The GeekDads

Ken, Matt, Jonathan and Dan talk about TRON, The Hobbit, and how geeky the holidays can be. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

With Halloween behind us, we at GeekDad HipTrax have but a pair of wonderfully regular episodes between us and the gift-giving madness that is the 12 Days of Geekmas. We kick this off with a show thematically centered on childhood. You know how we do.

Reconnect with your inner ragamuffin with:

"Star Wars Uncut" by Adam WarRock

Former attorney and current nerdcore trailblazer Adam WarRock has gotten a much deserved push of late - from being featured on the BBC to pulling together this amazing (and totally official) theme song for the Emmy award-winning Star Wars Uncut. To get the full effect of his musical prowess I suggest picking up his stellar full-length The War for Infinity.

"Soren Lorenson (My Invisible Friend)" by Snidget

Like many other Wizard Rocker, Grace "Snidget" Kendall has really expanded her musical repertoire of late. On this track, for example, she trades in her dulcimer for a ukulele and her lyrical focus on the Potter mythos for an understated tribute to British children's book series/television program Charlie and Lola.

"Far Too Far (feat. Jeff Suffering)" by Stenobot

As a member of Seattle chip-hop outfit Supercommuter, Stenobot has made quite a name for himself producing techno-apocalyptic robot party anthems. His latest release, however, is a collaboration with his 4-year old son with a totally different slant. Channeling the emotional roller coaster that is his son's treatment for leukemia into music, Sink or Swim We'll Go Together is a beautiful, stirring and wholly enjoyable effort. Check it out for free on his site, or pick up the special edition CD with a handmade, hard bound photo book for $15. All proceeds from the latter benefit Child's Play.

Ken, Matt, Russ and Jonathan talk about visiting the White House, seeing Tony Hawk, and playing LEGO Universe. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

In preparation for a very special GeekDad event, we here at HipTrax would like to present to you another delightful Halloween-themed podcast. This one is musically centered on everyone's favorite shambling flesh-eaters.

You do realize I mean zombies, right?

Scream in terror at the rotten facades of:

"You'll Always Be My Zombie Friend" by Starla

Not only is Starla's zombie friend nonthreatening, he's also apparently a big fan of frenetic dance beats and crazy, pitch-corrected vocals. You know what? Maybe we've been over-thinking this whole zombie thing. They don’t want our brains – just a solid DJ and reasonably-priced drinks.

"Quick and the Dead" by Death*Star

Nerdcore duo Death*Star puts an interesting spin on the zombie narrative in the track "Quick and the Dead" from their debut full-length The Fandom Menace. Not only do they switch perspective from the survivors to the ravenous horde at the half-way point, they also manage to inject a classic sing-along chorus.

"Zombie Apocalypse" by Kirby Krackle

Seattle's Kirby Krackle write songs about things that really matter. They touch on important subjects like video games and the world's worst superhero team. And also zombies. This fine selection from their debut album was recently interpreted as a delightfully macabre music video.

Ken, Matt and special guest Rael Dornfest talk about set top boxes, playing D&D with your family, and whether any of us will want to ride in Google cars. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The first of this year's Halloween-themed October editions of GeekDad HipTrax pays homage to one of the greatest videogame series of all time: Castlevania . While obviously steeped in gothic horror and hardcore platforming, the series is also renowned for its eclectic and atmospheric soundtracks. This has made it a favorite among the videogame remix community, which, in turn, makes it an excellent candidate for a special Hiptrax tribute!

Relish the musical creepiness of:

"Fear of Haze" by Joshua Morse

"Froggy Mosh" by goat

"Once Upon a Time in Transylvania" by virt

Ken, Matt, Chuck and John chat about Star Wars on 3D, and over-engineering your toaster. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

We at HipTrax take our mission – to provide our fellow GeekParents with amazingly nerdy music they can actually share with the kids – very seriously. So much so, in fact, that the only thing that thrills us more than unearthing three brand new geek-jams for you every other week is spotlighting music that's available at the very reasonable price of free. As such, each remarkable song presented in this edition of the podcast comes to your from an equally remarkable album that is offered gratis.

Submitted for your perusal:

"Hilltop Zone" by Vernian Process

Have you ever wondered what the music of Sonic the Hedgehog II would sound like if performed orchestral style by San Francisco's preeminent steampunk pioneers? Me neither, but Vernian Process and VGM blog Game Music 4 All provided an answer anyway! Check out volume 1 of their Retro Gaming Retrospective series Sonic Symphony: An Orchestral Tribute to the 16-Bit Sega Classics, as well as additional volumes themed around the Final Fantasy and Castlevania series.

"Vessel of the Void ~Theme of Exdeath~" by zircon

The newest project from our friends at OverClocked ReMix is a celebration of Nobuo Uematsu's classic score for Square's Final Fantasy V. The Fabled Warriors is a five-album set, and Volume I: Wind was just released earlier this month. The remaining four albums will trickle out over the next two to three years, thus assuring that you always have something to look forward to.

"Alternate Ending (Untested Methods remix)" by The Grammar Club

New Orleans-based producer Untested Methods puts the closing track from The Grammar Club's stellar debut release trough his own unique musical filter in this fantastic remix. It's available as part of the recently released Remix Casefiles Vol. 1 – Nerdcore collection from Scrub Club Records. Be sure to give the whole album a listen, but beware that there's a content warning for several of its tracks.

Ken, Matt and Jonathan chat about all the amazing games at PAX, and work on ideas for some new Great Bacon Odyssey posts. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

As summer draws to a close and the faintest bite of autumn appears in the air, we at GeekDad choose to reflect. Today, for example, we focus on the waning convention season, beer and Chris Isaak. Y'know, the important stuff!

This edition of GeekDad HipTrax features:

"CONtact" by Mega Ran & K-Murdock

Conventions are serious business, and personal hygiene is no laughing matter! Just ask poor Random, a cat who's done his time amid the (literally) unwashed masses. Why not brighten the man's day by contributing to his Kickstarter campaign? You'll be glad you did. Because of the hip-hop.

"Beer, Beer, Beer" as interpreted by Marc Gunn

I'm sure some parents would argue that a song about beer isn't an ideal choice for a child-friendly podcast, and I would agree. Of course this one's about the discovery of beer. That makes it educational! Lovers of Celtic-folk and free stuff are encouraged to leave a comment, as a random poster will receive free copies of both Marc's Kilted for Her Pleasure and The Bridge.

"Wicked Game" as covered by sadnes

The GeekDad HipTrax audience has already heard Carl Peczynski's phenomenal cover of Weezer's "In the Garage" under his stage name OxygenStar. Now you can also experience his take on Chris Isaak's classic "Wicked Game," from the Fill My Head EP, which was released under the name sadnes. Yet another fine freebie from netlabel Pause!