Video Games Live: Calgary 2011 [Concert]

I had the chance to see the Video Games Live show when Tommy Tallarico and his crew rolled through Calgary.  This isn’t my first time with the Video Games Live experience but the 2011 version is the best show yet.

If you don’t know what Video Games Live is, you really owe it to yourself to check out some of the show’s clips.  The show is an “immersive concert event” which means you shouldn’t expect to sit quietly in a concert hall listening to opera.  The show incorporates laser lights, smoke, large screen projections of cinematic cut-scenes, and lots of screaming fans.  Oh yes, the normal rules of conduct are completely thrown out the window at Video Games Live, and that’s a good thing!  If there’s one event that scream nerd-core, this is it!

The show starts long before the official time printed on your admissions ticket.  The lobby of the hall is filled with fans playing the latest game titles and adhoc multiplayer sessions with PSPs and DSs are not uncommon.  In true convention style fashion, there’s even a booth set up for fans to purchase VGL swag.  Leading up to the start of the show, there are costume contests (because Cosplay goes hand in hand) and even mini-tournaments of Guitar Hero.  With huge support from local chains and businesses such as Best Buy and Futureshop (the Canadian Best Buy), VGL can afford to give away prizes such as complete Playstation 3 systems, PSPs, and Microsoft Kinect peripherals.  However, these giveaways are always tied back to the main show.

If this is your first time to a VGL event or even a comics/games convention style event, you’d be in for quite a shock.  However, VGL does a great job at easing you into the experience and starts of at a good pace by opening with an old school montage featuring games such as Missile Command, Centipede, and Tetris.  But the show doesn’t truly start until Solid Snake makes a guest call into the concert hall and introduces the host of the show, Tommy Tallarico.  We had a chance to speak to Tommy prior to the show and besides being an awesome guy, he’s also a very talented musician and energetic host.

Video Games Live has over 80 set pieces in their reprotoire so you’re guaranteed to not hear the same show twice.  But rest assured that you’re going to be treated to rock rift mixes of classic titles such as Castlevania and Mega Man that are perfectly accompanied by a bonafide philharmonic orchestra with a full 25 person choir.  Major set pieces are performed as a real time soundtrack to cut-scenes from epics such as Assassin’s Creed and God of War.

The music is also broken up nicely with distractions of on-stage Guitar Hero battles with a real guitar and a fake one.  Plus humorous gag reels of classic video game moments and various YouTube creations (such as what would happen when Mortal Kombat met Donkey Kong?)  Not only does Video Games Live feature a full orchestra, but they also co-star internet sensations in video games music, such as Martin Leung, the gentleman that can play the Mario theme blindfolded, and Laura “Flute-Link” Intravia, the starring soloist and flutist.

It was a great experience with the expertly performed arrangements and seeing the talented musicians play out your childhood favorties (such as One Winged Angel from Final Fantasy VII) but the most amazing part of that night was sharing your love of video games and its music with fans of equal passion.  If you Video Games Live visits your city, make it a point to go see them, you won’t regret it!