It’s not quite a movie review… but kinda!

For this very special “Tangentially Relevant,” we go back in time to the year 1991. President Bush is waging a war in the Middle East, a Clinton is running for the White House, and a brand new video game console is sweeping the nation: the Super Nintendo.

Children across America are foaming at the mouth to get their hands on the brand new console, with its sleek, rounded controller styling and fetching purple buttons. But the real reason for their rabid SNES fervor can be summed up in three words: Super. Mario. World.

Was there a time when visions of mushrooms, gold coins and fire-breathing plants haunted your dreams?

Or maybe laser-shooting swords and pieces of heart were more your thing?

Whatever your poison, I’m pretty sure you’re going to, like, totally geek out when I tell you that the Austin Wind Symphony is performing the music of your favorite video games, both classic and modern, this Friday (March 7) at 8 p.m.! The awesomeness will include music from The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros., God of War, Star Wars: Battlefront, Superman Returns, Medal of Honor, Halo, Final Fantasy, Civilization IV and Kingdom Hearts. Tickets are $8 for regular folks and $7 for student-types.

Also included–free of charge!–is the chance to see yours truly rock out on the flute. What’s that you say? The words “flute” and “rock out” should never be used in the same sentence? I think Ian Anderson might beg to differ! (So there.)

And now, a menagerie of linkage for your edification:
Find more info on the concert and buy tickets online.
RSVP on Facebook.
Join our Facebook group.
Be our pal on MySpace.
Check us out on YouTube.