Bit Brigade @ DC9- 4/2/2019
Bit Brigade at DC9 (Photo by Mauricio Castro / @themauricio)
As it turns out, people will pack DC9 to watch a guy breeze through a video game on stage. Bit Brigade have made a name for themselves at video game conventions like MAGFest and Penny Arcade Expo over the past few years for their unique take on live music. The band plays the music of 80s-era Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) games like The Legend of Zelda and Duck Tales, but for their DC9 performance, Mega Man 3 was on the menu.
As their 'speedrunner' plays the game with pro-level precision and skill, Bit Brigade follows with hard-rock interpretations of the game's music in real time. When he reaches a new level, they perform that level's music. When he reaches a boss battle, they break out the boss battle music. Repeat until the game has been completed in roughly an hour. Yes, it's a niche musical act. But for those that love watching others complete the games that would take themselves multiple hours to do so (and also like lots of harmonic guitars), who else would you want to scratch that music and Video game itch with than Bit Brigade?
Opening for Bit Brigade were DC-based string quartet Triforce Quartet, who paid impressive homages to video game staples like Zelda and Civilization as well as hit TV shows Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. Double Ferrari, the non-video game-related offshoot of Bit Brigade, kicked off the night with frenetic rock n’ roll and lots of metal guitar harmonies.
