Summer Geek-out at G33km00t 3.0

With the Calgary Expo and Otafest behind us, what are Calgary geeks to do while waiting for the next big geek-out (AKA Animethon)? Why, check out Geekmoot 3.0!

Geekmoot (AKA "g33km00t") will take place Saturday, July 27, 2013 from 2:00 - 11:30 pm at the Hillhurst Sunnyside Communty Association. It is an annual one-day gaming convention that is oh so much more. In addition to playing various tabletop games, attendees can check out the Artists' Alley and vendor tables.

Several voice actors will be there, such as Brendan Hunter (Hunter X Hunter Dragon Ball GT,  Cardfight! Vanguard), Lucas Gilbertson (Cardfight!! Vanguard, Mega Man X8, Hunter X Hunter) and Carol-Anne Day (Gregory Horror Show, My-HiME (TV), MegaMan Maverick Hunter X: The Day of Sigma OVA). Other special guests include the 404s imrpov comedy, Anything Goes and THWOMP.

Here's a sampling of music performed by Anything Goes:

And a live performance by THWOMP:

If that's not enough for you, you can check out the movie screening of Brendan Hunter's production Lloyd the Conqueror. Lloyd, Patrick and Oswald - three slacker students who lost their student funding make a pact with a teacher which leads to some LARP of Demons & Dwarves.

Geekmoot tickets are only $5 for adults and kids 12 and up. Kids under 12 are free. Tickets include admission to all events and food. For more information, check out g33km00t's website or Facebook page.

THWOMP Interview: Hey! Listen! CD Release

Calgary-based Nintendo® cover band THWOMP is gearing up for two exciting projects. They will rock Edmonton on August 6, 2010 at Animethon 17. In the fall, they will release their debut CD.

THWOMP is comprised of Calgarians Brad Stanton (lead guitar), Colin Mitchel (lead guitar), Scott Munro (bass), Scott Moffat (drums), David Marshall (keyboards/percussion) and Kirk McVean (keyboards). Band members Brad Stanton and Dave Marshall took time out from THWOMP’s rehearsal schedule for an exclusive chat with Suite 101. Last time, they discussed their songwriting process. In this segment, they discuss the band’s upcoming CD release.

THWOMP Debut CD Release Fall 2010

"It’s sort of is in and odd state of being officially and not officially released yet," explained Dave. "I don’t think CD’s are officially released until you have a CD release party, which we haven’t done."

The recording for THWOMP's debut CD was made during the band's early years (pre-Dave and pre-Kirk). Their friend Brian (who performs with Dave and Brad in another group) took several recording courses did the recording. "Just live off the floor, everybody playing at the same time and hoping that nobody would screw up in a 15-minute song," said Dave. "That didn’t go that well, so it actually took a few retakes."

Then, the material sat in stasis for a few years. By the time the group had a chance to review the recording, they weren't happy with the quality.

The band realized that there is a huge opportunity to sell merchandise at anime conventions and comic conventions. "We decided to just get off our asses and finish it," said Dave. This time, they called upon their buddy Ryan Sadler of Spectratone Studio to re-engineer it. "We recorded my tracks on top because when it was originally recorded, I wasn’t in the band yet."

The CD artwork was done by a talented family friend, "Kaitlin Reckord. She’s only 16. She’s a student in an art school in town...She did a great job," chimed in Brad.

With THWOMP's Animethon 17 performance on August 6, 2010, they guys have their hands full. They will nail down details for their fall CD release party (to "officially" release their CD) and begin designing a new t-shirt after Animethon.

They also have set their sights beyond Alberta. "We’re going to set our minds into getting into some conventions we haven’t been in yet, like the ones out in Vancouver and hopefully the ones in Washington, if possible," added Dave.

THWOMP is a Nintendo® cover band that brings to life the music from classic Nintendo® and Super Nintendo® video games. The band is comprised of Calgarians Brad Stanton (lead guitar), Colin Mitchel (lead guitar), Scott Munro (bass), Scott Moffat (drums), David Marshall (keyboards/percussion) and Kirk McVean (keyboards). To learn more about THWOMP, the band or to listen to audio clips, visit their website and Myspace page.

To find out about THWOMP's CD, entitled "Hey! Listen", check out my album review. Ordering information is also there.

