I feel like nobody would care about this band if it didn't feature Keanu Reeves on bass. I tried listening to a couple songs, and I'm not a fan. I do like seeing Keanu Reeves and he looks happy playing bass, like this is his weekend project when he's not working and it brings him some peace, but I'm not listening to their music. Happy for him though.
I think his best rock star gig was Cyberpunk 2077. He does it all. He points a gun at a crowd who probably don't know it's loaded (and chamber ready), he gives good life advice, he turns down advances from his gay bandmate, he plays a show in front of a corporate HQ to cover up a raid on said HQ, and then he becomes a trans woman (sorta). There's a lot in between and context matters, but if you look at the highlights, it's a wild ride. And while you can play a male V and make the last one not true... why would you? It's like Mass Effect, the option is there to play a man but it's just a choice, and not a great one in either case. But it's there if you want it.
I accidentally saw them live at a festival and I didn't find their songs to be all that catchy either, but the performance was pretty good. Seems like an authentic and sincere band, hard to hate.
There are a few reasons. Gavin's voice work is perfectly fine, but he sounds a bit too "New York" for a California character. Shepard from Mass Effect has the same effect on me, the voice sounds harder than the character as I play them and it takes me out of immersion.
I've also been gaming since Pong and, even as a cis guy who has no intention to transition or any of those tropes associated with guys who choose to play gals, I think women in games have valid stories, and sometimes it matters which gender the character is. It changes the dynamic. And one thing I love about Cyberpunk 2077's voice direction is how various lines (particularly from Johnny) hit differently based on the gender of V. I also think there's more nuance to the story if you make certain choices. Like starting Nomad and picking the Nomad ending (in this case, as male V, because you romanced Panam). But I like the Johnny ending, and it just hits harder when V is female. It's fundamentally changed Johnny and he's gone from hating V, to wanting to save V, to when you decide he should get the body, he's cool with it. It's a shame they make the point that genitals can be swapped out in their world, but Johnny accepts he's a woman now and there's a certain peace to it.
Also, the significance of Keanu Reeves being in Cyberpunk is because he was Neo in The Matrix, about a guy trapped in a simulation. Cherami Leigh also played a person trapped in a simulation in Sword Art Online. V isn't Asuna (Cherami voices her with a deeper voice and more grit, and they sound almost nothing alike), but neither is Johnny Neo. It's just a neat connection and juxtaposition. I wouldn't expect people who haven't seen Sword Art Online (or its English dub) to care about this, but I have, and so, I do.
By contrast, in Fallout 3, I only choose a female Lone Wanderer because of the perk that lets you do more damage against the opposite sex. I feel like it's a better story for the son searching for his father. Likewise in Fallout 4, you gotta go with Nora. It makes less sense that the paralegal is instrumental in this three-way war, but it makes more sense that the mother looking for her lost son would rebuild the Commonwealth. And I ship Nora with MacCready. RJ MacCready really has redeemed himself from Fallout 3 (he was the bratty mayor kid from Little Lamplight, Mayor MacCready) and he really deserves all the love. He's also voiced by Matt Mercer.
FemV just feels like she fits better into the story, to me, but that probably has to do with the better voice acting. She feels more like she belongs in night city.
19 Comments
cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 28 pts · 40d
I feel like nobody would care about this band if it didn't feature Keanu Reeves on bass. I tried listening to a couple songs, and I'm not a fan. I do like seeing Keanu Reeves and he looks happy playing bass, like this is his weekend project when he's not working and it brings him some peace, but I'm not listening to their music. Happy for him though.
