The Living Tombstone, the duo of Yoav Landau and Sam Haft, have been called "the internet's biggest gaming band" by NME, and with their many viral hits in the gaming scene, it's easy to see why. In ten years, TLT have grown out of the fandom world into a major recording artist!
SSJ / Dragon Ball Z Experience
After 17 years of solo careers, the three composers behind the worldwide popular music of Dragon Ball Z (Cartoon Network) joined once again, to bring back the tunes and that special early-2000s feeling many of us grew up on – with today’s sonic production in a bombastic live show! SSJ (Smith, Scott & Julius) takes a 21st Century spin on the iconic themes they originally wrote for one of the most popular shows ever on Cartoon Network: Dragon Ball Z, in a series of live performances that are as authentic as they are high energy.
SSJ is:
Michael Smith – A Dallas, Texas native, following his music composition studies at Southern Methodist University, Mike started off as a keyboard player in the bands Experimental BBQ and Afternoon Delight. Following a sordid career in the rock and roll industry, Mike found himself composing for the Ginyu Saga of DBZ. He continued his work on Dragonball Z to make contributions that are prominent throughout the Z series, such as his Vegeta, SSJ Vegeta and SSJ Transformation themes. Mike has since worked in television, marketing, and digital media production, and he is also a founding member of the band Safety Meeting, which continues to perform to a loyal following and grow its presence around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Visit Mike at http://www.safetymeeting.rocks
Scott Morgan is a composer, sound designer, and software engineer. After earning a degree in Music Theory at the University of North Texas, he edited and performed music for DBZ, and composed such popular themes as Pikkon’s, Imperfect Cell’s and Android 17 & 18’s. After DBZ, Scott spent 15 years working with video game audio tech as a test engineer, composer, and software engineer for projects such as Empires Dawn of the Modern World, DirectX, Xbox 360, Kinect, Xbox One, and Black Ops 3. Scott continues to pump out music on Youtube, iTunes, Soundclick, and more under the alias MorganStudios. He has released 5 albums and 120 videos to date. He currently works as a software engineer at Roland Virtual Sonics. Visit Scott at http://morganstudios.com
Julius Dobos is an award-winning electronic music & film composer, producer, sound synthesist and performer. Composing since age 9, Julius scored several feature movies in his native Europe, before joining the DBZ composition team in 2000. Over the next years, he created such favorites as the SSJ3 Powerup, Super Buu and Gohan Powers Up themes. After DBZ, Julius went on to compose for movies such as Don't Mess with the Zohan, MallCop, The Zookeeper, television programs like NCIS and for countless advertisements. To date, Julius has released 11 albums, including a platinum album, to an international audience. Focusing on his philosophical concepts, Julius launched his solo project forgotten future in 2015, producing and performing psybient & epic ambient music worldwide. He has performed at various festivals and events, including his Human Intelligence Control interactive concert in Los Angeles to an audience of 3,000. He is also a Distinguished Professor at USV in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as the founder of the A.I.-Free Organization. Visit Julius at http://www.juliusdobos.com
Ross Tregenza & Graeme Norgate
Graeme Norgate and Ross Tregenza are video game composers and long time friends, but they have never played their music live together, until now! Between them they have 50 years of experience composing for games.
They’ve worked back through all those crazy games and picked out some of their favourite songs to form a joint set of music spanning 25 years of beloved games.
GWIZ
Calling all in the Milky Way, it’s time to party with GWIZ of the Stars!
GWIZ is a DJ, music producer & pop star from Los Angeles, CA. Her sets feature a mix of rave music inspired by racing & video game culture. GWIZ has been turning up the speed to 200 bpm/mph with her larger-than-life stage performance. Having performed and toured the convention scene for years, she is known for intense DJ sets blurring the line between 2D and 3D. GWIZ is a Vtuber persona who’s quite literally jumping out of the screen to spin on the decks!
