GEEKPR0N Attends the Cybertronic Spree: Bloor Takeover
The Cybertronic Spree’s Bloor Takeover was the birthday party five-, six-, seven-, eight- and twenty-five-year-old me wanted but never got.
I was put on the path to this moment of awesomeness by my bosses at GEEKPR0N when the question came down the pipe as to which of us, among the staff, was the greatest Transformers fan. When the dust settled, I was given the assignment: study and interview the band known as the Cybertronic Spree, and attend their event on March 21st at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema.
I began my research accordingly. From what I learned, the Cybertronic Spree were a group of individuals who dress themselves in costumes of famed characters from that grand classic 1986 film Transformers and perform songs from the soundtrack of the film. Puzzled as to how such a group hadn’t crossed my path previously, I prepared myself accordingly for the event by setting up my interview questions and having my notepad ready.
I arrived as the doors opened and took my place in the theater. I waited patiently as the event’s host gave his introduction explaining how the original 1986 Transformers film would be playing before the band did. Curious as to how a pack of mere mortals could possibly follow such a great piece of cinema history, I sat back and enjoyed a film I’d not seen on the big screen since its original run when I was but a wee lad of three.
It was something else to see the Transformers film on the big screen again after so many decades. I was taken back to the genesis of my youth as the first heavy notes accompanied Unicron’s appearance, coasting through the stars like a massive sphere of death. Of course, I was watching this with fellow Transformers fans and silence quickly gave way to cheering at the opening credits (including a rather powerful one at the credit for Leonard Nimoy) followed by intense laughter as the narrator revealed that the film took place in 2005.
It continued on like that as fans in the audience cheered and laughed at their beloved film. It was an amazing showing even with the sick assholes who laughed when Optimus died (seriously, who does that?). As the film wrapped, people cheered as the house lights came on. Then, suddenly, I was surprised to see Rumble and Hot Rod from the band appear in front of the audience to answer questions.
Despite how convincing their outfits were, I assured myself that they were simply people in costumes playing the part of their roles. In no way were they the actual great fictional characters here before me to play the greatest songs of the human condition. As the last of the questions were answered the band took the stage.
Arcee took her place at the keyboard as Unicron took lead guitar. Hot Rod took up his bass as Rumble grabbed his sticks and sat behind his drums. Spike took up his guitar while the Quintesson took on several instruments (I suppose you could say he is multifaceted). Lastly Soundwave took his place as sound engineer as they got ready to play.
I tell you dear friends, when Rumble started pounding those drums I realized, at that one profound moment, that these weren’t people in costumes… these were robots in disguise! It was an amazing set as these proud Cybertronians played us the songs of their people. I roared along with the audience as they played tracks from the film and several classic songs from the 80s including “Run With Us” from the Raccoons and “Trouble Again” From the Droids cartoon. Even the 80s version of Weird Al showed up to sing “Dare to Be Stupid” to close out the night.
Afterward, I managed to get backstage as press and totally not by lying about being a person from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. While there, I managed to join the band in shots of energon (Spike was drinking it too, so I think it was safe for humans) and managed to ask some questions.
If these guys aren’t cool you have no spark in your soul.
Where did you guys start on our planet?
We crashed into a mountain after getting distracted by an unauthorized boarding party. That mountain was somewhere in the northwestern United States. We’ve since relocated to Toronto, because that is where we happened to be when our spacebridge broke down, trapping us here. It’s cold and grey and has crumbling, inefficient infrastructure. It is the city that reminds us most of our home world of Cybertron.
What made you performers come together to settle your differences to form the Cybertronic Spree?
We still have our differences and we settle them onstage via rock battles and guitar duels now. But we originally came together to start playing music because we wanted to be a part of Nerd Noise Night and figured that being a musical act was the best way of tricking people into letting us hang out and get free beer. We were right.
When did you decide to start playing along screenings of the film?
Transformers: The Movie is one that holds a lot of emotion for our various members. The decision to play an event that featured a screening of the film was an easy one to make, and we decided early on that at some point we would do that. It has taken until now for it to happen because we needed to find the right people, the right venue, and the right time to do this. The staff of the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema have been most accommodating with our various requests and Unicron’s demands. They are the right people. The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema is the right venue. March 21, 2015 at 9 p.m. Eastern Time is the right time.
You’re doing tracks from the Transformers film, which is amazing! But have you thought of doing any original pieces inspired by the franchise?
First, thank you for saying that! And yes, we are writing original music inspired by our fellow Autobots and Decepticons. When the time is right, we will unleash them upon the masses.
Are there other tracks from the Transformers franchise that you want to add to your repertoire?
At this time we have played just about every piece of music we like from the G1 Transformers series and the movie, but we are big fans of sneaking in our versions of other songs from the same era.
How have you managed to reduce the size of members of your cast that are historically… quite large?
We use mass shifting techniques not unlike Soundwave and Megatron. They are giant robots but transform into smaller items to disguise themselves.
How have you used Cybertronian know-how to enhance your performances in a way that us humans can truly appreciate it?
Our use of Cybertronian technology within human instruments allows us to be louder than any other band using comparable gear. We also don’t need to breathe, so we can belt out screamin’ vocals like no one else (especially Arcee). Most of the time, our robot physiology gets in the way of being as nimble onstage as a human might be, but we more than make up for that with the sheer spectacle of it all.
Have any of your fellow Autobots or Decepticons asked for spots in the band but just couldn’t make the cut for one reason or another?
Ultra Magnus and Springer keep asking to join the band but they are SUPER BORING and just don’t get what it takes to be a rock ‘n’ roll band. They go to sleep by 9 p.m., for instance. Frenzy keeps asking to join the band but he’s more of a speed metal drummer, plus we already have Rumble!
And lastly, where’s your next destination after your Toronto venue?
We are playing a party for our closest human friends and have been asked to not share the address. We would like to visit San Diego Comic Con after that, or even the one in New York. Time will tell.
The night continued as we shared drinks and stories (seriously, on the drinking, Rumble pounds energon like it’s his job!). Everything after a while became a bit of a Blur (ha ha) between shots and me hitting on someone I was sure at the time was Arcee. I came to safely in my own the next morning, safely delivered by the band no doubt, with nothing but my memories, a T-shirt from the band and a note left behind.
“Can’t wait to see you again. Call me. *number redacted* -The Quintesson” It was a wild night.
