Video Games Live hits Philly tomorrow

by Christopher Grant { Jun 2nd 2006 at 11:55AM }

The previously canceled but now resuscitated Video Games Live show is ready to play its third show to date at Philadelphia's Merriam Theater in Center City tomorrow night. Like their show at GDC in March, this one is tied to a popular event -- namely Wizard World Philadelphia -- giving them a built-in audience who've already traveled to the city.

The GDC show in San Jose sold out, no doubt as a result of the hoards of gaming geeks and industry insiders around, but there are still tickets available in Philadelphia (comic book geeks, what's up?). In addition to the great music, the pre-show festival includes a costume event and a special meet and greet. Philadelphia attendees include Marty O'Donell (Halo), Jason Hayes (World of Warcraft), Martin Leung (Video Game Pianist) and me!

Alright, maybe I'm not a celebrity, but I'll be there with a handful of Joystiq t-shirts so if you see me*, ask for one. If there's enough Philly readers going (c'mon guys!) it might even be fun to meet up before hand, play some Metroid Prime: Hunters, you know the deal.

*I'll be the tall guy with a Joystiq shirt on!

Tags: Concert, Jack Wall, JackWall, Meetup, Music, Philadelphia, Philly, Tommy Tallarico, TommyTallarico, Video Games Live, VideoGamesLive

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Chris Maguire @ Jun 2nd 2006 12:13PM

MPH beforehand sounds like a good time to me... though if it's going to rain like everyone's saying it is, we'll have to find a place indoors.

C. Grant @ Jun 2nd 2006 12:18PM

Alright Philadelphians:

If it does rain, let's kill the messenger! Alright, that was premature. There's plenty of places nearby we could hang at. If we're all over 21, we could grab a beer; if there's some younger folk, we could make them sit outside the window and watch us enjoy our age-sensitive treats ... or we could find someplace all ages. I'm open to suggestions.

shane @ Jun 2nd 2006 12:25PM

yeah i live in philly
should i go
do you accually play games
where do you get tickets
is it just music to games
im still thinkin a bout it

calthaer @ Jun 2nd 2006 12:29PM

So that they can cancel my tickets and leave me out the $10 fee PER ticket? No way. Once burned, twice shy.

Sounds like a cool event, but I think I'll wait until it's a little more established and has more than a 50/50 chance IMO of actually happening.

C. Grant @ Jun 2nd 2006 12:42PM

calthaer,

Pretty sure this time it's going on. It is tomorrow night after all! If you're really worried about that, I can ask the guys who put the show on to make a comment.

Sense @ Jun 2nd 2006 12:48PM

Tommy Tallarico is a tool.

He dissed Viewtiful Joe and *recommended* Dragon's Lair 3D in the same show.

He may be a decent composer, but video game connoisseur he is not.

rhork. @ Jun 2nd 2006 1:06PM

For anyone who has ever witnessed this man in work, I'm sure we can all come to some sort of mutual agreement that Tony Tallarico is pretty Damn Annoying.

I really don't like listening/watching/thinking about this man, but hey- i do love to complain about the guy. It's the only thing that kept me watching Judgement Day... (yea, yea - i was a sucker for G4 at times)... That show was so horrible (All blame rests upon Tony Tallarico- you'd know what I mean if you've ever seen it) and frustrating to watch that it was almost entertaining just to sit down, watch and bitch through the whole half an hour.

naughn @ Jun 2nd 2006 1:14PM

Hey,

I live in Philly.. didnt realize you had presence here...

Long time, first time... anyway cant make the show tomorrow but do you guys ever do other organized or sponsored events around the area??

ElChibo @ Jun 2nd 2006 1:47PM

IM GOING!!! I'll see ya there!

thrillho @ Jun 2nd 2006 1:57PM

im prolly going to the con on sunday only (i know, the worst day of the 3). but i want a joystiq shirt! save one for me.

Victor Lucas @ Jun 2nd 2006 2:01PM

You guys who have the opportunity to go and don't will be missing an awesome show! Do yourselves a huge favor and take in VGL, you won't be disappointed! And for those saps who want to take pot shots at Tommy just because he has a different opinion than you...that's my job! :-)

Seriously, grow up, stop your bitching about a guy that's literally devoted his entire life to helping make games and this industry better and find a way to separate your fanaticism for a particular game from his, so that you can get behind and support awesome work like Video Games Live.

BTW, Judgment Day is gone now but if you live in the States, stay tuned Tommy and my reviews in Reviews on the Run.

All the best!

-vic

puh_fifer @ Jun 2nd 2006 2:07PM

I'm with Naughn, can't make it to the show tomorrow, but have been dying for a philly or NEPA reader meet-up.

LETS MAKE IT HAPPEN.

ElChibo @ Jun 2nd 2006 2:11PM

Is that really Victor Lucas?? If so.... wow, awesome! I'm so bumed that JD is gone, but I thought Reviews on the Run was the same exact show just with a different name for a different country or something. I have the 100th ep downloaded and its the same 100th ep of JD. If thats coming here thats freciken awesome. Tallarico is awesome, I have nothing against him whatsoever, his music is great, and so what if hes opinionated, who isnt?

C. Grant @ Jun 2nd 2006 2:13PM

Thanks for stopping by Victor!

Victor Lucas @ Jun 2nd 2006 2:15PM

Yep, it's me. I'm a Joystiq fan. Good stuff here. :-) Thanks for watching our stuff and please stay tuned for more from Tommy and I and my production company, Greedy Productions.

