The Greatness that is Rock Band

Saturday I was invited to my friends' birthday party. It's an annual event that I try not to miss.

I remember a couple years ago I was on a job so I originally thought I couldn't make it. While on this job I got a frantic phone call from one of my other friends at this party explaining that my friends have received guitar hero for a present, but they didn't know how to play very well. Truth be told, I had just learned how to play because my friend RJ had explained the whole concept to me over lunch that week. So I went up to King City after my job was complete and we all tried to make the best of it. This turned out to be a legendary evening where we stayed up until past 3am rocking out. A tradition was born.

The last two Christmas Eve's we have been privileged to hang out with another friend's family, who we feel a part of. Once again, out come the beverages but this time it was Rock Band. My wife took the kit, and I sang. Then we started passing the mic around, and once again, it got a little legendary. We stayed up until past 2am rocking out and another tradition was born.

Four days ago, it was a double bill of Beatles Rock Band and guitar hero 5. I lost my voice, my one friend almost lost his fingers trying to play "The Spirit of Radio" on medium. Really, how do these kids do this without developing carpal tunnel.

But the one thing we didn't lose was our dignity. That's what makes these games so great. It doesn't matter how much better one person is than the other. One person was on the mic, but everyone sings along. These games enable everyone to celebrate their love of music together.

Now only if the Grammys could do the same thing.