After playing Rock Band 2 for 2 straight hours and struggling though some songs I've never played before, I was worried that when the videos started making their way online, I'd look like an asshole who didn't know how to play fake instruments, and that everyone would laugh at me. But when I watch this video of us doing Livin' on a Prayer, all I see is the evening distilled to its essence: a lot of geeks having a lot of fun pretending to be rock stars on a real stage playing for a real audience, which is exactly what I hoped for when I planned it. I mean, we were up there playing 80s anthems, and there were people dancing in front of the stage. When I sang to a girl in the front row, she screamed like we were at an actual concert. For reals! It was so awesome, it was hard not to get caught up in the fantasy of the thing, and I don't think any of us who played the game spent more than 10 seconds fighting it.
In fact, this was so much fun, I think I may need to figure out a way to make it part of every con I go to … you know, like going on tour. \m/
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Best part of the con, for sure. So much fun! Next time, each band should have a name or something, a prize going to the geekiest:
Wil Wheaton and the Star Destroyers
Ashley Judd, Where Are You?
Wil Can’t Fucos
etc…
Wil – after seeing this I hope to see you in San Diego in July. A panel like this would be well worth any wait in line. The video was awesome and you looked like you were having a ton of fun which is what really matters.
Hopefully a better one of you playing drums during ‘We Got the Beat’ will surface. 🙂
You know, I think there’s a level of coolness that can only be reached once you stop caring whether you’re cool or not.
Congrats on reaching it.;-)
-Cole
That. Was fucking. Hawesome. \m/>.< \m/ And not only that, but you looked like you were having so much fun doing it. Bravo.
I honestly thought you DID look cool. And like you were having tons of fun. Are there no end to your talents???
Wow, for some reason this gives me the warm fuzzies. There are so many geek moments where I can just sort of look at the footage and go, “Yup, we’re a legitimate community now.”
You should sell tour t-shirts. I’d buy one if the tour continues at Emerald City… 😀
…all that was missing was a bra flying through that air and hitting you in the face.
Kicking Ass and Taking Names! as usual! 😀
My question is, though, I can’t figure out how Rock Band tracks points for the singing part. I can understand the rest of the instruments because you are hitting things along with the icons that move across the screen. But how does it measure the singing?
Hott.
Voice reg, you have to sing the right words at the right time. It picks that up and scores accordingly… so dont try speaking lines from Wizard of Oz when singing Dark Side of the Moon because it doesnt work.
Hey Wil .. spotted you on twitter
Haven’t seen you around since we worked in France on Mr Stitch how are you doin dude. The music is sounding good. My twitter name …asecondwind. … We are filming and building an eco village in France. Look us up next time you are in France.
Paul (Unit stills photographer) http://www.savingthedodo.com
The best part about being a geek is that because you understand that you ARE a geek, it doesn’t matter what people think about you, so you can go out and do all the fun stuff that other people might be too wussy to do….like sing vocals on Rock Band 2 in front of a crowd. Rock on, sir, rock on.
*wabbit recovers from squeezure enough to type*
OMFG! That was the most awesome thing ever.
It was a bottle of awesomesauce surrounded by awesome peanuts and shipped in a box of awesome.
Seriously.
A tour?
Bring it.
*wabbit wishes she was better with Photoshop-we need graphics!*
I will never forget this… especially since it was the first time I had ever played Rock Band..
~~Gooniegirl
*fan girl squeal*
Awesome!
This is the best thing I will watch all week. So much fun, I would have loved to be in that audience singing along. And your singing doesn’t sound like it sucks too bad either.
Mr. Wheaton was jazzed that I gave him my autograph earlier. That, coupled with calling down the power of the Norse Gods, proved to be the best possible thing to assist him in his rocking. You should’ve seen me give it to him, though. I almost pee’d my pants with delight at having shook his hand that I could barely explain why I was giving him a picture of myself with my signature on it. I wasn’t nearly as cool as I thought I was on the way over to the convention center
Agreed. This was the funnest thing ever. Also, thanks for rocking, bandmate!
– Drums, “Eye of the Tiger”
Did my comment disappear? Anyro, I was talking about how I gave Wil my autograph earlier and how that might’ve helped his performance. I went on to say that I was scared shitless of him because he is an idol of mine and that I’m not even 25% as cool as I thought I was on the way to the convention. Thanks for being cool as all hell, Mr. Wheaton. You’re a class act for sure. I am now a devotee. Hope to see you at PAX.
Clearly, Wil’s Rock Band band name should be:
Han Shot First
That was actually the coolest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Also the first time I’ve seen a girl on drums. It’s good to know others exist.
That was AWESOME, Wil! You got some great rocker moves there!
Okay, not only did I lol, but I also giggled, snorted, and guffawed…
That was simultaneously the nerdiest AND the coolest thing I’ve seen in a long time.
Seeing how much of a wonderfully geeky time you were all having up there made it even more enjoyable to watch on the vid. I was beaming by the end of it!
Too cool, entirely too cool. 🙂
I work with a buncha geeks and we have RockBand in our break room. One of the best games ever created. Just before I started working there, I heard there was a RockBand contest. They formed bands (the likes of which have never been seen!) and they had a stage and everything.
I fully intend to take part in the next one….. GEEK ROCK!!
B”H
Definitely looked cool here.
You have a good stage presence, too.
Hey,this is a big upgrade on karoke.I have to say your singing is alright.
You, sir, Rock!
