Happy Happy Rez Day, Lowe Runo

You say it's your rez day.  Whoot!  Whoot!  I will divert a bit from music, and focus on machinima!  It's the filmmaking that happens inside Second Life and other virtual environments, if you need a hint.

Saying Happy 5th Rez Day to Lowe Runo, of Lowe Runo Productions LLC, my book co-author and biz associate in the machinima and media world.

We just learned today from our publisher that our book cover has been completed! That's a nice surprise for Lowe on his special day!  The book is in press, and due out in Fall 2011.  Forward is by Persia Bravin.  More information is available here:  http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-6171-4


Here's Lowe's thank you video to all his friends, a reflection of his five years in SL.


See ya on the grid.

:) Soni

Happy Birthday - AJ, Troy and Powers

On the tail of the release of The Follow's new album, Building Machines to Reach The Stars, the band threw a 2 year anniversary party.  Hard to believe it has been two years, and the three - AJ Darkwatch, Troy Shoreland and Powers Avon - have been going strong.  

 In the second hour of their show, The Follow kicked off their second hour with an incredible rendition of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here.   I interviewed the band members for the June issue of Best of SL Magazine, so you can reference that story on the BOSL web site.

The Second Life music bash also honored Anj Gustafson, who preceded The Follow, for achieving more than 1,000 members in his fan base.  He chilled, dancing, with Boom Pony Music Club Owner Kiran Sporg, after his set.  Anj is an awesome musician, and it is likely he will remain on the grid a long time, and building his fan base.

The event was held at Boom Pony:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Amardon%20East/4/210/21
Congrats to all!

Soni!

Duran Duran Sim Opened Wednesday

Hungry for some good ol' rock 'n' roll with an alternative 80s feel?   Something about that era that brings generations on the grid together to party - some reminsce and some discover.  So come on, who doesn't know the songs, Girls on Film, Rio, Hungry Like a Wolf, and so many other Duran Duran songs.   Belinda Barnes invited me to check out the new Duran Duran sim that opened June 22nd in Second Life.  There's quite a buzz about it, but if you haven't been here's some photos. I plan to go back so maybe see you there.  

Oh, btw, the real band hangs out on the sim.  I waited for John Taylor the other day to no avail.  But I will be back, and waiting by his dressing room.  

As for my short photo video, a better view is on my flickr.  Just a bit of fun there, as I wait outside the dressing room of Duran Duran's John Taylor.   I'm a bit of a virtual paparazzi, and want to snap a few pics of him and the band.  LOL.   Thanks Bel for your patience.   Maybe next time.  Oh, a great new video - All You Need is Now - by jjccc captures the sim's flavor in a fun and creative way;  take a peek.

Duran Duran, SLURL, The DDU at Azizi

For now, poof... :) Soni

AcousticEnergy Inducted into the SE Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame

Surprise!!!  Sher Salmson of SpiritFire Entertainment honored AcousticEnergy Nitely for reaching a 1,000 member fan base.  He was inducted into the SE Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame at Dragon Moon, owned by Sher, his manager.  The event filled the sim during the two hour event, and AE swooned his fans with his magical voice.  A special video was made by SE's Doris Fereszk in honor of AE with some of his closest friends, musicians, and associates "singing" his praises (so to speak) and then he was awarded a statue to mark this occasion.

Fans and good friends gathered to celebrate with AcousticEnergy.  Sher went all out in an elegant formal gown.

Doris (below) is seen here dancing, probably relieved her hard work was done, after her video was shown to his adoring fans. AE thanked her for putting together the keepsake video, which can be viewed at  http://www.youtube.com/user/SuperDoris65?feature=mhee

Singer/Musician Blueron Clyburn listened on in the crowd. 

The SE group gave out a teddy bear that played one of AcousticEnergy's original tunes during the event.

More details in the next edition of Best of SL Magazine (July).  For now, congrats to AE and the SpiritFire Entertainment Team.

I had a great time, along with my good friend Bel Barnes and fellow BOSL correspondent Kara Trapdoor.  

