Nerd Music Meltdown

SXSW is coming up in Austin, Texas this March and nerdcore will be repped very hard during the festivities with the official SXSW Nerdcore Showcase on March 16th, as well as the Nerdcore Dayz festival March 13th to 15th.

We have Shubzilla, Bill Beats, and DJ R.O.C.K.M.A.N. to break it all down and why these events are significant in our community. Some folks like Billy Mitchell also get dragged and we discuss why rapping over vocals is BAD.

Follow Shubzilla at linktr.ee/shubzilla. Follow Bill Beats at linktr.ee/billbeats. Follow DJ R.O.C.K.M.A.N. and Nerdcore Dayz at linktr.ee/nerdcoredayz  Follow host Kent Ward at linktr.ee/greatkentward. You can support also our podcast at patreon.com/ongakuoverdrive.

"The Meltdown" theme by RoboRob

Super MAGFest Prime was 4+ days straight of video games, music, partying, and friends. Kent actually worked for the event and has MAGFest performers Stemage (Metroid Metal), Katy Scary (Klaymore), and Jimmy Granger (Abandon Quest) on to talk about the weekend, favorite moments, getting dance pads and a Mother Brain robot on stage, and more.

We also talk about what we want to see at MAGFest next year and what's good for 2024!

Follow Stemage at stemagemusic.com and his band Metroid Metal at metroidmetal.bandcamp.com. Follow Katy Scary at linktr.ee/katyscary and her band Klaymore at klaymore.bandcamp.com. Follow Jimmy's band Abandon Quest at youtube.com/@AbandonQuest.

Learn more about MAGFest at magfest.org and follow them on youtube.com/magfest. Kent Ward runs Ongaku Overdrive and you can follow them on linktr.ee/ongakuoverdrive and visit ongakuoverdrive.com. You can also follow Kent at linktr.ee/greatkentward. Support also our podcast at patreon.com/ongakuoverdrive!

"The Meltdown" theme by RoboRob

Happy 2024! We are kicking off the year strong. Super MAGFest 2024 is NEXT WEEK. There are a lot of new acts performing on main stage for the first time, including 88bit and Dom Palombi.

We have both on to talk about their road to MAGFest, what they have planned for the weekend, how they have kept success on Twitch, Dom Palombi's upcoming album, and everyone's plans for 2024.

Follow 88bit at linkpop.com/88bit and twitch.tv/robkovacs. Follow Dom Palombi at bio.link/dompalombimusic and twitch.tv/DomPalombiMusic. You can learn more about MAGFest at magfest.org and see the main stage concerts at twitch.tv/magfest_concerts. 

Follow host Kent Ward at linktr.ee/greatkentward. You can support also our podcast at patreon.com/ongakuoverdrive.

Get tickets to Mega Ran's "Black Materia Live" at Conduit in Winter Park, FL on January 25th at https://ongakuoverdrive.com/blackmateria

"The Meltdown" theme by RoboRob

Last episode of the year! GameGrooves has been cookin' in 2023 and have even more to look forward to in 2024. We have the found of GameGrooves, Allen Brasch, on to talk about how GameGrooves operates these days and the challeneges of running a video game music netlabel. Also, what are we doing at Super MAGFest 2024? Find out all that and more!

You can follow Game Grooves at gamegrooves.com and gamegrooves.bandcamp.com. 
Follow host Kent Ward at linktr.ee/greatkentward. You can support also our podcast at patreon.com/ongakuoverdrive.

Get tickets to Mega Ran's "Black Materia Live" at Conduit in Winter Park, FL on January 25th at https://ongakuoverdrive.com/blackmateria

"The Meltdown" theme by RoboRob

Mahn and Carrie Wood have formed a new symphonic metal band with Masikus called Premium Vintage. (That's a Hades reference.) They just released their debut album, The Symphony of Hades. And we talk all about that, favorite parts of Hades, the upcoming sequel, possible future projects, Sega Saturn, and the upcoming Super MAGFest.

Follow Mahn at https://linktr.ee/mahnplaysmusic. Follow Carrie Wood at https://twitter.com/supitscarrie. You can check out Symphony of Hades at https://songwhip.com/premiumvintage/the-symphony-of-hades.

Get tickets to Mega Ran's "Black Materia Live" at Conduit on January 25th at https://ongakuoverdrive.com/blackmateria

Follow host Kent Ward at linktr.ee/greatkentward. You can support also our podcast at patreon.com/ongakuoverdrive.

"The Meltdown" theme by RoboRob

The lads are back on Nerd Music Meltdown to melt your faces off! Lame Genie has been tearing it up at conventions and retro game expos all over the country, dominated YouTube, and dropped a bunch of music and still crank out weekly videos!