Full interview series: Part 1 – THWOMP’s Origins | Part 2 – Band Names & Niches | Part 3 – Songwriting | Part 4 - Hey! Listen! CD Release | Part 5 - On Gigs | Part 6 - Convention Gigs | Part 7 - Video Games | Part 8 - Fun & Food

Highlights from Otafest 2010

Running on the May long weekend, Calgary's annual anime convention featured a record number of special events and popular classics for anime and comic fans from Alberta.

Otafest is considered one of the premier anime conventions in Alberta, only rivaled by Animethon in Edmonton. With 103 special events, there were plenty of activities for otaku of anime, comics, manga and video games to enjoy at Otafest 2010.

Artists, Voice Actors, Bands, Improv and Cultural Demonstrations on Otafest's Special Guest List

This year, Otafest featured three headliner guests: voice actors Todd Haberkorn and Michelle Ruff and cartoonist Scott Ramsoomair. Haberkorn is known for portraying Hikaru Hitachiin (Ouran High School), Watanuki (xxxHolic) and Death the Kid (Soul Eater). Ruff was awarded Best Voice Actress (English) at the 2009 SPJA Industry Awards. She has voiced over 100 different characters, including Rukia (Bleach), Yoko (Gurren Lagann), Chi (Chobits) and Princess Euphemia (Code Geass). Canadian cartoonist Ramsoomair is the creator, writer and artist of VGCats, a popular video game humor-based web comic.

Other special guests included Synaptic Chaos Theatre, Midnight Taiko, the Shin Ken Kai Nobara Iaido Club, the 404's improv group, the band THWOMP and the band Pinku Polkadotsu.

Special Events Galore at Otafest 2010

Otafest increased its special event line-up from 90 to 103. This year, a wide variety of interactive game shows were added, such as AMV Mortal Combat - where anime music videos selected by the audience are pitted against each other, Otafest Tactics - a game that tests players' strategic and battle skills and Anime Talkabout - where players have only 20 seconds to show off how much they know about an anime-related topic.

Other new events included the Otafest Much Music Video Dance, Lolita Fashion Show, the Maid Café, the Pokémon League, Speed Dating and live-action Anime Chess.

Popular Classics Return and Old Standbys Continue to Draw Crowds at Otafest

The AMV Game show returned, in which contestants watch selected AMV's and then answer questions. In Anime EDGE, 15 different games and game shows were combined into one big game.

An anime con would be incomplete without anime showings, cosplay contests, karaoke and gaming rooms. Otafest is no exception. The vendor room and Artist Alley were popular with shoppers seeking to buy Bleach manga, Inuyasha DVD's and other popular otaku merchandise.

The History of Otafest

Otafest is the brainchild of the the University of Calgary's Dedicated Otaku Anime Club. The first festival was held in 1999 as a one-day film festival. Throughout the years, Otafest organizers added educational panels, including Japanese 101, computer tips to enhance music videos and CG art, cosplay , writing fan fiction, convention etiquette and flirting. Cultural demonstrations on how to wear a kimono, the Japanese tea ceremony, Taiko drumming and Iaido have been included over the years. Otafest is now a three-day annual festival held during the Victoria Day weekend at the University of Calgary. A one-day "lite" festival was added in November 2009.

Some Glitches But Still a Fun Weekend at Otafest 2010

The most controversial issue at Otafest 2010 was over weapons and props. During an incident at Otafest Lite 2009, a cardboard prop was mistaken for a real weapon by university staff when viewed from a distance. Otafest organizers initially banned all props of weapons, but fan backlash was strong. The revised policy on the website is a workable compromise, banning any weapons, any props resembling weapons and any props made predominantly of metal. Acceptable prop weapons were tagged so that university campus security could easily identify these items as props from a distance.

Two band-related glitches detracted from fans' musical experience. The band Pinku Polkadotsu had to withdraw from the line-up when the drummer was injured in an accident. Partway through the THWOMP concert, a fuse was blown.

Some changes were good, others not as successful. The vendor room saw an increase in vendors from 20 to 30, thanks to a streamlined floor plan. Programming was rather light on Sunday, with the bulk of the activities scheduled on Saturday. Otafest Idol was smaller than previous years, with 25 pre-registrations accepted (down from 30) and eight finalists (down from 10) to give more time for feedback from the judges. Campus construction resulted in various detours and restricted areas.