Be sure to check out AcousticEnergy on the grid.
:)  Soni

SpiritFire Entertainment, http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dragon%20Moon/211/66/24

The Roof is Hot This Summer

The Roof at NYC!   Live music extraordinaire.  Lingual Markus, owner and founder, was grooving to the tunes and engaged in chit-chat like always.  For the best in music talent and some new finds, it's The Roof.   This night, I had a special treat - I had an opportunity to hear Conner Harcassle for the first time.  Wow, truly impressive, and he dusted off some 70s and 80s classics, and his renditions were on target with a twist of his style.  Well done, Conner.  And he can certainly tear into his guitar.

So Conner started the night, and the venue filled up quickly.  Good thing The Roof is roomy and open.  AvanteGarde Frequency kept the crowd fully engaged, and Strat Carver kept them going through closing time.  All night it was a full house - and so much talent in one night.  Stay tuned for the next line-up.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/New%20York%20NYC/191/53/66
:) Soni

The Follow in the latest edition of Best of SL Magazine

Check out one of the featured stories headlined on the Cover of BEST OF SL MAGAZINE for June 2011. 

Thanks for the interview, AJ, Troy and Powers!  Thanks to Lowe Runo Productions LLC for the taking one of the featured photos.  Here's the unedited version:

All the best,

Sonicity

Steampunk Apocalypse

Woke up late this morning after attending the last few hours of an electronic music festival of sort Friday night into Saturday.    The party ran over with Mischief bringing in even more electronic music enthusiasts.  So here's the deal.  The event caught my eye - Steampunk Apocalypse at Sunny Island.  What's not to like about an event like that.   The dress code was Steampunk/Victorian.  A few took liberties with the code, while many were on the spot with their wears.  Colon Trapdoor (below) won the unofficial prize for best theme dressed, in my view of an apocalypse. 

And man, I have to commend the builder for setting up the outside venue so authentically.  I had to admire those huge pipes that spanned above and adjacent to the dance floor.  And then there was the unique dance ball.  Yeah, I got pics.    I will just show some here, and I will submit others too to my Best of SL Magazine (BOSL) monthly Society and Events column for July.  I will add some more details, after I speak a bit with founder Sabine Courtois (Sabrina).

Sabrina (both photos above; in red, Redalo) was inundated with IMs and so many people falling out of the sky to join the party even in the final hours. - and the party went over with Mischief Portland (also CO-CEO/Builder) being the last dj (that I heard at least) after Coca Supercharge sent good currents into the air and Analogue Voom (Funkshun.Parabola) kept the crowd grooving to the electric beat.   

The event was a creation of Funkstastic Machine Events, http://funkstasticmachine.tk/ and promotes itself as a new concept for themed electronic music events - showcasing House, Electro, Techno, Hard House, Breaks, Drum N' Bass, etc.  It's about the music but it's also about how it is presented.  That night Sabrina and others were tossing out suggestions for the next electronic gathering.   Owners and staff are listed on the Funkstastic web site.

Anyway, the theme this time was Steampunk, with DJs beginning midday Friday and mixing until the early morning of Saturday.  The line-up on the schedule listed the following and noted all were RL DJs too -

Keyna Wirefly (Techno), Jesto Kormann (Techno), Tink Toll (Hard Dance), Coca Supercharge (Hard House), Calrek Nansen (Hard Techno), Pussy Nacht (Hard Techno), Jess Fosse (Funky Techno), Kenster Mixmaster (Electro House), Mischief Portland (Nu Skool Breaks), Colon Trapdoor (Breaks), Sven Newman (Drums N’ Bass).

Analogue must have been a late add, but definitely a good one!   Well that's it for now.   I look forward to chatting with Sabrina about future events, and finding out how this idea all began.  

More, Later....Soni :) 

 

Steampunk Apocalypse at Sunny Island

11 DJS, 11 Hours, 11AM-10PM

6/3/11

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sunny%20Island/26/181/22

Sponsored by:  Funkstastic Machine Events