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Bandcamp | Discord
Ian Cowell & His Exceptional Goblins
Crashfaster
Crashfaster is a San Francisco-based band that combines elements of 8-bit video game music, synth pop, and industrial. Their songs, while bright and effervescent, are often darker and more melancholy than the work of most artists associated with the chiptune scene, reflecting themes of loneliness and disenchantment. The group was started in 2009, initially as a solo vehicle for video game composer Morgan Tucker, who wrote bouncy synth pop tunes using vintage video game consoles as well as drum machines and vocoders. After appearing on a few compilations, Crashfaster's debut album, Disconnect, was released by Monobomb Records in 2011. In 2012, Crashfaster provided a remix for Minecraft composer C418's album One. By the time Crashfaster released their second album, Further, in 2013, they had became a full band including vocalist Keiko Takamura, drummer Devin Nixon, and guitarist Ryan Case. The Superchroma EP followed in 2014, and the group contributed a cover of "Never Let Me Down Again" to the Depeche Mode tribute album Enjoy the Science. The two-track singles Echo and Rewind followed in 2015.
Noa James
Noa James is a rising rapper and hip-hop artist based in the United States. Born and raised in the city of San Bernardino, California, Noa James has become known for his honest and introspective lyrics, as well as his unique blend of old-school and new-school hip-hop sounds, mix with Nerdcore, uplifting subjects. Throughout his career, Noa James has earned a reputation for his engaging live performances and his commitment to using his music as a platform to promote social justice and positive change.In addition to his work in music, Noa James is also a dedicated community activist, working to empower young people and support social justice causes in his hometown of San Bernardino and beyond. He is a co-founder of the San Bernardino Arts and Music Collective, which provides resources and support for local artists and musicians.
With his powerful lyrics, dynamic performances, and commitment to social justice, Noa James is quickly becoming one of the most exciting and influential voices in contemporary hip-hop.
Da Rap Nerd
Da Rap Nerd (formerly known as Darealwordsound) is a Bay Area Nerdcore/Hip Hop Artist, Producer, DJ, Audio Engineer, Hip Hop Educator and a driving force for community in the Bay Area. Starting off playing Bass for Del The Funky Homosapien to pursuing his own career as an artist, Da Rap Nerd has made a name for himself for building a growing Nerdcore/Hip Hop scene in the Bay Area and empowering young artist to find their own voice and create fearlessly. He is also the founder of Bayokyo and is working with MagWest. Da Rap Nerd is an artist who you will be amazed by both on stage and off the stage.
Ohm-I
Ohm-I is known for his music that primarily focuses on storytelling and comedy from a nerdy perspective. He is a ten year Navy veteran and current professional hacker with a strong penchant for causing you to involuntarily dance and sing along. He has performed at several major anime/gaming conventions and heavily supports spreading awareness of information security careers to kids in underrepresented communities.
Ryan McGaughey
Ryan McGaughey started piano lessons at age 12. Playing video games basically from the moment he could hold a controller, it came as no surprise that he began playing music from video games on the piano. In fact, it was playing video game music that hooked him on the instrument to begin with.
Through video game music, he realized he enjoyed classical music and he ultimately went on to study classical piano performance at Humboldt State University, where he studied piano under Dr. Daniela Mineva. He then continued his studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, where he obtained a Master’s degree in piano performance studying under Prof. Alexander Kobrin.
His piano studies have led him to receiving many accolades, including winning the concerto competitions at the North State Symphony, the Eureka Symphony, and Humboldt Symphony. He has also been a participant and performer in music festivals such as the Round Top Music Festival in Texas and the Atlantic Music Festival in Maine. He has also performed at VGM CON in 2021 & 2022.
In addition to being a pianist, McGaughey is also a composer and often plays his own works for solo piano. Ryan currently teaches piano, accompanies, and performs classical and video game music concert.
In his free time, he enjoys playing video games, of course, and is enthusiastic about the outdoors, fishing, hiking, and backpacking.
Character Select
Character Select is a local video game band dedicated to unique jazz arrangements of some of your favorite video game music. Whether they’re swinging through the fields of Hyrule or bringing down the funk in the Mushroom Kingdom, you’ll be sure to hear some fresh takes on the music you already know and love! Come watch Character Select pull from both old games and new as they partner with the 7th Street Big Band for one massive, jamming free-for-all!
E. N. Cowell
Inspired by the demoscene, IDM / braindance, and tech expression, E.N.Cowell makes evolving abstractions of electronic dance music.
