MAGFest presents "Jamspace" at PAX East

NickTheNewbie

The good people from MAGFest, the Music And Gaming Festival, will be providing a Jamspace at PAX east this year.


What is Jamspace?
Jamspace is an area where anyone who has any idea how to play an instrument is invited to come up and play music, and anyone who doesn't is invited to watch. The main focus is usually video game music, so you're guaranteed to hear classic stuff that you know and love all weekend.

What equipment is provided?
Almost everything you could ever need. We provide the lighting, amps, guitars, basses, pianos, and drums, and then you provide the talent. You're welcome to bring your own instrument as well. We don't have any violins or saxophones or the like, so when someone brings one of those in, it always gives an unexpectedly awesome result.

Who's allowed to play?
Anyone. Can you play some stuff on the piano? Go ahead. Do you have a backing track that you'd like to play guitar over? Be our guest. Are you in a full band that wants to play a mini set? The stage is yours. Do you want to meet other musicians and jam with them? Jam away.

This can't possibly end with good results...
You'd be surprised! MAGFest has had a Jamspace at itself for the past 3 years, and provided a jamspace for other conventions as well. Musicians always seem to find a way to come out of the woodwork and entertain everyone. Here are some great examples:
Random OCRemix people Toe Jammin' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYxwYMS6t3s
PrinceOfDarkness showing off a Sonic 3 arrangement he wrote - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-w66HI7tC0
Final Fantasy 6 piano solo - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFhN1qUSz00
This Place is Haunted Playing as a full band - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egEDXZSj3p8

Holy shit that's awesome
Yeah it is. Jamspace will be going the whole weekend at PAX east, so make sure to stop by and enjoy (or make!) some music.


The Jamspace at PAX East is provided by MAGFest, which is a video game music festival hosted just outside Washington, DC. The 9th annual MAGfest will be January 13-16, 2011.

Moe Fwacky

Holy crap, if my cousin ends up coming, I'm sure he'll spend the bulk of his weekend doing this.

heels

Dont forget! Metroid Metal who played at PAX this past year first came together at Jamspace!

That_Spoony_Bard

Holy crap indeed. I'd love to watch and participate in this.

Kirk

Hey guys, check out my 60 minute jazz funk fusion break down of level 3 from Legendary Wings!

DeathPrawn

This sounds like it'll be a blast.

Now to find a way to bring my accordion without having to lug it around the con all day...

Arco

... Holy shit. Real drumming at PAX?

I'm really going to have to start practicing my 8 and 16-bit drum parts and get them tight before March!

Also, I have to say that this is phenomenal idea. I'm really in love with it, and I've never even experienced a MAGfest show or Jamspace before. Way to go, guys. Way to raise the bar.

NotASenator

This is actually the best PAX idea I've ever heard.

I mean, I don't really care about video game music to any meaningful level, but any impromptu jam session is good in my book.

NickTheNewbie

For those of you interested in playing, it might be a good idea to start throwing out some song ideas so you can have an idea of who you might be jamming with and be a little more prepared to play stuff.

Ricin

Hey man cool you guys are headed to beantown. You guys at Magfest are really making a name for yourselves. You even got a mention in Game informer on their release calender.

Keep up the good work, maybe you can get out of new year's day weekend and I can actually go to MAGFEST.

Ricin

Mr Spatula

The other week I was just jamming out to some Secret of Mana and Chrono Trigger songs on harmonium accompanied by guitar and bass. If anyone else currently lives in the Boston area and wants to cover songs from these games (or others) give me a shout!

runethomas

I'm a bass player, started playing back in 98ish (I'm 24 out of western mass.)
I haven't picked it up in a few years though, after checking out jamspace it makes me want to start up again.

binary1230

(Disclaimer: I'm the Magfest music guy organizing this room.)

Songs I want to play with everyone:
- Cave Story - running hell
- Anything from FF6
- New Super Mario Wii Athletic Theme
- And, /everything/ from Chrono Trigger, like all in a row back to back or something. seriously. yes. we can do it in 20 minutes.