I think Band from TV has a new lead singer! 🙂
Rockin’
I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather play Rock Band with! Thanks for posting!
Yes please!! If ANYONE has a better quality version of “We Got The Beat” from that night, PLEASE POST!!! I give you FULL permission…
If you are serious about the traveling “Rock Band” Con road show then I can make that happen in Seattle. Just let George or Jim know what you need, I will make it happen!
Um. It was awesome. Like, totally. I mean, if you’re gonna pretend to be a rock star, you totally rocked it. Totally.
Just had to say how awesome the new profile pic is – the sweater, the resemblance, the ironic eyebrow lift. Perfect.
We (being my husband and I and two of our closest friends) play Rockband a lot and well, we have dreams of a roaring audience and being actual musicians.
This being said- I got a guitar for Christmas and have a new goal of being a cool folk-singing indi-music chick. Ah Rockband, how it makes us feel cool.
sure bring the band to mid-south con in Memphis tn.
http://www.midsouthcon.org/
There are so many levels of awesome in this I think I can count them all. Well done!
First time commenter just here to say I’ve never wanted to be at a con so bad as after seeing this. What a great way for a whole bunch of geeks to have fun.
First time poster, Wil. The video made me laugh for all the right reasons. Damn it you look cool because you are being yourself and are comfortable with yourself. And that’s just awesome. Also, you’re cool because either you know all the words by heart, or you are doing one hell of a job of just glancing at the screen.
The leg kick around the 3:00 minute mark is my favorite.
BTW, not to hijack this thread but my favorite posts, as hopefully soon to be dad, are the one’s about your relationship with your kids. Thanks for all the advice and honesty about your fears and perceived short comings. If I’m half the dad you are, then my kids will turn out great and be blessed.
Dude… we’re pals right? …Right?
Moving on.
If you spend the same amount of time you spend playing Rock Band playing an actual instrument you will actually be able to play. Actually!
Let me put this in a gamer perspective. Remember that time you and your buddies finally made it all the way through that high level dungeon? That sense of accomplishment that comes from knowing that everyone did their job and you couldn’t have done it without the full team in place? Playing in a band is sooo much more fun.
I encourage all of you to pick up a real instrument at some point in your life. Learn to play a song on that instrument and play it in front of people with some of your friends. You will love it and never forget it.
Chock full o’awesome indeed. I’m wondering if they have “You Give Love A Bad Name,” too, because I would be totally ALL OVER that shit.
Definite vote for a Rock Band event at every con. Wish someone had had this kind of foresight at Denvention, for instance…
Oh, @Booduh. I don’t think you’re casting aspersions on people who love Rock Band, Guitar Hero, etc. But before you get blasted by everyone who loves Rock Band right into the heart of the sun, allow me to point out a couple of things to share some perspective of my own:
1. I don’t fundamentally disagree with you. I play bass guitar, a little rhythm, blues harmonica, and a little drums. Jamming with friends is incredibly satisfying and a whole lot of fun.
2. That said, I’m never going to be able to play Blackened, or Jessica, or Won’t Get Fooled Again and have any reasonable expectation of sounding just like the original artists, because I don’t have the time or interest in becoming a professional musician.
3. The whole point of Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and other games like it is to have fun pretending to be a rock star, and to enjoy the simulation of performing in a real gig.
4. As someone else pointed out upthread, you don’t hear veterans telling people who play Call of Duty to go enlist, right?
5. Having said all of that, the feeling you get when you make a guitar actually play a song you’ve heard is magical, and in that regard, I’d agree that picking up and learning to play real instruments is awesome.
Thanks fer the reply and the use of your Cloak of Forum Troll Evasion.
I think that a lot of people stumble on the notion that they have to sound just like the original artists to do a song justice. I have found that it is better to capture the spirit of the song while making it your own.
I play regularly at a bar here in the Seattle area on open mic nights. After a year or so of just winging it they asked us to come in and play a weekend gig for cash. We have played a few more of those since and were invited to play a river festival. The funny thing? People called me red-blue-green in reference to guitar hero when I first started playing… 😎
Regarding the request for Phoenix videos:
Livin on a Prayer: youtube.com/watch?v=WPyvyxcZjfM
(& youtube.com/watch?v=z4SKL94akKs <-- as seen in blog post) We Got the Beat (Wil on drums): youtube.com/watch?v=FJ6EW1aHbLc Eye of the Tiger: youtube.com/watch?v=7rYXIdkiC6c flickr.com/photos/chris_wass/3223533181/ [Edited Montage: Mr Bright Side, Give it Away, Eye of the Tiger, Round and Round): youtube.com/watch?v=9wbhT9gOwEk PANEL: Part 1: youtube.com/watch?v=ArbgyG0utGc Part 2: youtube.com/watch?v=Wdku_yCbGIE Part 3: youtube.com/watch?v=aVfb9b0zvkQ The following had sound difficulties, turn your speakers down: Keep 'Em Separated: youtube.com/watch?v=iJCdxpuDujY Give it Away: youtube.com/watch?v=mzgrJFvMdgI Any Way You Want It: youtube.com/watch?v=cCtv5Z62VCs
Llaurie had it right: GH has a way nicer drum kit setup. I also prefer the Moog guitar over RB’s.
YMMV, of course.
Oh, and I saw the request to post links from the event, so here’s my contribution to justifying the Spanish-American War:
Can’t wait to see the show again once we get the fog machine and frickin’ laser beams set up.
I know, right? Frickin’ LASER BEAMS.