Welcome to Night Vale is touring the UK again. For the uninitiated Nightvale is a cult podcast, similar in style to shows like Twin Peaks, X Files and the works of H.P.Lovecraft but presented in the format of a radio show. The podcast is an online phenomenon, being one of the most downloaded podcast of all time.
I went to the show a few years ago and had an amazing time so if you fancy seeing it check out the See Tickets website for availability. The tour hits Edinburgh in August and other cities in London in January.
'Welcome to Nightvale' Comes to Shepherds Bush Empire, London
As I left my warm cosy house earlier this evening to make my way from east to west London on a dark wet evening, I felt that it was appropriate that I was off to see the live show of Welcome to Nightvale.
For the uninitiated Nightvale is a cult podcast, similar in style to shows like Twin Peaks, X Files and the works of H.P.Lovecraft but presented in the format of a radio show. The podcast is an online phenomenon, being one of the most downloaded podcast of all time.
I went to the show having heard most of the podcasts and purposely avoiding any videos of the live show. I wanted to go in blind and experience the show without any preconceptions, my concern was how would the intimacy and stark simplicity of the podcast translate onto the stage?
The Shepherds Bush Empire is a cozy sit down venue and for tonight's performance was packed, I was high in the nosebleeds; the unreserved third floor. However I did have a clear and unobstructed view of the stage, though it was from a high angle. There was a real buzz and excitement and when the live theatre show started there was a huge roar.
For fans of the show this was an excellent live performance, there was the usual 'weather report' (music performed by Mary Epworth) and great lines like "If horses were wishes, they'd all run away," "... a librarian is on the loose," "... My dress is made of spiders" and my favourite of the night "The gazebo is on fire due to a routine maintenance check."
The stage was simple but effective and Cecil (played with his usual flair for the dramatic by Cecil Baldwin) delivered his lines with the usual gravitas and knowing wink. The audience were receptive and cheered when names, locations and tropes from the podcast were spoken, particular mention must go to 'Steve Carlsberg,' his name got the biggest cheer of the night!
Well, I can say that the show was well worth a view and I enjoyed it immensely. For people excited by the fantastical and slightly unsettling, Welcome to Nightvale is well worth a look and listen.
Brilliant Websites and Podcasts for Geeks
I want to share with you some amazing websites which I regularly visit. Maybe there's something here that you might like and get into, click on the images and you're set to go!
VGMpire is an informative and excellently researched site with it's focus on computer game music and soundtracks. They do regular podcast which are essential listens for a gamer like me.
Lasertimepodcast is a wonderful geek culture website which shares and discusses films, music, books, computer games... pretty much the whole gamut of media. It has a lively forum and people share their views and opinions in a respectful way. Wonderful!
Mystery Science Theatre 3000 is a surreal website which is brilliant, I can't really say much except go there and check it out!
Welcome to Nightvale is a weird and wonderful podcast set in a fictional desert town where conspiracy theories are all true, If you like X-files, Twin Peaks, American Gothic and other surreal series then you'll love this!
A fun and highly un-PC look at cartoons from the 80's.
This website gives a rich and full history of computer games, the articles are superbly written and uniformly informative. Brilliant!
Audio Atrocities looks at the terrible voice acting in computer games, you'd think that over the last few years with games getting bigger budgets and production values bad voice acting would be a thing of the past, but no.... you won't believe your ears!