For those who don’t know, E3 is this huge conference that focuses on video games and the stuff people need to play them. I bet you’re thinking that it sounds stupid, and you have no clue why you’re reading this in a music column. Actually, video games have a rich musical history, as evidenced by these musically memorable moments in video game history.

The 12th annual Thirsty Ear Festival is sure to go down in “dude, you should have been there!” history. That’s in part due to some pretty big changes—they’re all good, I swear.

Up until a few weeks ago, if you had asked me, “Hey, Alex, what do you think about the future of punk rock in Santa Fe?” I would have said something like, “Yeeesh!” And then I would have put my head in my hands and wept. Never had the phrase “punk is dead” sounded more true in Santa Fe. But then I received an email from a woman named Sophie Rousmaniere. She told me that her new Santa Fe punk band The Elected Officials was throwing a show with Albuquerque punk acts Dead on Point Five and Domestic Violence. My brain flared with memories of bands such as The Fraid Knots, People that Look Famous and The Floors. I visited TEO’s website and discovered the band to be officially awesome.

Thanks to some reader comments, I recently discovered that I am, apparently, an unsupportive monster. It seems that questioning the quality of local bands is unacceptable. To let a week go by without mentioning as many musicians and music organizations as possible is unforgivable. This sort of aversion to criticism is dangerous to the quality of the music scene in Santa Fe, and I’m not the only one to notice.

The Santa Fe Children’s Museum isn’t a place people think of when it comes to live music…or adults for that matter. After all, the space is, first and foremost, for children. Associate Educator Rachael Kissling’s hope, however, is that some after-hours music and adults-only fun might stir up buzz for the museum and help pull more people into the world of play-to-learn education.

Once an up-and-coming arts space, Little Wing is now simply a promoter. And Santa Fe, it’s all your fault.

Country act Broomdust Caravan may technically be new to the Santa Fe scene, but its themes are pura Santa. On debut album Heavy Rescue, front man John Widell selected a who’s who of established local talent for a superband.

Do you ever feel not so fresh? Spring is about new beginnings and, should you desire to shake things up a bit, Santa Fe now boasts not one, but two new hot spots for the discerning nightlife participant.

We know you’ve been impatiently awaiting its arrival all year, so you can finally relax: the New Mexico Music Awards is here! The nominees for the 2011 honors have been posted. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough room to list everybody. Just know that I wish the best of luck to all involved. Mostly.

Recently, over a late lunch, I asked The Infektor to explain certain aspects of the dubstep movement. For starters: “What the hell is dubstep, anyway?”