Video Games Live

Video Games Live (VGL) is a concert series created and produced by Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall. The concerts consist of segments of video game music performed by a live orchestra with video footage and synchronized lighting and effects, as well as several interactive segments with the audience. The concerts are conducted by Emmanuel Fratianni.

Video Games Live was first conceived by Wall and Tallarico, who spent three years planning the show. During the planning, the technology needed to allow the concert master to communicate with the performers, as well as to synchronize the lights and effects, was also created. The concert debuted on July 6, 2005 at the Hollywood Bowl, where the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra performed to an audience of 11,000 people. Three concerts were held the first year. In 2006, the concert re-launched with an 11-show world tour. The concert was expanded to 30 cities in 2007 and 47 cities in 2008. More than 70 shows were held in 2009 alone.

Each concert is performed by a local symphonic orchestra and local professional musicians.

Video Games Live features music from video games from all eras. Music from more recent games (and ongoing series), such as Final Fantasy, Halo, World of Warcraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Legend of Zelda, Kingdom Hearts, and Metal Gear Solid have been performed. Other segments feature retro arcade games such as Tetris and Asteroids. Video footage of each game is shown during its segment.

The concerts often feature solo performers. Martin Leung, who became known on the Internet for playing video game songs on a piano while blindfolded, routinely performed during the concerts between 2006-2012. Also discovered on the internet, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Laura Intravia appears at the shows often as well. VGL also occasionally features local video game cover bands like The Megas and Random Encounter. During performances Tallarico also plays guitar for some segments, from worldbeat-like folk for Chrono Trigger to heavy metal for Final Fantasy VII and themes from Castlevania.

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