We talk about what Lame Genie has been up to, their song selection technology for live shows, the Street Fighter 6 OST, Turtles in Time on vinyl, car accidents, and more!

Lame Genie will be back in the Sunshine State for Free Play Florida, taking place November 17th to 19th at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, FL.

Follow Lame Genie at lamegenie.com and youtube.com/@LameGenie. You can get tickets to teh Free Play Florida Afterparty at freeplayflorida.com. 

The Keytar Kween Lacey Johnson just played at TwitchCon and now she is back in Orlando this weekend for the OngakuVania II. We talk about that, favorite spooky games, fighting games, playing all over the place, and managing an intense schedule of releasing music, YouTube videos, performing, and even teaching music! How does she do it?

OngakuVania II Halloween Party is October 29th at Conduit in Winter Park, FL. Get tickets at ongakuoverdrive.com.

Check out Lacey Johnson at youtube.com/laceyjohnsonmusic and laceyjohnsonmusic.bandcamp.com.

Follow host Kent Ward at linktr.ee/greatkentward. You can support also our podcast at patreon.com/ongakuoverdrive.

"The Meltdown" theme by RoboRob

Back on the show is VGM prog rocker Big Ro Panuganti! His new album "SitarCraft" drops October 20th and will have a heavy amount of Indian music influence. We discuss the album, Indian culture and music in video games, being married to another video game musician, Legend of Zelda, playing more live shows this year, and more.

You can preorder SitarCraft at ropanuganti.bandcamp.com/album/sitarcraft

Get tickets to OngakuVania II in Orlando on October 29t at ongakuoverdrive.com/ongakuvania

Check out Ro Panuganti at ropanu.com. and youtube.com/ropanuganti. Follow Kent Ward at linktr.ee/greatkentward. You can support our podcast at patreon.com/ongakuoverdrive.

"The Meltdown" theme by RoboRob

Representing DUUUVAL with pride are Florida fusion rock video game band The Limit Breakers. We have Jisun, Dani, and Lukas on to talk about what the band has been cooking this year. This includes a super successful Twitch fundraiser that got them to VGM CON, how they maintain a band their size, and their upcoming shows in Jacksonville and Orlando. We even talk about the Jax nerd scene!

Follow The Limit Breakers at https://linktr.ee/thelimitbreakers. See them perform soon!

10/4 in Jacksonville, FL: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-limit-breakers-halloween-vgm-show-with-awesomus-prime-and-limo-scene-tickets-696114867307?aff=oddtdtcreator

10/29 in Orlando, FL: https://ongakuoverdrive.com/ongakuvania

Follow Kent Ward at linktr.ee/greatkentward. Support Nerd Music Meltdown at patreon.com/ongakuoverdrive.

“The Meltdown” theme by RoboRob

There is a Marc with a C documentary coming! Half Serious, Half Kidding: The Digital Footprint of an Obscure Rockstar chronicles 20+ years of Marc with a C's career as well as Orlando music history. Kent talks to director Jo Canterbury about how the documentary came together, how he got to know Marc and his music, and the process of telling Marc's story without filming a single thing.

Half Serious, Half Kidding will be playing at the Orlando Film Festival this fall. Find out more about the documentary at halfserioushalfkidding.com. You can follow Jo Canterbury at twitter.com/ghostofjo. Check out Marc with a C's music at linktr.ee/marcwithac. Follow Kent Ward at linktr.ee/greatkentward. Support Nerd Music Meltdown at patreon.com/ongakuoverdrive.

“The Meltdown” theme by RoboRob

We're back from another hiatus and settled into a new studio! Kent gets everyone caught up and brings on the newest, funky video game duo of Ian Cowell and Carrie Wood, otherwise known as Bi Score, to chat about making music for people to score to from TWO different coasts. And being bisexual while doing it! Their first album, The Hot Light, just dropped and they got more music and shows coming, including this Sunday's Virtua Ongaku 17, LIVE on twitch.tv/ongakuoverdrive.

Follow Bi Score: https://linktr.ee/biscore
Follow Ian Cowell: https://linktr.ee/neoncowell
Follow Carrie Wood: https://twitter.com/supitscarrie
Follow Kent Ward: https://linktr.ee/greatkentward

Support Nerd Music Meltdown at patreon.com/ongakuoverdrive.

“The Meltdown” theme by RoboRob

EyeQ and Substantial are in the final week of their Friends and Fam Tour, which goes through MomoCon this weekend and concludes in Orlando on Memorial Day!

We talk about the current state of live shows, fun moments of the tour, free comic book day hauls, fan conventions finally embracing black culture, and both EyeQ and Substantial's upcoming albums!

Friends & Fam Tour tickets: https://www.songkick.com/artists/497738-substantial

Follow EyeQ at eyeqmusic.com and Substantial at iamsubstantial.com. Follow host Kent Ward at linktr.ee/greatkentward. Support Nerd Music Meltdown at patreon.com/ongakuoverdrive.