Bringing some weird gizmos so we can do some of this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9qOu-YXWBM#t=2m14s
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSJXJ_WeyZQ#t=1m20s
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPJRNDWXAXY

I want someone to bring:
- dijiridu for Kefka's theme
- freaking accordion for some zelda 64 song of storms
- sax for some cowboy bebop, real folk blues
- bongos for katamari damacy main theme
- some kind of vocoder/autotune VST-ish thing for Still Alive from portal

Man this has got me thinking that we need to do a radio broadcast with some improv videogame music stuff before PAX East to get everyone in the mood...

I, for one, am WAY PUMPED that we get to do this. Get ready.

EDIT: Woah. It embedded everything. Neato.

runethomas

So I guess I have to start learning some bass lines

Things I'd like to try

Zanarkand theme
Anything chronotrigger
Anything FF related

If anyone remembers Secret of evermore I'd like to try some stuff there too

ah and there's a ton of other stuff too lol

NickTheNewbie

I think it's time i started brushing up on my chrono trigger, but I only know solo piano arrangements, so i don't know how well it would work with other people playing with me.

mentok1982

I have not forgotten about this. I told my musician buddy all about this and I hope he
decides to come to PAX East.

Daebunz

This sounds like a blast. I'll definatley be checking it out. Need to refresh myself on some mega man tunes on my guitar so I can play with some of you folks!

krztov

ill definitely check this out, I write electronic music so seeing those synths in the photo peaked my interest.

now to learn some videogame tunes.

runethomas

hmm thinking about cool songs that would translate well in the real world, thinking about maybe this song

breath of fire II "crisis"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfS5XGjoKb4&feature=related

NickTheNewbie

runethomas wrote: »

hmm thinking about cool songs that would translate well in the real world, thinking about maybe this song

breath of fire II "crisis"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfS5XGjoKb4&feature=related

oof, who's good at slap bass?

NickTheNewbie

I own this thing and I'm bringing it up with me. Who wants to take a whack at making some SWEET SYNTH BEATS.

Moe Fwacky

Guys, jamspace is going to be awesome.

binary1230

Btw this was Jamspace at Magfest at about 5am:



CANT WAIT. One month to go!

Ahkhira

This kinda makes me wish I wasn't working... Jazz anyone?

JonnyNero

There better be a freaking repeat of this at prime

Ozzkev55

Count me in for anything. I'm a bassist, with a long-time itch to cover VG tunes

Haikufrenzy

I'd love to learn how to play some musical instruments, great stuff.

SoxFan13

I can pretty much play from any chart (on piano). Do people generally bring music for others, or is it a BYOM kind of deal?

o the afermath

There is no way... I will gladly play guitar or mix music!

Noisymunk

I play drums. I like to jam. I'm adding my sticks to my list of things to bring to pax and getting very excited to throw down with all of you.

chupamiubre

This will be great!

Ahkhira

should I bring my flute or not?

NickTheNewbie

YES ABSOLUTELY

Ahkhira

Consider it packed. It's actually small enogh to carry around.

Mike Toole

I've seen this deal at Otakon-- there's a signup sheet for jam times that fills the hell up FAST. Hoping to swing by for a late-nite jam at some point, though. I play guitar and trombone. Still have my ancient student t-bone, but it's a little busted (sticks in 5th position) and I need practice. Might bring it (perfect for ska cover of the Tetris theme), might not.

Can we plug our own stuff into the mixer? I have DS-10 for the Nintendo DS, and have programmed up a bunch of tunes for that.

NickTheNewbie

Yeah absolutely. Same thing if you want to have a backing track from any other device, or bring your own guitar or bass.

Ahkhira

Trombone? AWESOME!!!!!! Impromptu orchestra anyone? I may be able to find sheet music for Final Fantasy...

jescoolman

I'm an electric violinist and music producer from Connecticut. I will absolutely be at jam space! I suppose it's small enough to lug around. Maybe I'll bring the computer too for beats...

