MAGFest 2019: Bit Brigade

Bit Brigade performs rock covers of full NES game soundtracks as their gamer speedruns the game live on stage.
www.bitbrigade.com
MAGFest, short for "Music And Gaming Festival", is a party dedicated to the appreciation of video game music, gaming of all types, and the gaming community. For more information about MAGFest events, visit www.magfest.org.

[@antihero414]

After having watched Bit Brigade perform this live, I came to realize most of the overwhelming anxiety I suffer as an adult was likely birthed from playing Mega Man 2 as an 8 year old.

[@ReddFoxx1562]

Hey man, I was 5. Some of these sounds are "triggering," as the young folks say.

[@GulfCoastSportsLLC]

I LOVE THIS GAME! I was in 7th grade when I first played it. I’m telling you what, it’s one of those games that to this day still challenges me. Which is what makes this whole franchise PERFECT!

[@flewis02]

Nah..Megaman 2 was the shit and still is..i beat it at 7 myself..but im built different...i just learned which stages to play first..Metal Man is always the easiest one to start with

[@sgtbigballs666]

Why do you feel the need to be a victim? Just enjoy it or don't, or piss off 🤔

[@nopenullify8947]

RIGHT!? AND WE *FINISHED* THESE GAMES!!! I go back now at 42 y.o. like, "no ty". They are tough games but back then, ... man ..... what times!

[@what0ever0lah]

4:23 opening 6:19 metalman 8:48 flashman 10:21 message from dr.light 11:15 quickman 13:33 woodman 16:21 airman 18:43 message from dr.light 19:36 crashman 22:46 bubbleman 25:27 heatman 27:37 message from dr.light 28:44 mecha dragon 31:25 picopico kun 33:46 guts tank 35:20 boobeam trap 38:31 rematches & wily machine 41:03 alien 42:20 ending

[@jacobmattis7176]

I need these guys in my living room when I play.

[@trollwithoutcontent2788]

You can!! Buy their record, play MM2 and try to keep up 🤟🏼

[@pen8142]

Translation of Takeshi's translator's translation: HELLO AMERICAAAA!!! ARE YOU READY TO ROCK?!

[@badeduun1650]

That drummer just kills it

[@th3SyLvEsTeR]

That drummer is insanely good!

[@allrequiredfields]

Yeah, he's perfect for this stuff. Honestly, most drummers would lag or play too behind the beat for material like this - this drummer pushes a bit and it ends up helping the music FEEL faster, more intense.

[@boots_33]

The bass work in this is fucking stellar

[@jmtejada]

For anyone wondering, that’s Wiley Stage 1 from MM9 at 14:36. Nice way to mix it in

[@shinjiblack9460]

I've been doing speed runs and perfect attempts for years and I honestly never thought of using time stopper on Wood Man's stage to avoid the flame cat robots

[@Kain5th]

i usually use it on the monkey part in that stage. i hate those things

[@allrequiredfields]

In my mind, this is what Polyphia is supposed to sound like. Why can't musicians write memorable music anymore? These melodies and rhythms are absolutely phenomenal.

[@francescobarrali637]

Because they wrote melody and structure first, to overcome soundchip limitations. This music would sound phenomenal being played on pretty much anything.

[@postalcollapse12]

exactly. @@francescobarrali637

[@neozzickmixes3987]

I love they used MM3 get weapon theme, the best one

[@guillaumeaudet3139]

Now that's what I call a performance!

[@HachiMatt]

Cheers to MEDIATRON! for the turn around time on these upload ❤️

[@mosh7697]

Gives me goosebumps hearing this...

[@tertulianomaximoafonso253]

26:47 I love crowd reaction to this

[@tertulianomaximoafonso253]

30:17 and this too!

[@jefflittle9713]

The Mega Man 3 tunes weaved in with this, holy shit

[@mosh7697]

Full circle, how awesome is that!

[@RimshotsandNamaste]

Oh wow this is great!! Glad the composer is enjoying this!!

[@bsheets5888]

Gamer: My hands are sweaty Drummer:...

[@mattcoffren9797]

I Fn love you guys playing megaman2 sounds soooo good with a complete band. I play the 2012 show almost every day on my ride home. Keep jammin boys!!!!!!

[@ItsJustJimOkay]

I really need to catch these guys live one day :( come MAGWest plz :D

[@bluebloodgaming614]

Seen these guys live at Louisville Arcade Expo. Awesome live! Also MM2 is one of my alltime favorites.