I think his best rock star gig was Cyberpunk 2077. He does it all. He points a gun at a crowd who probably don't know it's loaded (and chamber ready), he gives good life advice, he turns down advances from his gay bandmate, he plays a show in front of a corporate HQ to cover up a raid on said HQ, and then he becomes a trans woman (sorta). There's a lot in between and context matters, but if you look at the highlights, it's a wild ride. And while you can play a male V and make the last one not true... why would you? It's like Mass Effect, the option is there to play a man but it's just a choice, and not a great one in either case. But it's there if you want it.
whyNotSquirrel@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 40d
I thought he was looking a lot like Keanu Reeves, that explain why
blackbeans@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 39d
I accidentally saw them live at a festival and I didn't find their songs to be all that catchy either, but the performance was pretty good. Seems like an authentic and sincere band, hard to hate.
cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 39d
Yeah, definitely don't hate them... just, their music didn't move or inspire me or anything.
NOT_RICK@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 40d
Why do you think masc V is a poor choice? Do you just prefer Cherami’s performance?
cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 8 pts · 39d
There are a few reasons. Gavin's voice work is perfectly fine, but he sounds a bit too "New York" for a California character. Shepard from Mass Effect has the same effect on me, the voice sounds harder than the character as I play them and it takes me out of immersion.
I've also been gaming since Pong and, even as a cis guy who has no intention to transition or any of those tropes associated with guys who choose to play gals, I think women in games have valid stories, and sometimes it matters which gender the character is. It changes the dynamic. And one thing I love about Cyberpunk 2077's voice direction is how various lines (particularly from Johnny) hit differently based on the gender of V. I also think there's more nuance to the story if you make certain choices. Like starting Nomad and picking the Nomad ending (in this case, as male V, because you romanced Panam). But I like the Johnny ending, and it just hits harder when V is female. It's fundamentally changed Johnny and he's gone from hating V, to wanting to save V, to when you decide he should get the body, he's cool with it. It's a shame they make the point that genitals can be swapped out in their world, but Johnny accepts he's a woman now and there's a certain peace to it.
Also, the significance of Keanu Reeves being in Cyberpunk is because he was Neo in The Matrix, about a guy trapped in a simulation. Cherami Leigh also played a person trapped in a simulation in Sword Art Online. V isn't Asuna (Cherami voices her with a deeper voice and more grit, and they sound almost nothing alike), but neither is Johnny Neo. It's just a neat connection and juxtaposition. I wouldn't expect people who haven't seen Sword Art Online (or its English dub) to care about this, but I have, and so, I do.
By contrast, in Fallout 3, I only choose a female Lone Wanderer because of the perk that lets you do more damage against the opposite sex. I feel like it's a better story for the son searching for his father. Likewise in Fallout 4, you gotta go with Nora. It makes less sense that the paralegal is instrumental in this three-way war, but it makes more sense that the mother looking for her lost son would rebuild the Commonwealth. And I ship Nora with MacCready. RJ MacCready really has redeemed himself from Fallout 3 (he was the bratty mayor kid from Little Lamplight, Mayor MacCready) and he really deserves all the love. He's also voiced by Matt Mercer.
skulblaka@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 39d
Yes, and it isn't close.
FemV just feels like she fits better into the story, to me, but that probably has to do with the better voice acting. She feels more like she belongs in night city.
TimothyOilypants@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 39d
For me, I'm just not interested in spending that much intimate time with another dude. Absolutely nothing wrong with it, just not for me.
Abyssian@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 39d
The last one is one of the stupidest things I've read. Congratulations.
homes@piefed.world · 24 pts · 40d
Well, well, well if it isn’t Johnny Silverhand…
BarticusR@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 40d
Wake the fuck up, Samurai. We've got some gigs to play.
gon@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 20 pts · 40d
Awesome pic!!!!!!
Enkrod@feddit.org · 13 pts · 40d
Is that Keanu?
cobysev@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 40d
Yeah, Dogstar is his band. They're touring right now.
rizzothesmall@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 39d
1/3 of Dogstar
HereIAm@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 39d
*My Band starts playing in the background*
Zephyr@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 39d
Don't be so sirius
I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 38d
Are you Sirius?
bless@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 39d
Yo, this new Alan Wake game looks lit