChirpVision is an interactive in-venue closed-loop wireless broadcast system, developed by Chirp, Inc. They plan to add texting, DVR function, VoIP, internet and other features to their apps in the future. This could change the user experience for a number of multi-stage fan events across the globe, such as Burning Man or Farm Aid. It certainly would help those of us who hate to be immersed in crowds, enjoy large festivals from the sidelines.
Rhapsody Concerts lets iOS users keep track of music tours, find shows nearby
Back when SongMatch for Android was introduced to the public, Rhapsody said that its Shazam-esque offering was only the first of many "companion" apps to come. Today, as part of its plans to expand the suite of Rhapsody applications, the streaming service is introducing Concerts. The moniker says it all, really: the new application is designed to be a hub where you can easily keep up with -- you guessed it -- concerts from music artists you're into or even ones you've never heard of. Using a device's location services, Concerts can quickly find gigs around your area and display useful info related to them, including things like an entire show lineup and the ability to buy tickets. While Concerts isn't limited to Rhapsody subscribers, those who pay the monthly fee do get a couple extra tidbits, such as music playback and track downloads from within the app. Currently, it's only available for iOS, but Rhapsody did tell us that Android and Windows Phone versions are "coming in the next few weeks." For folks who can download right now, however, we have the App Store link below.%Gallery-190996%
Daily iPhone App: SeatGeek is your mobile ticketing agent for concerts and sporting events
Sports fans and concert goers looking for tickets to that upcoming event can search and purchase tickets using their iPhone. The app that makes this find and buy so easy is SeatGeek, an iOS ticketing app that pulls ticket listings from 120 resellers. Included in this list are big names like eBay and Ticket Exchange as well as local and regional resellers. One feature that sets SeatGeek apart is its stadium maps that show you the location of tickets before you buy them. Event goers know that location is everything when it comes seating, so being able to find the seat row and get a 3D view from the seat is a great feature. The venue maps not only show the seating charts, they also show the available discounts on those seats. SeatGeek uses a scoring system to rate the price of each seat and will let you know whether you are getting a good deal or spending too much. When you find a deal that you want, SeatGeek will bring you to the reseller that is offering the tickets. The transaction is completed through the reseller and SeatGeek is not part of that process. SeatGeek is available for free from the iOS App Store. There are not hidden fees as SeatGeek doesn't charge for helping you find the perfect seat for that upcoming concert or sporting event.
Etymotic Music•Pro 9-15 earplugs bring high-end hush to audiences, lets us enjoy speed metal safely
Premium electronic earplugs usually find their homes with musicians eager to preserve their hearing at all costs; anyone within the crowd has more often been left to either use cruder plugs or cover their ears. Etymotic wants to bridge that difference with the Music•Pro 9-15. The combination of ER-9 and ER-15 earplugs matches its namesake not just through the choice of components, but through active noise cancellation that removes 9 to 15 decibels from the sound only when the rock gets too raucous: listeners can hear fellow concert-goers and even boost their volume without skewing the sound of the band. Pricing plays its own part in reaching out to the crowd, too. As high as the new Music•Pro set's $399 price might be compared to a typical pair of ear blockers, it's low enough that a dedicated fan of virtual Tupac can afford to go to the concert protected rather than voluntarily take on some hearing damage.
Watch Fink & The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in HD on your iPad
Just last night I discovered a real musical treat for the iPad. On April 29th 2012, the fantastic British singer/songwriter, Fink, performed a set with the incredible Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra at the prestigious Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Conducted by Ivan Meylemans and arranged by Jules Buckley, this is Fink as you've never heard him before. And the performance was broadcast live and in HD on the iPad with the "RCO Meets Fink" app. Unfortunately, I missed this. However (and to my delight), you can still purchase (US$3.99) and download the app to stream the entire performance on your iPad (or Apple TV via AirPlay) in HD at your leisure. Better still, a 2.0 version of the app will hit in June with extra features. As explained on Fink's website, "The 1.0 version of this App offers a full HD video stream that will enable you to enjoy the concert in the highest quality on the latest iPad and Apple TV hardware." Expect a big update to the app in June, which will include backstage footage, rehearsals, interviews, video commentary and more. We're also interested to try the "360 degree video component," which should allow you to move around in the concert footage. We're not sure how that will work, but it sure sounds interesting. Version 2.0 sounds pretty exciting, but the app at 1.0 isworth the purchase just to watch the performance in HD. As a little teaser for the performance, you can watch the track "Yesterday Was Hard On All Of Us" below.