Any other string players?

desdinova

I played bass clarinet for years but I wouldn't be able to get my chops back up before PAX. I'll probably bring some toys though. Hope you boys can handle the power of the SHAKERINE.

kaleedity

This would be so awesome but my bass trombone would be too much of a pain in the ass to lug on a train+planeride there, not to mention I'd pretty much be relying on people to bring me sheet music as I don't have a modicum of talent for improvisation.

I'll be showing up regardless.

binary1230

So I dug up my old songlists from forever ago, this is from years ago so it's way outdated, this list is WAY small.

All I'm saying is that I want another inspector gadget jam like we did at AUSA. (Saxaphone guy: If you can hear this, come to PAX. Please.)

BANJO KAZOOIE
- MUMBO'S HUT
- TREASURE TROVE COVE
- CASTLE MUSIC (GRUNTILDA'S THEME)


CASTLEVANIA
- CLOCK TOWER
- BLOODY TEARS


CAVE STORY
- MAIN THEME (PLANTATION THEME)
- GRASSTOWN
- MOONSONG (SORTA)


CHRONO CROSS
- UNSTOLEN JEWEL (OR WHATEVER IT'S REALLY CALLED)
SCARS OF TIME
- ((OTHERS? MAYBE?))


CHRONO TRIGGER
- CHRONO'S THEME
- 600 AD
- MILLENIAL FAIR
- THE END OF TIME
- SPECCIO
- THE TRIAL
- SEWERS
- FROG'S THEME
- ROBO'S THEME
- LUCCA'S THEME
- MAGUS'S THEME
- BATTLE MUSIC
- WORLD REVOLUTION (LAVOS 2ND/LAST BATTLE)
((LOTS MORE))


DUCKTALES
- THE MOON


F-ZERO
- BIG BLUE


FINAL FANTASY IV
- MAIN MAP THEME
- ((OTHER BATTLE/ETC STUFF.))


FINAL FANTASY VI
- AIRSHIP (WORLD OF RUIN)
- OVERWORLD MAP (TERRA'S THEME)
- FIGARO CASTLE
- MAIN FF THEME
- CHOCOBO
- DARYL'S THEME (SAD AIRSHIP SONG)
- BOSS BATTLE
- ((TONS MORE, PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING.))


FINAL FANTASY VII
- MAIN THEME
- AERIS
- TIFA


FINAL FANTASY X
- ZANARKAND
- BATTLE MUSIC
- ((OTHER STUFF))


KATAMARI DAMACY
- MAIN THEME
- KATAMARITAINO (TRACK #14)


KIRBY'S DREAMLAND
- BOTH SMASH BROS SONGS

STAR TROPICS - MAIN THEME


LEGEND OF ZELDA
- MAIN SONG
- GERUDO VALLEY
- WINDMILL
- SARIA'S SONG
- TAL TAL HEIGHTS (LINK'S AWAKENING, GAMEBOY)
- THE SONG OF STORMS
- ZELDA II DUNGEON
- ((WAY MORE THAN I LIST HERE))


MARIO
- ORIGINAL NES THEME
- MARIO 64 MAIN LEVEL MUSIC
- MARIO 64 UNDERWATER MUSIC
- MARIO WORLD MAIN LEVEL
- MARIO WORLD DUNGEON
- MARIO WORLD END MUSIC
- MARIO 2 - MAIN THEME


MEGAMAN
- STORM EAGLE
- DR. WILY


SECRET OF MANA
- OPENING


SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
- EMERALD COAST (SONIC ADVENTURE)
- STARLIGHT ZONE
- ANGEL ISLAND
- SONIC 3 LEVEL SELECT
- SPRING YARD ZONE
- ICECAP ZONE


YOSHI'S ISLAND
- MAIN THEME
- CASTLE MUSIC


Random Anime Stuff
COWBOY BEBOP
- REAL FOLK BLUES


LUPIN III
- CASTLE CAGLIOSTRO OPENING
- MAIN THEME