Nerd Nite #17: Polaroids, Vampires, and Nerd Jams

If you are a fan of TED talks, the Discovery Channel, Wikipedia binges, and drinking, Nerd Nite is the show for you!

Thursday, November 19, Nerd Nite Denver goes back in time to talk polaroids and vampires and then wraps up the night with some epic rock from renowned nerd band The Stubby Shillelaghs!

Join us in November as über geek Brian Stevenson shows us how the Polaroid camera changed the world; author duo Harris Gray talks about the value of in-person vampire research in the internet age; and The Stubby Shillelaghs debut their new nerd-themed album Critical Fail. Plus, we're excited to bust out some new Nerd Nite swag!

Grab your tickets!

• When: Thursday, November 19 – doors at 6:30pm, show at 7:00pm
• Where: The Oriental Theater
• Tickets: $5 online, $8 at the door – 18+

FULL LINEUP

Reminiscing Immediately: Polaroid And Instant Photography

by Brian Stevenson

We can take a picture any time and share it with the world at a moment’s notice. Less than 75 years ago photography was reserved for the wealthy and only on rare occasions like Births, Weddings and even deaths. Artists such as Ansel Adams, Andy Warhol and William Wegman shaped their art and careers because of Polaroid. Inventions like 3-D Movies, Sunglasses and Tinted Windows in cars came about because of the many discoveries of Edwin Land. Let’s take a look at the cameras, the company and the inventor that changed the way we see the world.

Speaker Creds

Brian Stevenson has absolutely no official title that would qualify him to speak on any topic whatsoever. He is however, a geek in every sense of the word. He loved being in band so much that now he owns Rocky Mountain Music Repair, a band instrument repair shop. He is an avid Magic: The Gathering player, and has a collection of hundreds of board games. He once hosted an online video series about board gaming, and rides a scooter as his main mode of transportation. He has been a collector of Polaroid cameras for over a decade and has an extensive collection of cameras, accessories, and advertising examples from throughout the company’s history.

Vampire Research in Romania…Isn’t That What the Internet is For?

by Harris Gray

In the Internet age, do authors actually need to visit a place in order to set their story there? Like a brother-from-another-mother identical twin study, our writing duo provides rare perspective. Half of Harris Gray traveled to Romania for on-the-ground research for their vampire trilogy; the other half stayed home, pouting, and surfing. Money, peril, imagination, authenticity, eye fatigue, customs issues — all the key variables have been explored to settle the age-old debate: “Can’t I just make that sh*t up?”

Speaker Creds

Harris Gray combines the writing talents of duo Allan Harris and Jason Gray. Together, they have written three novels, two screenplays, a Christmas play and a collection of stories from Jason’s younger days. An early version of their novel Java Man was a finalist in the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers contest. Allan is a former guest columnist for The Denver Post and Jason owns Crowfoot Valley Coffee and Crowbar, land of rumor and embellishment. Their collaboration began in Jason’s coffee shop. Allan wrote and eavesdropped as Jason entertained his customers. One day, Allan found a little yellow notepad waiting for him, crammed to the margins with Jason’s exploits. Allan typed them, touched them up, and called it good; but Jason had other ideas. As their tales converged and became inseparable, Harris Gray emerged. While the two couldn’t be more different in how they think and write, Harris says, “There is something wonderful and incredibly cohesive when we create a story together. ” In Gray’s words, “We’re something less than Sybil and more than Siamese twins.”

Vampire Vic , the first installment in the darkly funny and relatable trilogy, launched in March 2013. Readers can add the follow-up, Vampire Vic 2 : Morbius Reborn , to their bookshelves this fall. Harris Gray also released their standalone novel Java Man in November 2013.

Musical Performance by The Stubby Shillelaghs

Critical Fail Album Cover Album Release for Critical Fail

The crowdfunded effort was recorded at Denver’s Decibel Garden and features 17 tracks all paying homage to various pop culture fandoms, including the roleplaying/ game derived title track Critical Fail and the band’s Simpsons inspired reggae track Everything’s Coming up Milhouse. Listeners will also recognize tribute paid to the short lived television series Firefly, James Bond (Henchman’s Lament) and Star Wars (I .R.A. Interstellar Rebel Army ), satisfying those looking forward to The Force Awakens movie release this December.

As always, a huge thanks to our leading partner Sexpot Comedy and to our photography partners in crime From the Hip Photo!