But to stay on topic...GO SEE VIDEO GAMES LIVE!

All the best,

-vic

DG @ Jun 2nd 2006 2:40PM

According to some doofus in the video, this show is "the best thing ever." You can't really argue with that.

Nico @ Jun 2nd 2006 3:17PM

Hey! Philly here as well, but this broke chick can't make it to the show. Would definitely enjoy hanging out somewhere beforehand though, I'll keep my eyes open for a post.

Sabre @ Jun 2nd 2006 3:21PM

"Tommy Tallarico is a tool.

He dissed Viewtiful Joe and *recommended* Dragon's Lair 3D in the same show."

@ Sense:

It's called an OPINION you tool. No one says you have to believe ONLY what he says. I swear...people who take someones OPINION on a game review as almost a personal attack are complete idiots.

Oh and Vic...I feel ya man. I've been chit chatting with Becky for a couple months now and she sends me the IGN threads of people bashing Tommy...it's pretty pathetic.

I may not have always agreed with the reviews you and Tommy gave...but they are just that, opinions.

Oh and I can't wait for the Hollywood Bowl show in September. I was sorta burned when the San Diego show was cancelled last year but I bought me the best seats (Garden Box) for this years show. I CANT WAIT!

WiiNintendo @ Jun 2nd 2006 3:23PM

yeah, I live a few blocks from there, let's meet up and have a metroid battle, I'm bringing Mario Kart too.

what time?

WiiNintendo @ Jun 2nd 2006 3:37PM

Let's meet up at Mcglinchey's around the corner on 15th (259 S 15th St). Plus they have CHEAP drinks and a cocktail Ms. Pacman table.

Let's do it up.

WHAT TIME!

C. Grant @ Jun 2nd 2006 3:45PM

McGlinchey's is sure to give us a case of lung cancer faster than you can say "10 packs a day." Lucky for us, Vlad ain't around!

If no youngsters come around, that sounds cool with me.

Jarrett @ Jun 2nd 2006 3:47PM

I saw the San Jose show. The orchestra was third-rate at best. I was really disappointed how they wrecked the music from TRON.

But if you're not too picky about the performance, you'll have a really, really great time. I'm very happy I went to the show. It was a lot of fun.

thrillho @ Jun 2nd 2006 3:54PM

hmm, i cant go down there on sat, maybe ill see a fellow nerd, er joystiq'er at the con on sunday...

Chris Maguire @ Jun 2nd 2006 4:16PM

6:30 or 7:00?

WiiNintendo @ Jun 2nd 2006 4:19PM

I'll be there at 7, hopefully good and buzzed. I'll leave picochat open, so join room one and we'll get it started.

EVERYONE GO TO Mcglinchey's (around the corner at 259 S 15th St)at 7 pm. DS in hand. I'll have a DS Lite.

ElChibo @ Jun 2nd 2006 4:47PM

Can't go there, I'll be at the pre-show stuff

ufgatorindc @ Jun 2nd 2006 4:54PM

does anyone else think that $50 for a video game music concert is just a bit too steep?

ElChibo @ Jun 2nd 2006 5:25PM

the cheaper tickets are like $25

Sense @ Jun 2nd 2006 5:47PM

Hey, Tommy's alright (tool was a little strong, sorry). I just thought that one call was a little strange. I mean, it's Viewtiful Joe. He's welcome to his opinion, though.

I've been enjoying Tommy's work for some time. Earthworm Jim has a very memorable soundtrack.

I wasn't trying to ruffle any feathers.

Tommy, if you're reading: Feel free to give me a nice solid gut punch should we ever meet. :)

C. Grant @ Jun 2nd 2006 6:27PM

Careful what you agree too!

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/30/gamespot-gets-gut-punched-for-ps3-price-promise/

Sense @ Jun 2nd 2006 6:50PM

Meh. I probably deserve it.

Sabre @ Jun 2nd 2006 6:57PM

With all the crap people say about Tommy and 99.9999999999999999999999999% of it is complete 5 year old childish crap...I'd say so yea.

Plus what you said is nothing compared to what a few idiots say on the IGN boards.

Matt Dusza @ Jun 3rd 2006 1:49AM

hmm. i may go to the one in chicago. I went to the PLAY! Symphony last week and I loved it and was amazing. they gave out flyers for the VGL show, but from the looks of it it may be oo mainstream/annoying MTV like crap more than actual games. Synchronized Lasers and videos, AMD sponsering it, i dont know it could turn into more of a rock show, which i dont wanna see. I really liked the ohrcisrta of PLAY! and if its like that i may go since tickets are reletively cheap in the 35- to 50 range while play was 80 for me (but definetly worth it)

so anyone who goes hit me up and LMK how it was

Sabre @ Jun 3rd 2006 5:42AM

So b/c a company is a sponsor and uses lasers and videos it is "MTV like crap"? Umm...ok.

Hate to break it to you buddy but the 2 Square concerts we had here in LA (Dear Friends and More Friends) had videos for both showing clips from the games they were playing the music from. Plus on the 2nd concert (More Friends), the orchestra, the choir AND the Black Mages (with Nobuo Uematsu on keyboards) played One Winged Angel (from Advent Children.)

Just b/c something has sponsors doesn't mean it has less credibility...it just means they have more cash to spend and support.