The problem it seems is that ALL game orchestral concerts in the USA these days are the "casual" sort (which I'd consider a flattering term to use if it constitutes people whooping and hollering as they please).

I'm certainly less inclined to pay for an orchestral concert album I haven't heard, knowing it's going to be that sort.

In the Little Jack Orchestra's Chrono Trigger concert they performed an encore rendition of "Millennial Fair" where they had the audience do the clapping and "hooah!" parts.  That was cool.  But this after the orchestra did their own version during the main program, which made it much better.

I think for this VGO recording they're most looking forward to getting the applause at the end of each piece, or perhaps at the end of a solo section.

My understanding is that the Böcker-produced shows with the WDR in Germany are a little more formal and don't have that kind of crowd interaction. If that's what you're looking for, I suggest you buy a plane ticket for Final Symphony. If I weren't scraping together my last bits of spending cash just to go to the VGO show (which is just a drive for me), I'd be doing the same.

The WDR is not involved with Final Symphony, as you can see from the current homepage status:
Link

indeed it is not. Many of the prior concerts were. It's too bad. I mean, it's probably not a big deal, I'm sure all the musicians are good. I just really like WDR for who they are, being the German equivalent of a BBC session orchestra.

Why is it a "flattering" term? "Casual" is exactly what it is and that's the point I'm trying to make: there's this common misconception that because an orchestra is involved, the concert is automatically more "formal" than other concerts. Whooping and hollering is standard fare at many concerts. Why shouldn't it be allowed at a symphonic performance? Once again: it's not the instrument ensemble or musical genre that determines etiquette; it's the atmosphere of the event itself.

I'm not saying you have to like the atmosphere that's being encouraged. There's nothing wrong with having, enjoying, or preferring formal concerts. They're great and I'd agree that we haven't many formal video game concerts. I'm just sick and tired of associating formality with symphonies. That's utter nonsense.

http://www.originalsoundversion.com/vgo … gn-update/

Shota Nakama has a personal message for those who have backed the KS so far and those who are on the fence. And, for anyone in the Boston area that is also on the fence about *going* to the show, check out the news: a fourth guest is coming! Yoko Shimomura.

I'm personally psyched just to meet Shimomura-san in ... 3 weeks (wow time is flying by).

But, yeah, please support this if you can. The fact that all these composers are coming for the VGO show should be a sign that they're not just some weak fan group that can't produce *solid* arrangements. Having seen them ... 3 times now ... they haven't let me down yet. You are free to loathe the term "rockestral" and the style of having traditional rock instrumentation (guitar/bass/drum/keyboard) alongside a full orchestra, but considering they do a variety of styles with a variety of sizes (there are some wind&string only arrangements they've done and other "small group" arrangements), I think there will be something for everyone.

And I've never seen Nakama-san try to show-boat the way Tallarico does. Just sayin'.

Just noticed that there is a 50% student discount to take advantage of! Glad for this, considering work has been slow lately.

FYI all ... on Monday OSV will be putting up a giveaway contest for 2 VIP (meet-and-greet) tickets!

so you'll want to be watching for that if you haven't bought tickets and have been thinking about going. Maybe it's worth the distance traveled for free tickets.

Tentative setlist was sent out via kickstarter today:

The concert setlist will be:

Bombing Mission
Street Fighter II
God of War
Baba Yetu
Vampire Killer
Kingdom Hearts
Metal Gear Solid ~ Snake Eater
Chrono Trigger ~ Chrono Cross
Grandia (15 minute arrangement by Noriyuki Iwadare)
Sakimoto Medley
Final Fantasy VII Suite

The CD album will contain the following recordings:

God of War
Vampire Killer
Kingdom Hearts
Metal Gear Solid ~ Snake Eater
Chrono Trigger
Grandia
Sakimoto Medley
Final Fantasy VII Suite

They've also confirmed a limited edition vinyl and some other new tiers on the Kickstarter.

Seriously ... a unique arrangement from Iwadare himself for Grandia. That's what you want, right there. I know I want it. I also talked to Nakama-san last night (podcast to go up on OSV soon), and that "Sakimoto Medley" will contain FFT, FFXII, possibly some other Ivalice items, and possibly some things outside his Square Enix work. Nakama has said he's even open to fan suggestions on this from Kickstarter backers, so ... yeah. If you desperately want something crazy like Radiant Silvergun or Stella Deus, say so.

And again, those free VIP tickets will be offered starting tomorrow. W00t!

As promised:

http://www.originalsoundversion.com/vgo … -giveaway/

You know, I would be interested in the CD, but given that it won't be available until December 2013, that might be a little too long for me to wait.

Damn, I really want to go to this. Not sure I can justify the airfare and hotel cost, but man is it tempting.

Today's the day! If anyone is going to be there from the site, we should hang out before/after the show.

Post him and we'll figure something out.

Only if you're not cosplaying

Haven't seen any cosplayers yet, but it's early. I myself wouldn't cosplay to a symphony performance anyway.

The set list is impressive. Can't wait for FF Tactics! Too bad there is no Live A Live or Treasure Hunter G though.

Here's my brief recap: The concert was fun, VGO's percussionist and keyboardist are both super hot, I got to hang out with and meet some great people, and I met Sakimoto and got to chat with him during intermission and after the show. Overall, it was an awesome night!

Yes, it was a great time. Great running into you Zane / jb / miker!! That was awesome!!

I got to do some brief interviews with the four guest composers just before the show. Article on OSV at some point.

I think one of the most important people there, someone Shota didn't mention (I think it was her preference) was the wife (widow) of the late Takeshi Miyaji...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeshi_Miyaji

Creator of Grandia and designer on many other GameArts projects.

