[ATTENDED: May 18, 2024] Bit Brigade
I had seen Bit Brigade six years ago (can’t believe it has been that long) and assumed my son would love to see them too: a heavy metal band playing the music from video games while a guy in the band plays the game? Sounds perfect.
They tend to play bars so my (underage) son was shut out. But when they announced this show at a place in Frenchtown, and it was all ages, we were there!
I actually thought it was going to be outside, but it wasn’t (possible showers, but I don’t know if it was always meant to be inside or not).
When I got the tickets (for him and his friend) I assumed Bit Brigade was headlining as I had not heard of Galactic Empire. Yup, a Star Wars cover band–two gimmicks in one night, but that’s cool. And then the night of, my wife decided that she’d like to see the spectacle as well, so she joined us and it was even more fun having her there as the boys immediately left me to hang by themselves.
I was a little surprised that BB went on first, but in retrospect it makes sense. BB is really fun, but they are kind of static–we all watch the guy play the game(s) and the band totally rocks. Whereas Galactic Empire is more dynamic–band members running around and a bigger stage presence. Plus, as it turned out, everyone was there for them and not Bit Brigade. Except for us.
The last time I saw them, they were playing The Legend of Zelda.
This time it was three games (it blows my mind that their gamer can blow through three games in like 50 minutes–games that it takes some people weeks to master). The games were Castlevania, Contra, and Duck Tales.
I actually didn’t know any of the games (I didn’t have an NES), but I enjoyed watching him fly through these games, knowing where all of the secret passages were and, at one point, even having his characters “dance” to the music while waiting for something to happen.
The impressive thing about the playing is that the drummer (who was a replacement drummer for this tour) seems to watch the game closely as he has to signal to the rest of the band when the level is ended and they have to play the “victory” music of each section. It’s a surprisingly engrossing thing to watch.
I enjoyed watching Castlevania, and the music was cool and spooky.
The gameplay of Contra was insanely repetitive–I can’t imagine anyone genuinely enjoying that game. But again, the band was great.
Finally I didn’t think I’d enjoy Duck Tales, but I really did. It was funny and weird and the premise (that Scrooge McDuck knocks out bad guys by pogoing on his can, is so bizarre, that it’s hilarious).
We met the Brigaders after their set and they were, of course very friendly and happy to sell us merch. And I’m really glad I got to see them again. I believe they have a few other games in their repertoire and it would be fun to see those, although I would happily see Zelda again.
SETLIST
Castlevania
Contra
Duck Tales.
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