," flinty-eyed Lisa Hsuan purrs into a microphone on the red-lit stage of Hyperion Tavern. It's a cozy dive where patrons drink Coke and beer from bottles and a fading chandelier dangles overhead.
Her tribute is intentionally ludicrous: The 30-year-old veterinarian is about to belt out "Call Me," which Harry — fronting the group Blondie — released 28 years ago. Accompanied on fake guitars and drums by three Web programmers who drove in from the refinery-dotted coastal suburb of El Segundo, Hsuan launches in as a smoke machine puffs nearby. They're playing the video game "Rock Band 2," which along with " Guitar Hero " is rocking bars and living rooms across the country. Many songs' sales have more than doubled after release in one of the games, and well-known bands have started lining up to provide new music direct to the game makers . Now record labels — noticing what they are missing, and struggling as compact disc sales tumble — are looking for a bigger piece of the action.
Full Story: Boom in music video games helps original artists (AP)
Her tribute is intentionally ludicrous: The 30-year-old veterinarian is about to belt out "Call Me," which Harry — fronting the group Blondie — released 28 years ago. Accompanied on fake guitars and drums by three Web programmers who drove in from the refinery-dotted coastal suburb of El Segundo, Hsuan launches in as a smoke machine puffs nearby. They're playing the video game "Rock Band 2," which along with " Guitar Hero " is rocking bars and living rooms across the country. Many songs' sales have more than doubled after release in one of the games, and well-known bands have started lining up to provide new music direct to the game makers . Now record labels — noticing what they are missing, and struggling as compact disc sales tumble — are looking for a bigger piece of the action.
Full Story: Boom in music video games helps original artists (AP)