She came as Iwadare's guest to honor the memory of her husband by hearing the 15 minute Grandia arrangement. I got to speak with her during the dress rehearsal, and she had some very moving things to say. She also speaks very good English.

That and more will also be in a "concert report" article I'll put together.

My tl;dr impressions are these:

1) the Grandia arrangement was the best part of the night
2) a close second was the Sakimoto medley, *arranged by David Saulesco!!* -- the only problem was that the orchestra seemed to have trouble with the complex rhythm (polyrhythm?) of Tri-Section. It was the only slip-up that whole evening, as far as I could tell.
3) Many of the other arrangements I've heard VGO do before, but that didn't make them any less enjoyable. Snake Eater is always a treat, and you can't go wrong w/ Chrono Trigger.
4) I'm not supposed to say this since I'm married, but I'm 100% agreed about keyboardist and percussionist. WOW. Smokin' hot and extremely talented.

Vampire Killer was the highlight of the night for me, they rocked the hell out of that tune, I still had chills when it was over.  The energy and passion from some of the performers was astounding, notably the rock band's solo violinist and bassist.

The entire Grandia suite was absolutely amazing, especially Theme of Grandia.  You could tell Iwadare did the arrangements himself as they were very true to the original OST sound.  Didn't know Miyaji's widow was in attendance, that had to be so emotional for her.  Very cool tribute by Iwadare!

Really enjoyed the Sakimoto suite for the most part, mainly Bland Logo~Title Back, Backborn Story, and Trisection from FFT.  Some odd song choices from FFXII, I would have preferred Vagrant Story instead, but still awesome.

Chrono Trigger was another highlight, full of energy and overall win.  This was another piece where the rock band really shined.

I still have yet to attend a VGM concert where FFVII isn't played, and this was no exception.  Opening ~ Bombing Mission was a nice show opener but I've had enough of One-Winged Angel already.  Enough!  Okay so it's the song that got me into game music, but I'd like to start hearing something different in its place at these concerts.

The encore was.. unusual.  Some vocal song called "Still Alive" from Portal, which I've never heard before.  Apparently everyone else on the planet loves it though.  People were singing along word for word, clapping like crazy and going nuts over it.  Tommy (Zane), Scott (my buddy), and myself were just laughing the whole time, kept thinking it was some kind of practical joke, haha.  Nothing against the song or VGO for performing it but it was an odd choice for a show whose theme was Japanese game music.

Meeting the guests was really cool, they were all so relaxed and friendly.  I shook hands with Hitoshi Sakimoto, Yoko Shimomura, Noriyuki Iwadare, Kinuyo Yamashita, and Shota Nakama.  Got CDs signed by all the composers (Vagrant Story, Parasite Eve, Super Mario RPG, Grandia 2 Deus, Dracula Best) and my program signed by Shota.  Had my arm around Sakimoto and Shota gave me a pat on the back.  Yes, truly awesome.

There was one Japanese guest there who wasn't at all "advertised," and I'd have wanted to know about his attending in advance so I could've brought the Kid Icarus Uprising soundtrack. It was Takahiro Nishi, another former Game Arts guy.

http://vgmdb.net/artist/7144

Also, will have photos here soon of what I got signed. Including Crash's copy of Esper Dream. Mission success!!

EDIT -- here's what I got signed:

https://twitter.com/Gameodactyl/status/ … to/1/large

(Livealive OSV reprint, Vagrant Story OST reprint, Lunar: The Silver Star from 1992, Akumajo Dracula Best reprint, and my big brother's copy of Tactics Ogre for PSP)

and here's Crash's Esper Dream CD. SUPER RARE! Even Yamashita was shocked to see a copy of this album on American soil (other than her own copy, which she told me she's had since it first came out and still treasures). CD will go in the mail tomorrow, sir! And with CRAZY amounts of bubble wrap.

https://twitter.com/Gameodactyl/status/ … to/1/large

I kept looking at that dude and knew I recognized him from somewhere, but I couldn't think of who he was. I went up to him and introduced myself and said that he looked familiar. He told me who he was and said that he just composed Kid Icarus Uprising; when I mentioned the CDs just came out he was very excited for the recognition I congratulated him and wished him well with his future work. If I had known I would have had him sign a copy! Another very friendly dude.

Miker, you're being too nice. The encore was lame, and totally went against the whole vibe of the show. I legit felt like the whole concert hall was playing a joke on us, and the composers that were there. Why announce a Japanese-only show and then add a trendy American sing-along encore that sounds nothing like the VGM that the show was built around? A proper encore would have been a little medley of some of the attending composers' themes, or a thirty minute rendition of OWA. I felt like I was at nerd camp for that last song.

Mandatory 'you were at game music orchestra' concert poke. But yeah, Still Alive as encore is odd, would probably fit that Tallarico-show better, quirky song, bit overhyped along the fans, but not a bad song in the end. Portal 2 had better ending song.

But so hating for living another side of the pond, otherwise attending VGO would have been probably a possibility. But at least the VGO kickstarter did get funded so yay.

Yeah, dude. Exactly. It didn't fit the show. It's like Iron Maiden covering a Katy Perry song for an encore.

But Iron Maiden covering a Katy Perry song would make the song listenable at least!

Awesome!  Thanks, Ramza!

I didn't go this concert, and I agree that Still Alive is an odd choice for an encore, but the set list posted above lists two other Western pieces -- God of War and Baba Yetu -- so you can't say the entire regular part of the concert was just Japanese music.

Anyway, I'm a little shocked that there's any gamers who aren't familiar with Still Alive. Portal was a landmark game, and if you haven't played it, you definitely should. The song is famous because it perfectly fit the game and took what would have otherwise been a neat first-person puzzle game (FPP?) and brought it to the next level. It's been overplayed to death by internet culture in the years since its release, but it's still a great song in the context of the game.