The Geekdads

With Halloween behind us, we at GeekDad HipTrax have but a pair of wonderfully regular episodes between us and the gift-giving madness that is the 12 Days of Geekmas. We kick this off with a show thematically centered on childhood. You know how we do. Reconnect with your inner ragamuffin with: "Star Wars Uncut" by Adam WarRock Former attorney and current nerdcore trailblazer Adam WarRock has gotten a much deserved push of late - from being featured on the BBC to pulling together this amazing (and totally official) theme song for the Emmy award-winning Star Wars Uncut. To get the full effect of his musical prowess I suggest picking up his stellar full-length The War for Infinity. "Soren Lorenson (My Invisible Friend)" by Snidget Like many other Wizard Rocker, Grace "Snidget" Kendall has really expanded her musical repertoire of late. On this track, for example, she trades in her dulcimer for a ukulele and her lyrical focus on the Potter mythos for an understated tribute to British children's book series/t

Ken, Matt, Russ and Jonathan talk about visiting the White House, seeing Tony Hawk, and playing LEGO Universe. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

In preparation for a very special GeekDad event, we here at HipTrax would like to present to you another delightful Halloween-themed podcast. This one is musically centered on everyone's favorite shambling flesh-eaters. You do realize I mean zombies, right? Scream in terror at the rotten facades of: "You'll Always Be My Zombie Friend" by Starla Not only is Starla's zombie friend nonthreatening, he's also apparently a big fan of frenetic dance beats and crazy, pitch-corrected vocals. You know what? Maybe we've been over-thinking this whole zombie thing. They don’t want our brains – just a solid DJ and reasonably-priced drinks. "Quick and the Dead" by Death*Star Nerdcore duo Death*Star puts an interesting spin on the zombie narrative in the track "Quick and the Dead" from their debut full-length The Fandom Menace. Not only do they switch perspective from the survivors to the ravenous horde at the half-way point, they also manage to inject a classic sing-along chorus. "Zombie Apocalypse" by Kirby Krackle

Ken, Matt and special guest Rael Dornfest talk about set top boxes, playing D&D with your family, and whether any of us will want to ride in Google cars. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The first of this year's Halloween-themed October editions of GeekDad HipTrax pays homage to one of the greatest videogame series of all time: Castlevania . While obviously steeped in gothic horror and hardcore platforming, the series is also renowned for its eclectic and atmospheric soundtracks. This has made it a favorite among the videogame remix community, which, in turn, makes it an excellent candidate for a special Hiptrax tribute! Relish the musical creepiness of: "Fear of Haze" by Joshua Morse Castlevania: Sonata of the Damned marks Joshua Morse's second Castlevania tribute. The former is a free download offered from our friends at OverClocked ReMix, while the latter is another amazing freebie from the Bad Dues VGM collective. Cop both to supplement your all-important Halloween playlist. "Froggy Mosh" by goat The mysterious guitar-slinger known only as goat also paid proper tribute to the music of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse in a free album of his own. Unchosen Paths: The Music of Castlevania

Ken, Matt, Chuck and John chat about Star Wars on 3D, and over-engineering your toaster. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

We at HipTrax take our mission – to provide our fellow GeekParents with amazingly nerdy music they can actually share with the kids – very seriously. So much so, in fact, that the only thing that thrills us more than unearthing three brand new geek-jams for you every other week is spotlighting music that's available at the very reasonable price of free. As such, each remarkable song presented in this edition of the podcast comes to your from an equally remarkable album that is offered gratis. Submitted for your perusal: "Hilltop Zone" by Vernian Process Have you ever wondered what the music of Sonic the Hedgehog II would sound like if performed orchestral style by San Francisco's preeminent steampunk pioneers? Me neither, but Vernian Process and VGM blog Game Music 4 All provided an answer anyway! Check out volume 1 of their Retro Gaming Retrospective series Sonic Symphony: An Orchestral Tribute to the 16-Bit Sega Classics, as well as additional volumes themed around the Final Fantasy and Castlevania serie

Ken, Matt and Jonathan chat about all the amazing games at PAX, and work on ideas for some new Great Bacon Odyssey posts. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

As summer draws to a close and the faintest bite of autumn appears in the air, we at GeekDad choose to reflect. Today, for example, we focus on the waning convention season, beer and Chris Isaak. Y'know, the important stuff! This edition of GeekDad HipTrax features: "CONtact" by Mega Ran & K-Murdock Conventions are serious business, and personal hygiene is no laughing matter! Just ask poor Random, a cat who's done his time amid the (literally) unwashed masses. Why not brighten the man's day by contributing to his Kickstarter campaign? You'll be glad you did. Because of the hip-hop. "Beer, Beer, Beer" as interpreted by Marc Gunn I'm sure some parents would argue that a song about beer isn't an ideal choice for a child-friendly podcast, and I would agree. Of course this one's about the discovery of beer. That makes it educational! Lovers of Celtic-folk and free stuff are encouraged to leave a comment, as a random poster will receive free copies of both Marc's Kilted for Her Pleasure and The Bridge. "W

