Joystick to the World

“When you play a video game, you become that character, so the music kind of becomes the soundtrack to your life. That’s why so many people are attached to this music,” says Tommy Tallarico, iconic video-game music composer and the man behind Video Games Live, a rock/symphony celebration of memorable...

By Josiah Hesse

November 15, 2012

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

“When you play a video game, you become that character, so the music kind of becomes the soundtrack to your life. That’s why so many people are attached to this music,” says Tommy Tallarico, iconic video-game music composer and the man behind Video Games Live, a rock/symphony celebration of memorable scores for games like The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros. and Street Fighter, as well as newer titles such as Halo and Guitar Hero.

“I started Video Games Live about ten years ago because I wanted to show the world how culturally significant, and artistic, video games have become,” says Tallarico, who pioneered a more sophisticated approach to gaming music decades earlier with his scores for Prince of Persia and RoboCop Versus The Terminator.

Tallarico will perform this sentimental and climactic music live on guitar — accompanied by an orchestra and light show — tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Center, 417 West Magnolia Street in Fort Collins. Tickets range from $39 to $55; for more information, visit www.videogameslive.com or call 970-221-6730.
Tue., Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m., 2012

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.