If you live in Sydney, you're a fan of video game music, and you like the idea of experiencing it in a symphonic setting, then you're in for a treat. In the next couple of months, not one - but two - orchestras will be in town to perform game tunes in a classical style.
The first one is Eminence, who are appearing at the Sydney Town Hall tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30pm. They'll be presenting selections from Super Mario Bros, Final Fantasy, Legend of Zelda, World of Warcraft and many more; all accompanied by videos of gameplay on a big screen. (Unfortunately, though, I don't think either of these guys will be in the orchestra.) Tickets can be bought at the door. The prices are here.
If you're more in the mood for a film and some frenetic live music from men in cassocks and tonsures, then head for the Chauvel Cinema tomorrow night. As part of the German Film Festival, they're screening a documentary about the Monks, a German-based 60's proto-punk band comprised of ex-American GIs who dressed like... well, monks. Here's a sample of one of their signature tunes, Monk Time. It's taken from the doco's website, where you can also purchase a tribute album with tracks by artists like Alec Empire, Mouse on Mars, The Gossip, The Fall, Faust, Chicks on Speed, John Spencer, Psychic TV, and the Silver Apples.
The screening starts at 8:45 pm, and afterwards there will supposedly be a band on hand to do Monks covers. And I'm promised they will have tonsures.