Ken and Matt chat with David Hewlett - geek, dad and actor - about Apple gadgets, Buckaroo Banzai, and the joy of geeky dad-hood. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Last week I overstepped my bounds a bit while blogging about the recent decision to ban the R4 and related devices in the UK. I meant to imply that this was an unfortunate and potentially detrimental turn of events for the European chiptune artists that employ such technology to legitimate ends, but instead it simply sounded like I was writing the whole of the chip music community off because of this single movement by Nintendo and that nation's court system. I apologize to any in the global micromusic community that I may have unwittingly offended by employing such hyperbole, and, to help make amends, allow me to dazzle you with a trio of fresh selections from the still very-much-alive chiptune scene. This apologetic edition of GeekDad HipTrax features: "Heart Beeps" by ComputeHer Michelle Mitchell is one-half of the dynamic American chiptune duo 8 Bit Weapon, but she is also the one-woman sound machine ComputeHer. This selection, from her fantastic new release Modemoiselle, ably showcases ComputeHer's u

Since folks seemed to dig our video game themed episode from last month, we've decided to do another show in a similar vein. This time around we're touching on a trio of game-focused songs from a bit outside the traditional VGM scene. Somehow, amid crushing technical difficulties, we manage to feature: "crimson dreams (feat. Beefy)" by Doctor Popular vs. crashfaster From the riveting soundtrack of browser game Knifetank – an album entitled, fittingly enough, Knifetank (The Albumhole) – comes this reinterpretation of the game's theme. Building on crashfaster's original composition, Doctor Popular provides appropriately murderous vocals, as does our old friend Beefy. Snag the album from Bandcamp, and play the game at the official Knifetank site. "Limit Break" by Dale Chase Weighing in at a healthy 12 tracks worth of hip-hop-flavored awesome, Dale's Limit Break is as fierce as the name implies. Intelligent, soulful and uplifting, it's an amazing effort that showcases the artist at his best. Better yet, it's

GeekDad's own Matt Blum is interviewed on 99.1 The Whale, in Bunghamton, NY about his adventures in bacon!

The GeekDads talk about Comic-Con, Maker Faire Detroit and Matt's newfound sex-symbol status. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads talk about Star Wars Celebration V, Harry Potter World, and the Jon Stewart Action Figure. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Summertime is here again, and with it comes more music to move you. This edition of HipTrax kicks off with a brand new videogame music remix before moving on to a classic piece of comic book rock (revisited) and a fine selection from a Wizard Rocker's muggle band. All are guaranteed to please. Featuring: "Essence of Lime (Intro, Title Screen)" by Hylian Lemon Hylian Lemon's Legend of Zelda: Essence of Lime tribute album began as a solo reinterpretation of the soundtrack for epic Gameboy title The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages. But between its 2008 inception and recent release, it blossomed into a multiple artist project spanning two discs and 42 songs. Yet despite its considerable length, it's freely available in both MP3 and FLAC formats. "Up, Up, Down, Down" by Kirby Krackle This amazing selection from Kirby Krackle's 2009 self-titled debut was recently released as an animated video by Betsy Lee. It will shortly be joined by the band's current project, a music video for Wolverine-inspired E For Every

The GeekDads talk about the iPhone 4 announcement, and have some painful technical problems. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad Parents, Kids and the Stuff We Obsess About Previous post GeekDad HipTrax #52 * By Z Email Author * June 16, 2010 | * 7:00 am | * Categories: GeekDad Podcasts * | Edit • GeekDad HipTrax Logo by Dave Banks GeekDad HipTrax Logo by Dave Banks In the spirit of this week’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, this episode of GeekDad HipTrax is all about video game music. From classic NES/SNES soundtrack reinterpretations to original music from a brand new retro-style shooter, we’ve got you covered! Featuring: “Bionic Commando / Don’t be Hasty, Advance with Caution” by King Hippo King Hippo is a one-man VGM outfit out of Los Angeles. Formed from the ashes of eclectic electro-rockers Bad Dudes, King Hippo does video game covers in a style comparable to that of Sacramento’s The Advantage. “Bowser Castle” by The OneUps Somehow, amid producing a third of Beefy’s latest LP With Sprinkles and crafting his own Vision Quest EP, Mustin also found time to pull together another amazing rele

The GeekDads talk about the iPhone 4 announcement, and have some painful technical problems. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

This episode of GeekDad HipTrax is what we might call the mad props edition. Each one of today's featured artists is celebrating a recent triumph or musical milestone, and we intend to help them along. After all, that's sort of what we do. Featuring: "New Wizard Anthem (live)" by Harry and the Potters DeGeorge brother Joe – one half of the groundbreaking Wrock duo – just graduated from Clark University with a Bachelor's degree in the almighty Arts. The band is also finally publicly releasing their previous 2009 Wizard Rock EP of the Month Club exclusive Harry and the Potters Live at the Yule Ball 2008 as a double-disc CD/DVD combo. While you wait on that one, feel free to download this amazing live show from July of 2008 compliments of Alienbobz. "No Power in the Verse " by Antisoc Meanwhile, nerdcore rapper Antisoc is celebrating the success of his fourth full-length album, Future Hop. Combining his cleverest rhymes to date with blistering production steeped in the electro-industrial tradition, it's 17