So as we worked our way up the escalator and into the theater, the energy from the crowd was exuberant. Everyone was as happy to be there, as anyone could be to be anywhere else. Chew on that one for a bit. With people talking about how excited they were, Beckett (@beckettnoyes) and I surveyed the small crowd surrounding the stage. Beckett, being a bigger man than I, truck stick-ed through the small crowd landing us some pretty clutch spots to the right of the main stage's little catwalk. We could literally reach out and touch the performers. Which I did at one point. But so did everyone else so it's cool.
As we waited the long wait for the rest of the crowd to get situated, we looked around in eagerness, breathing in our successful mission to the front of the crowd. Soon after, the lights dimmed, and our two hosts, Jerry and Mike came out on the stage to present the participants of the Omeganaut's Tournament; a reccuring event at every PAX, where attendees register to participate in a myriad of games that test their dexterity as a gamer. From old school NES games, to cult Game-Cube surprises, to the popular games of the latest generation, these select few test their mettle against their worthy opponents in an attempt to win the grand prize. This PAX, it was a trip to Germany. Pretty sweet. In this, the semi-final round, it was revealed that the two teams of four participants would be competing against each other in Rock Band, both teams playing the song "The Gambler," by Kenny Rogers. A song which might seem an inspired choice for Penny Arcade readers. Gabe's Team, played the song relatively well, and the crowd seemed to have them picked. Tycho's Team, started with a rough patch, failing their first time due to having not picked their own instruments. Even during their second go round, their Singer failed out once, but was saved by a team mate shortly after. Though it looked like Gabe's Team may have won points wise, the unimpeded determination of Tycho's Team had won our hearts. Turns out they beasted the song too. Winning the challenge they moved on to the final round which would happen the next day.
As they cleared the stage, setting up for the first real act, the Video Game Orchestra, time seemed to creep by. One minute became five minutes, became ten minutes, became thirty. The crowd became restless. There was only one solution. The masters of the convention, the Enforcers did the only thing they could. The Wave. This was no ordinary wave. Starting on the upper left balcony, it went around clockwise, before hitting the right balcony, decending into the crowd below, with one massive surge across the theater back to it's origin. Not only did this magical Wave never false-start like many waves tend to do, this wave lasted at least 10 times around. BUT LO AND BEHOLD IT DID NOT STOP THERE! With the beckoning of the massive crowd below, the Wave changed directions, counterclockwise, for what seemed to be at least another five minutes before what was arguably the greatest happening in Wave history. We split the Wave. Starting at the middle of the balcony, the Wave crested out in both directions in unison, meeting in the middle of our massive crowd below, crashing against itself only to find new life once again on the top balcony! This Wave that was created in the Main Theater by the attendees of PAX East lasted but a moment in this grand timeline we call life, but I assure you, it will never be forgotten by those present. If there is a god of The Wave, I am sure that he smiles upon us for the great tribute that was made to him that day. Smiles and waves.
After the applause of the crowd wore itself out from our massive pat on the back, we realized it was about 45 minutes since the Omeganauts left the stage. We began to get antsy, as many crowds do, beginning to fervently chant, "V.G.O! V.G.O!" But soon after our wishes were granted and the Video Game Orchestra took the stage. They played crowd favorites from games such as Chrono Trigger, Silent Hill, Castlevania, Mario, Final Fantasy, but in such a unique blend of classical instruments and rock instruments that the songs were given new life. It was awesome. I fully intend to see them live again if I ever get the chance. When they had finished their set, the crowd cheered hard for an encore, which apparently caught them off guard, forcing them to pick a song they had already played, but I assure you, it was just as good the second time around.
By this point, the crowd has been standing for about 3 hours. So everyone sat where they could, but space was kind of hard to come by, leaving Beckett and I standing in agony. About a half hour later, all of the orchestral equipment was off the stage, leaving a keyboard and a few mikes on stage.
That's when the lights dimmed and Paul and Storm, the next band, came out doing a parody of this video. Then they were joined by the Prince of PAX, Wil Wheaton. The crowd burst into laughter, then applause, then back to laughter every time the trio of "Trololo Guy"s did a new dance move, or fought amongst themselves.
