Skatune Network | Somerville, MA

When this show first was announced, I was so excited. Ska renditions of video game music?  How could things get any better?  Still, I didn’t know what to expect.

Starting the show was Grammy-winning Button Masher. The set up was simple, just a guy and a keyboard. Behind him was a projector screen that had clips from the video games the music he was playing was from. To my surprise, the video on the screen was synced perfectly to the notes and even had a keyboard on the bottom where you could see the keys he was playing. His set included classics such as “Underground Theme” from Super Mario Brothers and “Those Who Fight” from Final Fantasy VII. 

Following Buttom Masher was Dom Palombi’s Game Night. The 8-piece band was able to take familiar video game music and give it a fresh new sound. The uptempo beat and catchy horns really added to the classic melodies of “Green Hill Zone” from Sonic The Hedgehog and “Halo 3 Theme” from Halo 3. It was great to hear a different take on some of my favorite video game tunes. 

Last but not least was Skatune Network and they never disappoint! The entire room was moving along to songs from Pokemon, Super Smash Bros Melee, and finally (the one that everyone was waiting for) “Escape From The City” from Sonic The Hedgehog.