Some my “nerdlier” readers may already be familiar with the walking mayhem that is Keith Apicary of “Talking Classics”.

But if you’re not, sit down chillun’ and get ready to be edumacated.

So, Keith is this character. And I do mean “character”*. He was once described as a 28 year-old man, with the mind of a 14 year-old boy and the body of your uncle. (If your uncle is tall, wiry, balding and wears large-frame glasses. My own uncle can only lay claim to two of these four things, but I will refrain from saying which two.)

Keith is the subject of an online documentary series (more like “mockumentary”) called Talking Classics. Keith likes, no, LOVES video games. Particularly Sega games of the early-nineties, as well as his most coveted arcade game/machine the NEO-GEO (“four bright buttons and two joy sticks”). He loves them so much he writes rap songs about them, lovingly set to chiptune underscoring.

He is also walking, talking, climbing, crawling, jumping, falling MAYHEM. And. It. Is. Awesome.

This is a guy who is so whacky nuts that he was “forcibly removed” from HIS OWN PANELS at E3, SDCC and PAX East. You might understand a little as to why by watching this:

This last Tuesday he was in Tacoma, WA with his current Apicarnage Tour. He appeared at an arcade that is near and dear to my heart: Dorky’s Barcade. The most awesome arcade ever (in WA). They have classic arcade machines, and pinball and BEER. You can find out more about them HERE.

Even though Keith was a bit late to the venue (due to traffic), it was worth the wait. His show was a fast-paced 45-minute set of his songs with some stand-up comedy filler and TONS of audience participation. I definitely got my workout in for the day, and laughed so hard my face was sore the next day.

He started off in a black jumpsuit, illuminated with ELwire initials “VB” for “Virtual Boy” his opening set piece.

Then he enthusiastically stripped this off to reveal his standard uniform of nineties print sweatshirt and Levi’s 501 jeans.

Diving in to the rest of his set with the energy of a mad man, he climbed over audience members’ heads, swung monkey-like from the overhead sprinkler pipes, grabbed a small boy and thrust him up over his head – like a warrior displaying his latest kill, fell face-first off the stage (tearing his vintage jeans) and danced on the air hockey table adjacent to the performance area. He also managed to get all of us up on our feet, jumping up and down and singing along (to songs most of us didn’t even know).

The fact that he hasn’t seriously injured himself (yet) is a miracle unto itself.

Well, he may have injured his brain...

The show was fantastic and I urge all of you with a sense of humor and a disregard for personal safety to check him out if he comes to an arcade near you. You can check out his tour dates HERE.

And the best part… did I mention… he’s heard of me!! Don’t believe me?? Well, here I present the evidence:

See? I told you he’s heard of me… sort of. Well… he’s heard of me NOW.

*“Keith Apicary” is the insane creation of the immensely talented Nathan Barnatt, formerly of the Upright Citizens Brigade improv comedy group. Nathan stayed in character the entire time. Never dropping once. True professional, amazing to behold.