[@johndoe6793]

man that drummer is good

[@fabiolean]

Saw these guys at PAX South, and the hype is real.

[@RosyGirl763]

That landing sound effect was pretty well done to the beat of the music @ 6:25 and @ 32:11

[@kawuroh]

I can't claim that the Metal Man one was on purpose, but the Wily Stage one was totally intentional. I try to pepper those in when I can in performances.

[@Jitrovic]

@@kawuroh Are you the guy who's playing the game here?

[@pabloabata4635]

Por favor vengan a Chile!!

[@Flossy350]

The band always looks so nervous for crash man, and they should be

[@swampdonkey4919]

That's my favorite song.

[@chrisbg99]

I can't believe you jerks came back to MAGFest and played Mega Man 2 the year I couldn't make it. Don't you know how much that hurts my feelings?

[@jerrysmith8624]

Bruh

[@RealArtVandelay]

Respect for beating metal man on the first attemp with half a life bar😮😮

[@Richie8406]

I play when I listen to this.

[@flamingolegs]

13:33 _nice >:]_

[@abbyalphonse499]

SiIvaGunner was also at magfest weren't they?

[@flamingolegs]

@@abbyalphonse499 hell yea they were

[@woksrandomchannel]

The intro made be bawl. So good.

[@swampdonkey4919]

NGL, it got me emotional when I saw them in Athens two nights ago...

[@dickielee6419]

@@swampdonkey4919 at the GA theatre?

[@swampdonkey4919]

@@dickielee6419 yup

[@AnnWahlquist]

the bassplayer and drummer are amazing....

[@UltimateSpoon]

Seen them twice so far including at PAX East, can't wait to see them again this summer!

[@GulfCoastSportsLLC]

Jesus Christ in Heaven, I’m crying over here because this is just so freaking beautiful! 🥹

[@aburg10s]

Sad to see they didn't premiere a new game, but understandable given the composer was there. Battletoads or Blaster Master next!

[@mmwosu]

Master Blaster would be amazing but might be a little long for a live show (maybe?)

[@kevinrey9427]

You guys rock

[@yenjose8992]

flashman's stage is the best music for me.

[@thestaplesbros]

Unbelievable

[@Arinahaset]

WHY ARENT THEY GONNA BE AT MAGFEST THIS YEAR! Truly I am sad for it.

[@DrewKane]

34:58 - the sound of losing a spin on the slot machines in Mario 2?

[@mobilesworking]

Caught these guys in San Antonio on a humid Monday evening. Turnout was disappointing, so I fear BB will skip the Alamo City when next they tour. Fellas, give us another chance! Or play PAX South maybe...

[@DrewKane]

14:00 - Been playing this game since the week it came out, and I didnt know you could do that there, and it wouldn't spawn enemies on the next screens. That's a coooool trick.

[@w1ck3dz0d1ac]

They play it right. The hammer ons for the intro OMG.

[@jefferyfedor5033]

Interesting path! I personally have always went metal, flash, bubble, air, heat, wood, quick, and crash. Use flash on air, wood, quick, and crash stages. Also, somehow I never knew about using bubbles on W3. Always thought metal blades were the safer choice.

[@PeasyShipper69]

they went from Wily Fortress 2 to Kid Icarus Reaper to Mario 2 death insane

[@DrewKane]

Kid Icarus Reaper was the one I didn't know. Thanks.

[@PeasyShipper69]

no problem...

[@BrunosCRF]

What time of the video?

[@PeasyShipper69]

when they get to the Guts Dozer

[@seamon9732]

28:43 "Put the Bob in the bottle"

[@denjr10]

"Someday, someone will see this comment and think it's hilarious!" ....8 months later, YES!

[@thuskranger3735]

Yes! they're back again but with New Twicks!

[@astrogallotron]

WOW

[@user-wp9ie3lr8b]

13:25 wood man >:]

[@Matthew9444]

Shame the audio is much poorer than the 2012 recording.

[@oldmenwithnewguns5997]

Exactly.

[@cellistyami2798]

Is there a link of said 2012 recording on KZbin?

[@stickershock66]

@@cellistyami2798 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIDXZ3h9nKehh9U

[@oracleofcourage]

@@cellistyami2798 Honestly surprised that video isn't how you discovered BitBrigade, you can find it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4arnYmaprefhqM

[@jefflittle9713]

This video is mankind's greatest achievement, aliens visiting earth should be shown this to reflect humanity's accomplishments when they arrive

[@billy8649]

Thanks to Mega Man 2 I Listen to Rock/Metal Music 🤘🏻

[@moments2photos929]

This is bad ass

[@MorbidThrasher666]

This was fukEn AMAZING!!!!!!

