What does it mean to be a “music nerd” in the year 2015?

This was the question posited to our panel of special guests at Nerdist Music’s first showing at Comic-Con on Friday. Moderated by our giddy and insightful music editor, Matthew Grosinger, and taking place in the Gaslamp Quarter’s historic Horton Grand Theater, the Nerdist Music Panel featured special guest artists covering a range of genres, but all united by their similarly passionate and engaged approaches to song writing, which could, in certain circles, be described as “very nerdy.”

Angels & Airwaves guitarist and Box Car Racer veteran, David Kennedy, was on hand, representing traditional rock. Transmedia visionary, September Mourning, was also in attendance, discussing her upcoming project with comic artist, Marc Silvestri. Musical comedy duo, Paul & Storm (not Paul & Strom, as their misspelled name placard would have you believe), kept the crowd rolling with their well-timed bon mots. Nerdcore icon, MegaRan, shared his MC origin story. And our very own gaming editor, Malik Forte, teased his upcoming mixtape –what will surely be the hottest, most anticipated mixtape of the modern era.

The group made for a lively and thoughtful discussion, sharing influences (September Mourning and Paul & Storm found early common ground in concept albums, like Pink Floyd’s The Wall and David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust), to differing views on technology (all recognizing it’s importance, but some bemoaning the ephemeral, chase-the-trend mentality it creates). Everyone had moments of brilliance worth highlighting here (yes, even Matt!), but since we have the entire recording of the panel above, I’ll simply direct your attention back up there, and say: Rock on, Nerds. See you next Comic-Con.