Bumps aside, attendees still enjoyed a fun-filled weekend. Cosplayers were in abundance; the youngest was a mere toddler, while the oldest cosplayers were well into their 40's. The Maid Café drew such a crowd that advance tickets had to be issued. The Cosplay Contest was as popular as ever, with over 60 entrants and audience line ups spanning one kilometer.

Attendees got into the spirit of giving by donating over $5,300 for breast cancer research. With the fundraising goal well met, three festival organizers had their heads, while one shaved his chest at the Closing Ceremonies.

Final attendance figures for Otafest are not yet available. However, attendance has been steadily increasing over the past two years. If these historical figures are any indication, 2010 numbers should be over 4,000. With 103 special events, healthy attendance and over $5,000 raised for cancer research, the Otafest 2010 anime convention can be dubbed a success.

Originally published May 28, 2010 on Suite101.com. All rights reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.

THWOMP Interview: On Convention Gigs

Originally written for Suite101.com on July 27, 2010 as part of my  Interview with Dave Marshall and Brad Stanton of THWOMP series. This one didn't make the cut (although the other parts did, go figure). Here, Brad Stanton and Dave Marshall of the Nintendo® cover band THWOMP discuss convention gigs:

Calgary-based Nintendo® cover band THWOMP has attracted a growing fan base of gaming enthusiasts. They will rock Edmonton on August 6, 2010 at Animethon 17.

In the fall, they will release their debut CD. Band members Brad Stanton and Dave Marshall came for an exclusive chat with Suite 101. In this segment, they talk about this year’s convention gigs.

Video Game Bands and Conventions – A Good Fit 

Conventions draw anime otaku, hardcore gamers and comic book fanatics, giving them a platform to publicly indulge in their geeky passions. In On Gigs, Past, Present and Future, Brad explained that these enthusiasts make for their ideal audience.

Having performed at Alberta's anime conventions for a couple of years has given the group members a unique insight in convention organization. "It’s interesting being on the inside a little bit, seeing how some of them are run," shared Brad. "How completely different they are, even when it’s a lot of the same people because it’s people from the same circle."

Anime conventions are mostly volunteer run, which the group admires. "They’re doing it just because they love the experience, which is kind of like what we’re doing," said Dave. "It’s a good fit in that respect too." 

Animethon is Alberta's longest running anime convention. The anime con takes place every summer at Edmonton's Grant MacEwan University. The guys from THWOMP are looking forward to their August 6 gig. "Last year was such a hoot," said Brad. "We tore it up. We had some fun. So we’re gonna expect some good people there. It’s a good show."

The group is appreciative of the efforts that convention organizers put towards hosting an entertaining show. man, they put in a huge effort into it last year, too," said Brad in relation to Animethon 16. "The stage last year was so wicked."

THWOMP at the Calgary ExpoLast year marked THWOMP's debut gig at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo, held every spring on the Calgary Stampede grounds. The Calgary Expo attracts high profile guests such as Star Trek's Leonard Nimoy and Brent Spiner.

THWOMP's expo experience hit some sour notes. The guys tried their best to rock the convention "on some risers in a box" during their half-hour gig. Unfortunately, their gig was scheduled at the same time as the cosplay contest. "That was lame!" said Brad. "You can’t rock out in convention hall lighting. It just doesn’t happen."

THWOMP at Otafest  

THWOMP also enjoys their gigs at Calgary's annual anime convention, Otafest. This anime con is held every May long weekend at the University of Calgary. The organizers have experience hosting anime cover bands and video game cover bands and take great efforts to staging the shows properly.

The 2010 Otafest was extremely memorable. THWOMP's show blew a fuse, cutting off power in one side of the building. "It was exciting," recalled Dave. THWOMP is a Nintendo® band comprised of Calgarians Brad Stanton (lead guitar), Colin Mitchel (lead guitar), Scott Munro (bass), Scott Moffat (drums), David Marshall (keyboards/percussion) and Kirk McVean (keyboards).

For more information about THWOMP, the band or to listen to audio clips, visit their website and Myspace page. In upcoming installments of this Suite 101 exclusive interview, Brad and Dave discuss video games, fun and food.

Full interview series: Part 1 – THWOMP’s Origins | Part 2 – Band Names & Niches | Part 3 – Songwriting | Part 4 - Hey! Listen! CD Release | Part 5 - On Gigs | Part 6 - Convention Gigs | Part 7 - Video Games | Part 8 - Fun & Food

(c) Rhona-Mae Arca, 2010. All rights reserved.