[@RealArtVandelay]

Sooo epic❤

[@XCygnusX]

id be so nervous being the guy playing the game. please dont die please dont die LOL

[@gnarlin4964]

I'd really like a Duke Nukem 3D cover from Bit brigade.

[@felonkeller_ss]

Nah Doom is where its at

[@Williamdrift1]

Quem é melhor nessa banda? Eu acho o cara que zera esse.jogo.fodastico

[@compeannetworks6199]

Love the drums, love the guitars but the bass is amazing, looks like the music designer for this game wants to make everything perfect and the bass, impossible!

[@qdHazen]

Where is that derpy-sounding music they played during the Guts Tank bit from?

[@rodent2717]

That's from Kid Icarus when a Soul Reaper sees you

[@KornmanUNstoppable]

is it me or is the band audio really off?

[@mathewbouse1105]

holy shit the bass (which sounded godlike in the 2011 performance) sounds like ass here

[@mmwosu]

Flawless Crash Man while doing item-2 hot dogging? F U buddy! 😆🤣 Also, I was like “Bro! Leaf Shield almost one-shots Air Man!!!”

[@BossSweetTV]

The drummer must've burned a 1000 calories during this performance

[@SonictheBedHog]

4:23 starts.

[@pauldyson8098]

I mean, Airman first. Otherwise, this is an absolute masterpiece.

[@th1rtyf0ur]

what did they switch to halfway thru woodman?

[@ReddFoxx1562]

The sound balance on this performance recording is very... not good.

[@badenialshreebley91]

The bassist has the same bass as my girlfriend

[@bureku]

Is that the same gamer playing MM2 as they had for the other video from 2012? Noah?

[@bureku]

definitely not Noah... this guy is a speed runner and looks a lot like a young Nathan Fillion

[@latemammoth]

nice >:]

[@Distaval]

Will they ever or have they ever done megaman 3?

[@highstimulation2497]

love the in-tempo jumping at 18 14

[@rrmattos8480]

Despite the sound errors, I preferred 10x more their performance in MAGFest X, in this version they not seem as excited as in that, unfortunately... But still a great band!

[@RimshotsandNamaste]

Omg! Tought exactly the same!! :/

[@zarkaun96]

What song are you guys playing @34:49

[@dewinter1411]

Kid Icarus when spotted by the Grim Reapers.

[@bsheets5888]

thumbs down are from Dr Wiley fans :(

[@TrooperTru]

[34:49 - 35:01] What the hell was THAT?!?!?

[@bsheets5888]

from Kid Icarus

[@sxstrngsamurai13]

gotta say, not a huge fan of the picture in picture. I don't need to see the game, I'd rather see the whole band on the stage.

[@ColdBrew697]

You're not alone, but Bit Brigade themselves prefer we focus more on the game than the band so that's why we did it this way.

[@magfest]

Confirming ColdBrew's comment. The band requested the PiP.

[@kjvacp]

I love the game, but i like the smaller picture from magfest X on coldbrew's channel.

[@CrazyAznKT]

I kinda get why they did it, they got a guy on stage speed running the game after all. It’s just as much a performance as theirs. But yeah, it would be cool if they had switched it up throughout as well

[@sungpackhong4144]

But the music works best with the game.

[@ddespair]

after watching their 2104 show these guys look like they're not into it any more. Maybe they're sick of the songs.

[@highstimulation2497]

he's a drummer also? a man after my own heart. great minds think alike;)

[@Ricktards]

metal blade totallie gneads a nerf

[@MadJedfox]

21:53 WTF? oO Is it some kind of black magic? oO

[@cptnoremac]

Please record and upload at 60fps. NES games look like ass at 30. Especially when something is flickering and we only get all the off frames.

[@gourdy6297]

shounds like you recorded this with a potato

[@juansandoval8483]

Skipped through the Password Select melody =(

[@Shorai_3]

Definitely leagues better than Rex Viper.

[@Distaval]

MM3 intro is better!

[@markbrowning4334]

No..... But it doesn't really matter.

[@me1smartguy]

At least turn rapid fire off the genie. Everyone here has skills. Except the bass player. He's drunk

[@highstimulation2497]

34:47. the rim reaper music from kid icarus????? no way. followed by the super mario 2 death jingle? get outta town!