Skip NXNE's Second Life in Favor of its First

I'll give props to NXNE and the bands playing at C'est what on June 7 for trying something new, even if I refuse to endorse it, as a Torontoite who's attending NXNE. The show is going to be 'simulcast' in the world's most glorified chat avatar system, Second Life.

What does this mean for anyone with an NXNE wristband and an interest in Uncle Seth, grand:pm, Valery Gore and/or Nadine Medawar? It means P. Diddy Squat.

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Second Life is a virtual world of sorts. People create characters, spend (real) money, inhabit virtual households (that cost real money), and generally kill time with it like you would with most any other form of entertainment.

It's kind of like The Sims meets World of Warcraft meets your bank account. Not that The Sims or WoW are free, but ya get me, right?

Virtual "concerts" are starting to gain in popularity within Second Life as well; Duran x2 have done it, as have Suzanne Vega and Talib Kweli. What it means is that the bands stream the audio through to Second Life, where a virtual venue has been constructed for the real/virtual event that Second Life users can attend and, in a matter of speaking, participate in. The bands will all have virtual avatars that will be "playing" the music as it's played live.

If you're in Toronto and are a fan of any of the bands, don't bother.

The show won't be much to look at, or hear for that matter. Second Life's graphics engine is far behind what even the (now considered) dated graphics of World of Warcraft have to offer. Factor in what will be decidedly underwhelming sound quality and presence (compared to actually being there) and what you have is a good way to market your band to audiences that can't attend your shows.

Wristband holders, skip this one over and just go to the show. Maybe even buy some of our old friend Jay Moonah's merch. Uncle Seth are le awesome, and this won't be the first time they've done an SL show.

Now, what would make this fucking rad would be if a virtual terrorist group penis-bombed the event. If someone is planning to do this, then by all means download the Second Life client and partake in the festivities.