“The Meltdown” theme by RoboRob

Back on the show is Mustin of The OneUps. He and Kent reflect on being at VGM CON in Minneapolis and what a time it was!

PLUS, Mustin has a new album that he worked on with his 17-year old son called Mario Mixtape. We break that down, give thoughts on The Super Mario Bros Movie, discuss the new generation of VGM and THE FUTURE!

Ongaku Overdrive's 10th Anniversary Show takes place on April 29th in Orlando, FL. Get your tickets at ongakuoverdrive.com!

You can follow Mustin at mustin.net and bit.ly/Mustin. Follow The OneUps at theoneups.com. Follow host Kent Ward at linktr.ee/greatkentward. Support Nerd Music Meltdown at patreon.com/ongakuoverdrive.

“The Meltdown” theme by RoboRob

This weekend is VGM CON in Minneapolis and we have featured performer Theology on to talk about the event, the recent Midwest Gaming Classic, applying his club DJ background to VGM, Secret of Mana, and more! His new album, Theology of Mana drops this Friday on all platforms.

You can follow Theology at linktr.ee/theologymusic and youtube.com/theologyofficial. You can find out more about VGM CON at vgmcon.org.

Get your tickets to Ongaku Overdrive's 10th Anniversary Show at ongakuoverdrive.com. Follow host Kent Ward at linktr.ee/greatkentward. Support Nerd Music Meltdown at patreon.com/ongakuoverdrive. “The Meltdown” theme by RoboRob

String Player Gamer and Tiggs are back on the show, offcially teaming up as Scarlet & Violet! We talk about how they got together, performing at MAGFest, the current state of performing on Twitch, Pokémon, World of Warcraft, Zelda, and their Orlando debut at Ongaku Overdrive's 10th Anniversary Show on April 29th! (Tickets at ongaku10th.eventbrite.com)

You can follow Scarlet & Violet at twitter.com/scarvioletVGM. String Player Gamer can be followed at youtube.com/TheStringPlayerGamer and Tiggs can be followed at youtube.com/@TiggsVoice. Follow host Kent Ward at linktr.ee/greatkentward. Support Nerd Music Meltdown at patreon.com/ongakuoverdrive.

"The Meltdown" theme by RoboRob

It's a loaded episode with Austin Green, who is the founder of PC-gaming tribute band WASD as well as the site admin for video game remix competion community Dwelling of Duels. Kent and Austin talk about those things, WASD's latest album Escape, performing at MAGFest last month, Steel Samurai, VGM CON, and more!

Find out more about WASD at wasdband.com. Follow host Kent Ward at linktr.ee/greatkentward. Support Nerd Music Meltdown at patreon.com/ongakuoverdrive.

"The Meltdown" theme by RoboRob

Bit Brigade speedruns NES games with a full rock band playing the game's soundtrack for incredible live concerts, and we have bassist Luke Fields on to talk about how Bit Brigade came to be and their process of putting their shows together.

We also debate future potential games that work in their standards of live video game concerts and breakdown their upcoming tour that starts this week!

Find out more about Bit Brigade at bitbrigade.net. Follow host Kent Ward at linktr.ee/greatkentward. Support Nerd Music Meltdown at patreon.com/ongakuoverdrive.

"The Meltdown" theme by RoboRob

MAGFest is the biggest event in our community and there was a whole lot to talk about this year. Kent gets Lauren the Flute, Allen of GameGrooves, and Jisun of The Limit Breakers to talk about the epic weekend, including favorite moments and performances, the evolution of MAGFest, and what we want to see happen next year.

Follow host Kent Ward at https://linktr.ee/greatkentward. Support Nerd Music Meltdown at patreon.com/ongakuoverdrive.

"The Meltdown" theme by RoboRob

We have finally made it to the big hondo! Thank you all for supporting the show. Now we celebrate with a fun interview with the founders of one of the most legendary video game bands, The Megas! Eric von Doymi and Josh Breeding are on to talk about the creative process of the band, how The Belmonts project came to be, old Nerdapalooza stories, The Protomen, their love of Volcano Bay, and more. Get Equipped with a Good Ass Time.

You can follow The Megas at https://linktr.ee/themegasband. Support Nerd Music Meltdown at patreon.com/ongakuoverdrive.

"The Meltdown" theme by RoboRob

It's been way too long since our last episode of Nerd Music Meltdown? What the hell happened? Kent gives an update on the podcast, and talks about OngakuVania, joining the MAGFest staff, and Give Kids the World.

Follow Kent Ward at https://linktr.ee/greatKentWard

Music: "Wood Man (Metal Cover)" by Lame Genie