Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


 OPINION 
0

'Rock Band' Reinvents the Cover Band

Video game may spell end of bad cover acts

Share

(Newser) – The hugely popular "Rock Band" is more than just a video game—it's a musical revolution, Brett McCallon writes in More Intelligent Life. The game, which expands "Guitar Hero" to two axes, a drum kit and a singer, finally realizes “the democratizing dreams of the punk movement.” McCallon should know, because his "Rock Band" band plays live—and has amateur musicians grousing.

Because they play to recordings, McCallon's group—known as Lamb Hammer—is better than most cover bands, and adds audience participation to boot. Invited up on stage, gutsy audience members can become “thundering drummers, sultry bassists and preening guitar gods before their very peers.” Not bad for a video game.

A screenshot from Rock Band. The game creates a
A screenshot from Rock Band. The game creates a "strange new entertainment frontier, somewhere on the border of karaoke and terrible cover bands," Brett McCallon writes in Intelligent Life.   (AP Photo/Electronic Arts)
In this Jan. 9, 2008 file photo, attendees play the video game Rock Band on the Xbox 360 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
In this Jan. 9, 2008 file photo, attendees play the video game Rock Band on the Xbox 360 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)
Rock band eliminates the band-audience dichotomy, Brett McCallon writes in Intelligent Life.
Rock band eliminates the band-audience dichotomy, Brett McCallon writes in Intelligent Life.   (AP Photo/EA Games)
"Any reasonably competent Rock Band band is going to be just as good as the band that played your sister's wedding," Brett McCallon writes in Intelligent Life.   (AP Photo/Electronic Arts Inc.)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
A demonstration of Rock Band, to Radiohead's "Creep."   (kishy214)

View larger videos >>
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
0 comments
VIEWING:
 
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

232 Stories

 Online Gamers 
 a Cash Crop 
 for FarmVille 

Nonviolent, social game spreads like wildfire on Facebook

Nov 23, 09 4:05 PM CST
(Newser) - The latest video game craze sweeping America is a surprisingly cute Facebook application that doesn’t include even a single laser gun. FarmVille has attracted 60 million players, 22 million of whom still check in on their farms every day, harvesting crops, tending livestock, and helping their neighbors scare off... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Facebook • video games • social media • Farmville

MOVIE REVIEW

 Pirate Radio Rocks 
 on Good Tunes, Cast 

Playful 60s love/music comedy is more party than plot

Nov 13, 09 8:56 AM CST
(Newser) - Critics agree that the soundtrack of Pirate Radio can't be beat, and the top-notch cast is a joy. So when it comes to the shaky plot and pacing, some can turn a blind eye:
  • "There’s no denying the comic energy of the cast," Peter Travers writes
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
entertainment • music • film • movie review • rock and roll • Britain • Philip Seymour Hoffman • 1960s • rock music • Pirate Radio • Richard Curtis • Bill Nighy • Rhys Ifans • January Jones

NOT-SO-SWEET EMOTION

 Steven Tyler Quits 
 Aerosmith: Band 

Move follows missed tour dates and apparent dissension

Nov 9, 09 11:36 AM CST
(Newser) - Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler has left the band, according to rhythm guitarist Brad Whitford and lead guitarist Joe Perry, who have suggested that they're looking for a new singer. The news comes after a disastrous summer tour in which Tyler broke his shoulder in a stage fall and canceled many... More »

MORE ABOUT:
entertainment • rock and roll • rock music • Aerosmith • Steven Tyler • bands • quitting • Joe Perry • falling out

232 Stories


The official Rock Band site
Rock Band

The author's own Rock Band band
Lamb Hammer

Looking to hire an '80s cover band?
In the 80s


Arts & Living  •  Technology 
TwitterFollow @NewserArts on Twitter

 
Guitar Hero • Rock Band • rock music • video games

from our news partners