Playing with Power at JAFAX 2024

I sat down with Mark, leader of Playing with Power. Playing with Power is a VGM band based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Questions/Topics
00:10 Intro
00:59 How did the band start
02:37 Describing the approach to creating Playing with Power’s sound
03:39 The evolution of their approach
04:52 Is there a specific approach to picking songs that you would like to cover?
06:25 Tribute Album 64
07:25 Continue! Part One
08:42 The beach theme from Plok
10:00 Which songs would you like to cover in the future?
11:13 All Your Bass
12:35 Any plans to record an album?
13:11 Kingdom of Zeal and more about All Your Bass
15:17 1st exposure to VGM bands
15:50 Fave VGM bands
17:06 Fave VGM covers
18:18 What would you like to see more of in the vgm scene?
20:07 Our mutual disappointment in Grand Rapid’s lack of support for a 2022 Mega Ran concert
21:36 Joe’s 1349 and Bit Brigade concert experiences on back to back nights

22:35 GR8Bit Live
23:44 What lessons did you learn from it?
24:27 Joe’s appreciation for how Mark impacted his life
26:29 How Mark and Joe met during the “Fresh Air” incident of GR8bit Live 1
29:44 Will GR8bit or something similar comeback down the road?

31:00 What do video games mean to you?
32:13 1st game you bought with your own money
33:01 Video game prices back then compared to now
33:40 Nintendo’s pricing policy
34:36 A view on putting a price on entertainment
35:07 Skyrim and Red Dead Redemption II
36:31 Which video games did you emotionally connect with?
38:24 Kirby’s Epic Yarn
39:00 Underrated games
39:44 Overrated games
40:50 What are you currently playing?
41:48 Upcoming games that you are looking forward to

42:17 What’s new?
43:02 Social Media
43:41 Message for the fans

Visit Playing with Power at:
https://playingwithpower.bandcamp.com/