Shortly after they left the stage, Paul and Storm came back onto the stage. I had never heard of them before the Concert, actually only hearing of them after they actually walked out on stage. Beginning with "Opening Song" and going from there, their set involved the audience as much as they could, to the point of their own annoyance. After getting the crowd to give a big "Awwww" after one of their more sad lyrics, and getting the crowd to give a big "ARRRRGGGHHH!!!" during a pirate themed song, "The Captain's Wife's Lament" that is all the crowd would do to everything they said. It was a hilarious set, singing one song about the man who invented Chicken Nuggets, and another about a musical set around the video game "Frogger" going as far as to bring a scared little asian girl up onto the stage for Storm to sing a ballad to during the song. They were witty and hilarious, rolling with whatever the crowd threw at them, in one case pipe cleaner underwear, and left the stage to rancorous applause.
Then following a short break, the man we had all been waiting for, JOCO himself, Jonathan Coulton came on stage. The crowd went wild. His equipment consisting of a microphone, a guitar, a laptop and some strange machine, he came out graciously thanking everyone for coming, and for waiting the 5 hours to see him. He then played "Still Alive" and "SkullCrusher Mountain" acoustically, making the crowd go insane. Then he put down his guitar, and picked up the strange device. Slinging it around his neck and over his shoulder much like a guitar strap, the trapezoidial device was covered in black circular pads of varying size. He told us that the machine was called the "Distract-o-tron" and that we should pay attention to it, and not the next song he would be playing as he didn't like the song he was about to play as much as his others. Then he launched into this awesome rendition of his song "Mr. Fancy Pants." Each button either had a beat, a drum, a snare, or vocal clips from the song loaded onto it, and he played this incredible mash-up of a song on this machine, tapping away at all these similar looking buttons, making this unbelievable rhythm that could barely be followed. Then he hit one button and all the other beats and clips stopped, while a clip from "Single Ladies" came on. The crowd roared with laughter and burst into applause, but in no time he was back into "Mr. Fancy Pants." He finished the song to the loudest applause all night. After putting the "Distract-o-tron" down behind him, he walked back up to the microphone only to have one of the samples go off behind him. Looking behind him, he stepped closer; another sample. Then he made a little song of walking and jumping by the machine, seeing what played, until "Single Ladies" came back on, and that was enough of that.
Shortly after Paul and Storm joined him on stage, singing back up and playing a tambourine, then Metroid Metal, another band who had played Friday, came up behind him with electric guitar and bass, while their third man hopped onto the drum set behind them. They played a few more songs, making the crowd go insane with every next piece with crowd favorites such as "Re Your Brains" and "Future Soon". After explaining that after the next song they would be "done" and "leaving" the stage, they finished playing their "last song" and exited the stage. After about 45 seconds, they came back on much to our "surprise." They played one last jam and told us that even though yes, we could probably overpower the security guards and all stay night, it was time to leave, it being almost 2 AM by this point.
After the applause died down, the shuffle to the exit began. And after another brief wait outside, Beckett and I both got our PAX Badges signed by Paul and Storm, which was the cherry on the top of the gigantic chocolate ice cream sundae that was PAX East. PAX was phenominal. I could rant and rave about how great of a time it was, or how great of a community it is, but at the same time I realize, PAX isn't for everyone. If you don't have an extensive knowledge of nerd-culture, like "Rolling for Initiative" and "All Your Base Are Belong To Us" for basics, you might not like PAX. But that's okay! PAX does not discriminate. All are welcome. All Our PAX Are Belong To Everyone. Even with my leet nerd skills, I was put to shame by a vast quantity of PAX goers when it came to knowledge and obsession with all things geeky and nerdy.
If you're open to new things, and a casual to moderate video gamer, a one day pass, just to see what PAX is like might be for you. I was in a similar situation this year. But next year, I intend on skipping my Friday classes, and getting back to UMASS late Sunday night. Three days of glorious PAX East await me next year, and I fully intend to enjoy every second of it. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, because I could rattle on about a dozen other stories that were not included in my two posts, even though I think these might be two of my longest posts ever.
Thanks again Jerry and Mike, for being awesome, and making something like PAX for everyone to enjoy.
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