Known for his work in the San Francisco music scene, he has previously collaborated and produced with acts including, Crashfaster, Alice Knows Karate, Striplicker, Doctor Popular, Delorean Overdrive, and Gesceap.
His music is ever-transforming as he finds new ways to experiment and push his vision.
Super Soul Bros
The Super Soul Bros are a collective of San Jose musicians, whose fusion of funk and jazz meets the nostalgic melodies of classic video games. Formed in 2012 by keyboardist Robbie Benson, the Super Soul Bros have gained notoriety for their dynamic musicianship, high energy shows, and infectious grooves--comparable to jamming a ‘70s James Brown record into a Nintendo Entertainment System. Whether they’re taking requests on the fly, or the crowd’s busting into a full-on soul train, it’s always a party with the Super Soul Bros.
Extra Lives Experience
Extra Lives is the world’s first Audience RPG: a fully narrated choose-your-own-adventure game where YOU are the main character. Plunge into an exciting story with visuals, music, sound effects and footage drawn from the legendary console games of the ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s... and a live score provided by the lovable nerds of Extra Lives. At key junctures you'll get to vote on how the character proceeds, leading to special story branches. With multiple endings and over 30 possible variations depending on the audience's in-game choices, this immersive feast for the imagination will transport you back to your childhood. To the next level!
Keifergr33n
7th Street Big Band
7th Street Big Band was conceived in the depths of East San Jose by our drummer and fearless leader, Gabby Horlick. We’re not your grandparents’ big band—we’re bringing some of the hippest beats and rhythms to the table. We’re ready to get funky!
Prowess the Testament
Hailing from DC, Prowess cultivated her gift as a performer opening for legends like The Wu-Tang Clan, KRS-One, CODY CHESTNUTT, Pharoahe Monch, and more as an emerging Indie Hip-hop presence.
Following the path of the greats, Prowess was gifted her moniker by The Legendary KRS-One, following a standout performance during one of the elder statesman’s ‘Hip Hop Appreciation Week’ events. She has been featured on albums with indie legends MF DOOM and Aloe Blacc.
Lucrecia
Lucrecia is a kawaiicore/metalcore band that draws inspiration from otaku culture down to its very name "Lucrecia" (a mysterious character from the game FFVII). The band was formed in 2016 by vocalists, Suki and Frankie who met at a gig and decided to start a band together. Suki dreamed of being the first western idol of the kawaii metal sub genre, (a genre that combines cute vocals with heavy music), like Babymetal. Suki is the first kawaiicore idol in America, breaking barriers in the metal scene with her sweet and fierce persona. They soon began writing songs that blended heavy music with otaku elements, creating a unique and captivating sound. Their song "Brotherhood" was their first breakthrough, as it was featured on the popular Youtube channel 'Dreambound'. The song gained them many fans who appreciated their originality and energy. Their song "Sleeping Slaves Of Fate" also became a huge success, with over a million streams and counting. The video for the song showcased their kawaii style and their love for Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, while also proving that their music can stand out in the very saturated metalcore genre. Lucrecia is still a young band with a lot of potential and ambition. They are constantly working on new music and touring to reach more listeners and spread their kawaiicore message!
Alice Knows Karate
Alice Knows Karate - A fairytale & J-idol inspired alt-pop project by San Francisco Bay Area native Keiko Takamura. Drawing lyrical and conceptual inspiration from an avant-geek palette of indie video games, media properties, and fairy tales, as well her own life experiences, Alice Knows Karate's darkly whimsical “fablewave” aesthetic is a unique and refreshing vision unbound from the need to fit into pre-existing genres and boxes.
Stickband
Stickband has been and continues to be one of the most innovative original musical experiences, using futuristic avant-garde instruments such as the Chapman Stick, NuEVI, Zen Drum, Morrison Digital Trumpet (MDT) and electric violins to create myriad unique sounds.
The original founding members Jim Bruno and Bob Culbertson are currently working with Rick Alegria on drums and percussion as well as on Abraham Vazquez on the Aerophone 30 electronic saxophone.
Stickband will be performing anime themes and video game themes, as well as original compositions.