Album Cover Images (click for larger image)
About the album:
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1. Cynthia (3:41) |
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Band Images (click for larger image)
Contact:
For booking and all other inquiries mail us at: info@mailordermonsters64.comMail Order Monsters are:
Rich Vogel
John Harrell
Angela Nielsen
About us:
We're a three piece group from Grand Rapids Michigan, writing and performing original music using only Commodore 64 computers. Our focus is to make new engaging, original music using the Commodore 64. The group is comprised of three keyboard players, using multiple keyboards connected to Commodore audio circuitry. Our music pushes the Commodore SID sound past its previous limitations as a single SID chip machine, utilizing over 20 audio chips from Commodore computers in our live shows.More about us:
Mail Order Monsters developed out of founding member Rich Vogel's interest in the Commodore 64 computer and its sound capabilities. Vogel grew up with the C64 beginning with its first release date in 1982, and instantly fell in love with the game-play and unique sound of the SID chip ( the audio chip inside the Commodore ). Vogel started learning about audio synthesis and patch creation using the C64 program Synthesound, and later explored many other song creation and patch editing programs on the Commodore 64.
After having made several C64 game music compilations of his favorite tunes over the years, Vogel came up with the ambitious plan to form a band that would use the SID chip as its only audio source. The project was initially intended to faithfully perform and reproduce a slew of classic Commodore 64 game songs (including Fairlight, Shift, Adventure Construction Set, and Wizardry to name a few). Early in 2010, Vogel obtained schematics to build a stereo SID synthesizer named the MidiBox SID which he found at a website aimed at “MIDI hardware geeks” (ucapps.de). He went on to build two MidiBox SID synthesizers, one of which was built into a toaster enclosure, named the ToasterSid . These synthesizers have internal sockets which accept SID chips taken from vintage Commodore 64 computers. From there it is possible to connect any modern MIDI keyboard to the synth, plug the audio output to a mixer or amplifier, and start playing.
In the quest to perform original Commodore 64 game music with the most faithful sound reproduction, he found the HardSID Quattro, a PCI based card that has sockets to accept four SID chips. This card and associated software has the unique ability to load in original Commodore game songs, and extract the original patches from the songs to get as close to the original sound as possible. Once plugged into a PC, it allows access to the SID and all of its functions, and is also MIDI controllable. He also realized that a missing piece to the puzzle was the ability to use sampled sounds. After more research, he found the perfect solution to accomplish this task using the MSSIAH cartridge. This plugs directly into a Commodore 64 and allows imported samples to trigger via MIDI as well. Vogel modified two stock C64's to become stereo SID machines, both which run the MSSIAH cartridge. These machines handle the majority of the percussion samples for the songs.
After building a framework to get the project started, Vogel approached John Harrell, who also plays in local bands Pistolbrides and Chip Fundy, to join the band. They began developing accurate covers of several Commodore game songs in addition to working on original material that they had each composed separately (Calamiga and Lisa). The two worked together to hone the process of making a live show with the equipment possible, which is a novel in itself, and also began working on music videos to accompany the songs. The duo realized that they wanted additional layers of live sound and needed another keyboard player in order to handle their complex creative ideas. Vogel then reached out to Angela Nielsen, who had been playing with local bands Fainting Generals and Burning Knowledge Trio. She had been playing piano since youth and had broad experience as a musician both in the classical world and rock/pop genres. Her talents fit well with the group, and the three clicked well together creatively.
The band completed several videos during this period, for songs Lisa, Jenny, and Jeep Command. All three of the videos utilize green screen effects, placing the band in space riding atop Commodore computers, inside video game worlds, and in virtual 8-bit saloons in gunfights. The band collaborated on ideas for the videos, with many of the backgrounds and scenes hand cut and assembled from existing C64 games by Vogel, who also filmed/edited the videos. The videos are synced through MIDI, and are triggered live for performances.
All of the sounds produced for live performances are coming from the SID chip and are being triggered by hand by the band members, using multiple keyboard controllers connected to SID devices. Whether a direct instrument patch through the HardSid or the MidiBox Sid, or from a sample playing back through the MSSIAH, the sounds being produced are output from up to 20 SID chips onstage. The percussion is being triggered via MIDI sequences that are executed live, which run to the various SID devices directly.
The band in its current state is writing and performing all original music, with an occasional game song or cover song added to live sets. New material is being prepared for a future release.