Add a Comment

Pyrotechnics and lasers are cool, but if you really want to impress the crowd you should take a look at lightning. People love lightning so much that they run for cover when they see it. We've seen lightning strike twice, hit a volcano, and time lapsed. So is it really a big deal if guys create their own electrical lightning to play around with from giant Tesla coils and also use it to generate music? Yes, it is.

You can pull up almost anything online, but there are still a few things that are better to show up for in person. Like your wedding, or crazy performances involving gigantic Tesla coils. The huge bolts of high voltage electricity can synthesize the sounds of Super Mario Bros., Zelda, Mortal Kombat, Ghostbusters and more to entertain geeks everywhere.

Major players in the field are Tesla coil enthusiasts Steve Ward, Jeff Larson, and Terry Blake aka Dr. Zeus. who perform at festivals as "The Masters of Lightning." The M. of L. are more like performance artists, whereas the band ArcAttack focuses on the music. Do you remember that scene in Revenge of the Nerds where the nerds lay down a funky beat for the talent contest? It's kind of like that, but with less rapping from MC Lamar. Basically the robot from Lost in Space shoots lightning out of it's head and everyone is a little scared for their lives. Let's just say it's dangerous for amateurs and if you do things wrong you could end up electrocuting your face. Videos below.

  • Who are you going to fax machine the emergency to? Ghostbusters?

  • Dr. Zeus sets balloons on fire.


  • High voltage, propane blowtorches and a mustache. What could go wrong?

  • Dr. Zeus ignites a wooden sword.

  • Dr. Zeus lightsaber battle.

  • Destroying a CD is simple and safe.

  • The lightsaber battle continues.

  • Less musical lightsaber battle. (Obnoxious audio.)

  • Back to the Future Theme.

  • Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Tetris!).

  • Mario Bros. Theme.

  • Mortal Kombat Theme.

  • Darth Vader Theme.

  • Beetlejuice Theme.

  • Using a keyboard to play a Tesla Coil.